Eastern Washington - Climate

Climate

The most significant difference between Eastern Washington and the western half of the state is its climate. While the west half of the state is located in a rainy oceanic climate, the eastern half receives little rainfall due to the rainshadow created by the Cascade Mountains. Also, due to being farther from the sea, the east side has both hotter summers and colder winters than the west. Most communities in Eastern Washington, for example, have significant yearly snowfall, while in the west snowfall is minimal and not seen every year. The east and west do still have some climatic traits in common, though: more rainfall in winter than summer, a lack of severe storms, and milder temperature ranges than more inland locations.

There is some variation in both rainfall throughout Eastern Washington. Generally, lower elevations are both hotter and drier than higher elevations. This is easily seen in the comparison between low-elevation Richland with higher elevation Spokane.

Climate data for Richland, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71
(22)
73
(23)
82
(28)
92
(33)
104
(40)
110
(43)
110
(43)
113
(45)
106
(41)
89
(32)
77
(25)
66
(19)
113
(45)
Average high °F (°C) 41
(5)
48
(9)
58
(14)
65
(18)
73
(23)
80
(27)
88
(31)
88
(31)
78
(26)
64
(18)
49
(9)
38
(3)
88
(31)
Average low °F (°C) 29
(−2)
30
(−1)
35
(2)
41
(5)
48
(9)
54
(12)
59
(15)
58
(14)
50
(10)
40
(4)
34
(1)
28
(−2)
28
(−2)
Record low °F (°C) −21
(−29)
−22
(−30)
11
(−12)
23
(−5)
30
(−1)
38
(3)
41
(5)
39
(4)
31
(−1)
13
(−11)
−6
(−21)
−10
(−23)
−22
(−30)
Precipitation inches (mm) 1.01
(25.7)
0.80
(20.3)
0.69
(17.5)
0.60
(15.2)
0.65
(16.5)
0.50
(12.7)
0.25
(6.4)
0.16
(4.1)
0.31
(7.9)
0.54
(13.7)
1.02
(25.9)
1.12
(28.4)
7.6
(193)
Source: Weather.com
Climate data for Spokane, Washington (Spokane Int'l), 1981–2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 62
(17)
63
(17)
74
(23)
90
(32)
97
(36)
101
(38)
108
(42)
108
(42)
98
(37)
87
(31)
70
(21)
60
(16)
108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 34.5
(1.4)
39.7
(4.3)
49.0
(9.4)
57.3
(14.1)
66.5
(19.2)
73.9
(23.3)
83.4
(28.6)
83.0
(28.3)
73.0
(22.8)
58.1
(14.5)
41.7
(5.4)
32.3
(0.2)
57.7
(14.3)
Average low °F (°C) 23.7
(−4.6)
25.4
(−3.7)
30.6
(−0.8)
35.8
(2.1)
42.8
(6.0)
49.5
(9.7)
55.3
(12.9)
54.8
(12.7)
46.4
(8.0)
36.3
(2.4)
28.8
(−1.8)
21.5
(−5.8)
37.6
(3.1)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34)
−24
(−31)
−10
(−23)
14
(−10)
24
(−4)
33
(1)
37
(3)
35
(2)
22
(−6)
7
(−14)
−21
(−29)
−25
(−32)
−30
(−34)
Precipitation inches (mm) 1.79
(45.5)
1.33
(33.8)
1.61
(40.9)
1.28
(32.5)
1.62
(41.1)
1.25
(31.8)
.64
(16.3)
.59
(15)
.67
(17)
1.18
(30)
2.30
(58.4)
2.29
(58.2)
16.55
(420.4)
Snowfall inches (cm) 12.0
(30.5)
7.2
(18.3)
3.7
(9.4)
1.0
(2.5)
.1
(0.3)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
.1
(0.3)
7.2
(18.3)
14.9
(37.8)
46.2
(117.3)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 13.4 10.4 11.6 10.1 10.2 7.9 5.0 3.8 5.1 7.8 13.7 13.2 112.2
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.9 5.1 4.1 1.1 .3 0 0 0 0 .2 4.7 9.8 34.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 77.5 118.7 198.4 243.0 297.6 324.0 381.3 341.0 270.0 192.2 75.0 58.9 2,577.6
Source #1: NOAA
Source #2: HKO (sun only 1961−1990)

Read more about this topic:  Eastern Washington

Famous quotes containing the word climate:

    Ghosts, we hope, may be always with us—that is, never too far out of the reach of fancy. On the whole, it would seem they adapt themselves well, perhaps better than we do, to changing world conditions—they enlarge their domain, shift their hold on our nerves, and, dispossessed of one habitat, set up house in another. The universal battiness of our century looks like providing them with a propitious climate ...
    Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)

    Certainly parents play a crucial role in the lives of individuals who are intellectually gifted or creatively talented. But this role is not one of active instruction, of teaching children skills,... rather, it is support and encouragement parents give children and the intellectual climate that they create in the home which seem to be the critical factors.
    David Elkind (20th century)

    Is not their climate foggy, raw, and dull,
    On whom, as in despite, the sun looks pale,
    Killing their fruit with frowns?
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)