BF2S Forums So, hows your weather

Marti warned against getting too optimistic after recent rain in the Spokane area. “We’re dealing with long-term precipitation deficits which take more than a day's rain to alleviate,” he said. “For example, the Spokane Airport has experienced the lowest amount of precipitation for the Feb. 1 to May 24 period, going all the way back to 1881. It needs more than 4 inches of rain to get back to normal.”

While Washington mountains received an above-normal snowpack this year, not all watersheds are fed by melting snow. Springtime precipitation is critical for non-irrigated crops and livestock forage. In a few basins, such as the Pend Oreille, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Snake watersheds, early snowmelt is leaving less than average water levels, and last month’s temperatures were higher than normal for most of Washington.

Marti said the Puget Sound area has sufficient water supply for people and fish this summer. “Seattle, Tacoma and Everett have stored water and the area hasn’t had a problem with precipitation,” he said.

SEATTLE — The pavement on Interstate 5 buckled in several places in the heat on Monday forcing lane closures.

Crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) responded to buckling on southbound I-5 near Northeast 130th Street in Seattle as well as a panel that needed to be fixed at Northeast 145th Street. The panels have been repaired, and southbound lanes have reopened.

On northbound I-5, a panel buckled at Northeast 155th Street, Northeast 175th Street and Northeast 195th Street in Shoreline. At 195th Street, the two center lanes are blocked, and the HOV lane is also open to all traffic.