Get the low down on the current conditions
Spokane weather, especially during the winter, can be unpredictable. Storm systems spinning out of the Pacific Ocean hit the Cascade Mountains to the East of Spokane. As the warm moist air hits the Cascades it expands and cools and then when it reaches it's dew point the moisture gets squeezed out in the form of rain or snow. When the air then descends on the eastern slope most of it's moisture has been lost as it makes it's way to eastern Washington.
This shadow of dryness caused by the Cascade Range is called a "rain shadow" and causes the weather in eastern Washington to be dry for much of the year. The good thing about this is that during the winter months the air is cold but it is much more bearable because of the low humidity.
A good way to predict the weather around eastern Washington is to look at the jet stream. If the jet stream sags to the south of Spokane (as shown below) then you can count on cold windy weather because this condition allows cold air to the north to invade the area.
Here is a list of home weather stations around Spokane that you can access to
get a local perspective on the current weather conditions in Spokane. A friend of mine used to say that Spokane weather is
just an average of extremes. It's hard to argue the point. Here’s my break down
by season (your mileage may vary). Click on the links for a more in depth
weather breakdown for each month.
October and November: The days are
cool, 40's and 50's, and the nights start getting down to freezing. The autumn
leaves are beautiful. We usually get our first
snow by Thanksgiving. The Ski resort owners love it when we get that first
snow! December and January: We love a white Christmas and
the weather in Spokane usually obliges. Around the end of January though most
people are ready for spring. February: You never know what to expect in February.
It's really a transitional month as far as the weather is concerned. You could
see rain or snow in the valleys but in the mountains you can count on snow. For
my money, the best skiing is in February. March and April: You’ve heard the expression, “If you
don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes…” That pretty much sums it up. The
temperature is getting into the 40’s and 50’s but the nights can still get down
to freezing. May and June: Ah, spring is finally here. The annual
Bloomsday run is held the first Sunday in May and I can remember standing in the
cue before the start of the race as the snow was falling so plan accordingly.
July and
August: The average temps are in the 80's
and we often get a week or two of 90º+ weather. This is the time to head to the
lake and cool off.
September: For me, the best month is September. The days are not too hot and the nights are not too
cold and there is hardly ever any rain. The leaves are just starting to turn and
you can just catch the faint smell of fall in the air.
Home Weather Stations in Spokane
Month-by-Month Spokane Weather
Spokane Average Temperatures
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avg High
34º
40º
47º
57º
65º
74º
84º
82º
72º
58º
41º
34º
Avg Low
20º
25º
28º
34º
41º
48º
54º
54º
45º
36º
28º
21º
Mean
27º
34º
38º
46º
54º
62º
68º
68º
58º
47º
35º
28º
Avg Precip
2.0"
1.5"
1.5"
1.3"
1.4"
1.3"
0.7"
0.7"
0.7"
1.0"
2.3"
2.4"