Rainy Days Ahead: What's Up with the Weather?

The Inland Northwest has been dry for a while, but things are changing. Rain is finally here, and it's not planning to leave soon.

Rainfall Update

• Coeur d'Alene: Almost 3 inches of rain have fallen this month, surpassing the usual 2.22 inches for October.

La Niña's Influence

This change in weather is linked to La Niña, a phenomenon where the sea surface in the south-central Pacific Ocean is cooler than normal.

• Duration: Expected to be weak and last until early 2026.
• Effect: Making the northwestern part of the country wetter than usual.

Halloween Weather

Halloween night might be rainy.

• Chance of Rain: Good chance on October 31, with the heaviest rain likely in the first few days of November.
• Historical Data:
• Average Temperature: Between 52 and 34 degrees.
• Warmest Halloween: 1938, with a high of 72 degrees.
• Coldest Halloween: 1935, with a low of 2 degrees.
• Wettest Halloween: 2016, with 1.20 inches of rain.
• Snowiest Halloween: 1971, with 3 inches of snow.

Historical Halloween Weather Events

• 1846: Heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains trapped 87 pioneers, known as the "Donner Pass Tragedy."
• 1965: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, got nearly 14 inches of rain.
• 1991: The "Halloween Blizzard" dumped heavy snow and ice on the Upper Midwest.
• 1991: "The Perfect Storm," a nor'easter that combined with Hurricane Grace, causing over $200 million in damage.

Measuring Snowfall

Cliff Harris has been measuring snowfall in Coeur d'Alene since 2003.

• Method:
• Takes measurements at three different spots in his backyard.
• Measures snow before it melts to avoid losing accuracy.
• The National Weather Service reports snowfall in tenths of an inch and takes readings up to four times a day.
• Melts collected snow in his rain gauge, usually in a microwave, to get the liquid equivalent.

Tips for Measuring Snowfall

• Location: Find a spot where the wind won't create snow drifts.
• Measurements: If there are drifts, take measurements at several locations and average them out.
• Tools: NOAA suggests using a snowboard or an open flat surface, like a table or deck.
• Board: A lighter-colored board, about 2 by 2 feet, would work well.