Heavy Snow Showers Ends a Snowy March 2008

March 2008 closed out on a decidedly cold and snowy note. The total snowfall for the last half of March (15th - 31st) this year was 15.5", which exceeds to the previous total of 8.1" set in 1985. The total snowfall for the month of March was 15.8", placing it 2nd on the list of all-time snowiest March's in Spokane. The snowiest March was way back in 1897 with 16.4". The last week of March saw snowfall at Spokane International Airport each day. The final day of the month was punctuated with impressive snow showers. The images below show two such showers south of Spokane.

This picture shows a nice anvil on top of a snow shower.

Snow Shower near Spokane, WA

The picture below shows an intense shaft of snow. The shower is moving from right to left.

Snow Shower near Spokane, WA

The snow showers were brief in duration, but quickly dropped visibilities to less than 1 mile. Washington DOT webcams below show how quickly conditions could change.

I90 and SR902 Webcam I90 Sunset Hill webcam

This loop shows two showers moving into the town of Colville. Note how you can see the clouds and fog moving into the area before the snow starts.

Colville Webcam Loop

With the end-of-March snow showers, along with a snow event in early April, the total snowfall for the 2007/08 winter is now at 89.5"inches. This places it 2nd on the list of all-time snowiest winters.

Top 10 Snowiest Winters in Spokane, WA
Season	Snowfall
1949/50	93.5"
2007/08	89.5"
1974/75	89.0"
1992/93	87.3"
1955/56	83.2"
1964/65	81.7"
1996/97	80.5"
1951/52	79.6"
1968/69	77.5"
1931/32	73.5"

It's interesting to note that other locations in the lower 48 states have also approached or eclipsed their all-time snowfall records. Here's a sample of some of those sites:

Location	2007/08 Snowfall	Record
Madison, WI	100.7"	76.1" 1978/79
Green Bay, WI	82.1"	79.6" 1922/23
Flint, MI	82.3" (2nd Place)	82.9" 1974/75
Grand Rapids, MI	107.0" (2nd Place)	132.0" 1951/52
Caribou, ME	190.7"	181.0" 1954/55

By Ron Miller