By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU News
Hello, spring. Tuesday’s vernal equinox marked the start of astronomical spring, meaning that tulips, Canada geese and softball games are on the way.
Unlike other parts of the country, the day actually felt like spring, with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s across the Inland Northwest.
Weather conditions sure were erratic leading up spring’s first day — not only from day to day but within a single day. Partly sunny in the morning. Rain showers in the afternoon. Snow flurries at night. Patches of fog and freezing rain in between.
And who could forget the “false spring,” or three-day tease we experienced March 11–13, when temperatures topped out at 63 degrees in Pullman and Spokane and a remarkable 70 in Lewiston/Clarkston. We barely had time to pull out the gardening tools when grey clouds scuttled in and temperatures turned chilly again.
Through most of March, weather conditions have bounced around like Peter Cottontail. That said, it’s no surprise that a robust frontal system is edging out the sun and warmth we enjoyed the first day of spring. Expect wet and windy weather through Thursday, followed by a temperature drop and rain showers – maybe even some snow – on Friday and into the weekend.
Weathercatch is a bimonthly column that appears in The Spokesman-Review. Nic Loyd is a meteorologist with Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet. Linda Weiford is a WSU news writer and weather geek. Contact: linda.weiford@wsu.edu
