Tri-Cities breaks record for most consecutive days without reaching 60°

As temperatures warm toward the 50s, we’re inching closer to average and into Spring. With us just coming off a cold spell that produced the coldest temperatures ever recorded in March it’s hard to believe that this seemingly warm weather is still below average. In a more normal year, our high temperatures would be right around 60° this time of year.

Speaking of 60°, how long do you think it’s been since we last hit 60°? Perhaps your answer would be 90 days? 100? Maybe even 110? Well, the answer is 129. That’s right, as of March 15 we have gone 129 days without reaching 60°. This beats the old record of 126 days, ending March 14, 1993. Here are the top five:

Most Consecutive Days Without Reaching 60°

It looks like this is yet another record we are going to shatter. While long-range models are indicating a switch to above average temperatures around next weekend, it currently looks like we will remain below average for at least the next five days, possibly even longer.

I suspect we will well exceed 130 consecutive days without reaching 60°, and there’s a real possibility that the final number will be around 135. There is an end in sight, though. Temperatures are slowly on the rise thanks to a strengthing ridge of high pressure centered over the Pacific Northwest, but a slow rise from today’s high of 43° means that it will take some time for us to reach our average for mid-March.

Despite warmer temperatures, it looks like our dry spell won’t last long. A more active pattern is anticipated around next Thursday, but since we are going to keep a southerly flow into the Columbia Basin it looks the precipitation will be rain in the lower elevations. That said, this should help continue to beef up the snowpack in the Cascades and Blues.

It’s still a while out for me to be laying out any more specifics on the next storm system, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted over on Tri-Cities Weather on Facebook!