MYNORTHWEST NEWS

The last 5.5 months have been extremely wet in the Northwest

Mar 20, 2017, 11:04 AM | Updated: 1:59 pm

If you needed any more proof that it’s been exceptionally wet in the Pacific Northwest this winter, Cliff Mass is here to put things into perspective.

Related: We came so close to the Seattle rainfall record

Over on his blog, the University of Washington climatologist writes that we have received a year’s worth of water in just over five months.

Mass writes:

Five and one-half months into the 2016-2017 water year, many Northwest stations have ALREADY received their total water year amounts. You got that right….if there was not another drop of rain or flake of snow for the next 6.5 months, these stations would have their full normal precipitation for the water year.

The amount of rain we’ve received between mid-October through mid-March has been consistently above normal in many areas, according to the National Weather Service. That’s especially true for the last month-and-a-half, which was extremely wet — it was the second wettest February on record.

And it’s not just Puget Sound-area residents who have had to deal with such a wet 5.5 months. Spokane is well above its normal amount of precipitation.

A map from NOAA shows that the majority of Washington state has received an above average amount of precipitation:

NOAA_PrecipicationMap

Mass points out that, “virtually the entire West Coast has higher than normal precipitation.”

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

cost guard plane crash...

Brooke Griffin, KIRO 7 News

Coast Guard details rescue of Kenmore Air floatplane crash survivors

KIRO 7 is learning more about the emergency response to the Kenmore Air floatplane crash off the San Juan Islands on Thursday.

43 minutes ago

car fire...

MyNorthwest Staff

All northbound I-5 lanes blocked due to car fire

All lanes on I-5 north are blocked due to a car fire.

54 minutes ago

baby doll...

Katrina Guischard

A 3-year-old boy and his baby doll are showing millions what it means to raise empathetic kids

A toddler is teaching the internet a lesson about empathy with a baby doll.

2 hours ago

Kennewick locust grove fire...

KIRO 7 News Staff

More than 750 acres burned; residents evacuated for Locust Grove Fire near Kennewick

State fire assistance was mobilized overnight to support local firefighters working to contain the Locust Grove Fire in Benton County, near Kennewick.

4 hours ago

Mariners rick rizzs seafair...

Manda Factor

Rick Rizzs talks Seafair grand marshal honor, Mariners accountability and the fan hit by Julio’s homer

Rick Rizzs has spent 41 years calling Seattle Mariners games. On Saturday, he will trade in the mic and be the grand marshal of the Seafair Torchlight Parade.

5 hours ago

Seattle Hell's Kitchen Alicia Keys...

Manda Factor

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ national tour hits Seattle: Stars speak on what makes Alicia Keys’ musical so emotional

"Hell's Kitchen," a musical from Alicia Keys, is lighting up Seattle's Paramount Theatre this week with a story about family, and the power of music.

6 hours ago

The last 5.5 months have been extremely wet in the Northwest