Posted by Scott Rozenbaum (Rozewood Environmental Services, Inc.)
Lopez Island
Apr 3, 2024
Lopez Island
Apr 3, 2024
360.468.4448
360.202.0096 (cell)
360.202.0096 (cell)
Lopez Weather Summary - March 2024
Apr 3, 2024
In a nutshell, temperatures were about average and rainfall was well below average. There ya have it!
I suspect some of you are wanting a little more information or reflections.
March 2024 was notably drier than average. Most rain gauges across the island were under 1.00 inch, with a few exceptions exceeding the inch mark. At my location in the north-central part of the island (near Cross & Center Roads intersection), I recorded 0.88” (my 27-yr ave is 2.16”; the 30-yr Ave by PRISM for my location for March is 2.27”; and Jack Giard’s 45-yr average for March is 2.02”). Jack also recorded less than 1 inch for March 2024. I recorded snow flurries on March 4th, 0.1” of snow (a dusting) on March 5th, and snow flurries that created an even lighter dusting on the 6th. During that same early March time window, I saw a few island cars that drove to the Village that had 1-2 inches of snow of them, so other places did get more snow accumulation, but it warmed and melted quickly. See the attached map of some of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) rainfall amounts around our portion of San Juan County (my north-end location is not shown on this particular map this time around).
Central portions of Lopez received variable cumulative rain ranging from 0.72” to 1.01” (honorable mention to normally wetter Hooterville, who only measured 0.58”); while the southend ranged from (0.83 to 1.19 inches). All of these amounts were only about half their March rainfall averages.
So March was drier. How does that reflect in our overall precipitation levels on Lopez? I was a little surprised when I added up the numbers, and compared them to averages. We initially “felt” like we were podding along this fall and early winter being drier than usual. Right? But our wetter than normal January helped us to catch up, and then February finally topped us off. On-island ponds and Hummel Lake are refilled. Streams were flowing typically….even with a drier March. Though I have noticed water levels in local wetlands have already begun to drop and recede in March. Usually this beginning of decreasing hydrology occurs in April.
My March rainfall was 0.88 inch. However, my cumulative 3-month cumulative rainfall (January through March) was 8.00”. My 27-yr average for this 3-month period is 8.10”; and the PRISM modeled average rainfall for my location from Jan-Mar is 8.08”. So the 91-day period beginning on January 1st was right on target for cumulative rainfall. Amazingly close! And my cumulative rainfall (and melted snow) from October 1st, 2023 through March 31, 2024 measured 18.48”. My 27-yr average for this 6-month ‘wet season’ period is 18.72”; and PRISM’s modeled average (for my location) for this same time span is 18.22”. So my (our) cumulative rainfall since the start of the Water Year (Oct. 1st), is again right on target and right on average. I’m plus-or-minus a quarter inch from averages. That’s pretty remarkable in my book.
March’s temperatures were very typical and nothing extreme. We did hit our first 60s-degree day on March 16th (I recorded 63°F) and our second on March 17th (I recorded 64°F). There were light frosts here and there, but nothing harsh.
What did become more obvious in March to residents and part-timers, especially those who garden or landscape, is the damage that certain plants took over the winter during our wild temperature swings from 50s to single-digit hard freezes January 11th through 16th. Certain evergreen plants that looked mildly freeze-burnt back in late January and February looked far worse as the plants tried to metabolize/photosynthesize in March. My bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) that survived for 23+ years may not make it this spring. Best of luck with your gardens and ornamentals.
Last note, snowfall summary. It was not a heavy snowfall year, but we did get several light snowfalls in mid January 2024. It was the partial melting and ice development and frozen tire ruts that caused problems for folks navigating on icy hills. I measured 4 days with snowfall, with 6 days with snow on the ground (some persisting from the previous days). My total snowfall was 6.3 inches for the season (6.2” in January, 0.1” in March). Our Aleck Bay precipitation measuring volunteer on the south end recorded 3.2 inches of snow for the season, with snow on the ground on 3 days, plus a couple of other days of snow flurries here and there (with no accumulation).
My fingers are crossed for an average rainfall amount in April!
Happy Spring Renewal!
I suspect some of you are wanting a little more information or reflections.
March 2024 was notably drier than average. Most rain gauges across the island were under 1.00 inch, with a few exceptions exceeding the inch mark. At my location in the north-central part of the island (near Cross & Center Roads intersection), I recorded 0.88” (my 27-yr ave is 2.16”; the 30-yr Ave by PRISM for my location for March is 2.27”; and Jack Giard’s 45-yr average for March is 2.02”). Jack also recorded less than 1 inch for March 2024. I recorded snow flurries on March 4th, 0.1” of snow (a dusting) on March 5th, and snow flurries that created an even lighter dusting on the 6th. During that same early March time window, I saw a few island cars that drove to the Village that had 1-2 inches of snow of them, so other places did get more snow accumulation, but it warmed and melted quickly. See the attached map of some of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) rainfall amounts around our portion of San Juan County (my north-end location is not shown on this particular map this time around).
Central portions of Lopez received variable cumulative rain ranging from 0.72” to 1.01” (honorable mention to normally wetter Hooterville, who only measured 0.58”); while the southend ranged from (0.83 to 1.19 inches). All of these amounts were only about half their March rainfall averages.
So March was drier. How does that reflect in our overall precipitation levels on Lopez? I was a little surprised when I added up the numbers, and compared them to averages. We initially “felt” like we were podding along this fall and early winter being drier than usual. Right? But our wetter than normal January helped us to catch up, and then February finally topped us off. On-island ponds and Hummel Lake are refilled. Streams were flowing typically….even with a drier March. Though I have noticed water levels in local wetlands have already begun to drop and recede in March. Usually this beginning of decreasing hydrology occurs in April.
My March rainfall was 0.88 inch. However, my cumulative 3-month cumulative rainfall (January through March) was 8.00”. My 27-yr average for this 3-month period is 8.10”; and the PRISM modeled average rainfall for my location from Jan-Mar is 8.08”. So the 91-day period beginning on January 1st was right on target for cumulative rainfall. Amazingly close! And my cumulative rainfall (and melted snow) from October 1st, 2023 through March 31, 2024 measured 18.48”. My 27-yr average for this 6-month ‘wet season’ period is 18.72”; and PRISM’s modeled average (for my location) for this same time span is 18.22”. So my (our) cumulative rainfall since the start of the Water Year (Oct. 1st), is again right on target and right on average. I’m plus-or-minus a quarter inch from averages. That’s pretty remarkable in my book.
March’s temperatures were very typical and nothing extreme. We did hit our first 60s-degree day on March 16th (I recorded 63°F) and our second on March 17th (I recorded 64°F). There were light frosts here and there, but nothing harsh.
What did become more obvious in March to residents and part-timers, especially those who garden or landscape, is the damage that certain plants took over the winter during our wild temperature swings from 50s to single-digit hard freezes January 11th through 16th. Certain evergreen plants that looked mildly freeze-burnt back in late January and February looked far worse as the plants tried to metabolize/photosynthesize in March. My bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) that survived for 23+ years may not make it this spring. Best of luck with your gardens and ornamentals.
Last note, snowfall summary. It was not a heavy snowfall year, but we did get several light snowfalls in mid January 2024. It was the partial melting and ice development and frozen tire ruts that caused problems for folks navigating on icy hills. I measured 4 days with snowfall, with 6 days with snow on the ground (some persisting from the previous days). My total snowfall was 6.3 inches for the season (6.2” in January, 0.1” in March). Our Aleck Bay precipitation measuring volunteer on the south end recorded 3.2 inches of snow for the season, with snow on the ground on 3 days, plus a couple of other days of snow flurries here and there (with no accumulation).
My fingers are crossed for an average rainfall amount in April!
Happy Spring Renewal!
