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Spokane Sets Average Heat Record

Courtesy of National Weather Service

Weather forecasters say Inland Northwest temperatures will be back in triple digits as we head into the weekend.

From June 1-July 26, Spokane recorded its highest-ever average temperature, 73.7 degrees. That’s the temperature that combines daytime highs with nighttime lows. That mark breaks the record for the same time period, 72.9 degrees, set in 2015.

But 2021 falls short the number of recorded hot days.

“Spokane has had 29 days of 90 degrees or warmer,” says National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Koch. “The 30-year average is 19 days for the entire summer. The year with the most 90-degree days was 1958, with 39.”

Koch says it’s possible, even likely, that Spokane could see at least 10 more 90+ degree days to break the 1958 record.

This summer Spokane has had four triple digit temperature days. The single-year record is six, set in 1928.

Meanwhile, Spokane has received roughly half of the precipitation it normally receives by this time of the year. The weather service has measured 4.88”, as of July 26, compared to 9.58” in the 30-year average. It’s the fourth-driest year, so far. The driest was 1924, when 4.62” of precipitation had fallen.

If history repeats itself, Spokane won’t see much moisture in August. Koch says the rains traditionally pick up in the latter part of September. November and December are Spokane’s wettest months, with an average of 2.3” of precipitation.