Where's the snow?

If you’re wondering what’s in the forecast for this weekend, it’s pretty simple: Clouds.

And into next week? More clouds.

In fact, the National Weather Service says the next seven days in Coeur d’Alene should be pretty much the same: Partly sunny during the day with highs in the upper 30s, and mostly cloudy at night with lows in the 20s.

"Not much in the way of moisture," said Climatologist Cliff Harris.

And after heavy snowfall in early January, there is no snow in sight, for now. And pretty much no rain, either, Harris said.

"It's an unusual pattern, to say the least," he said.

Harris said it only snowed seven-tenths of an inch from Jan. 7 to Jan. 21, a record low for snowfall for that two-week in nearly 100 years. The previous record for that time period was 1.8 inches of snow in 1929.

The rain that soaked the area lately and on Thursday morning, combined with the 50 inches of snow that's already fallen, has reduced the area's drought situation from last spring that lasted through the summer.

In the Panhandle, Kootenai, Bonner and Benewah counties are now considered to be in moderate drought, according to the NWS.

Harris said it has rained 3.19 inches in January, about 5 inches in December and 4 in November.

"We have come out of the drought," he said.

The NWS said mountain snowpack is above normal regionwide and stream flows are near to above normal.

“The Seasonal Outlook leans toward below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for February through April 2022, and favors improving drought conditions across the region in the months to come,” NWS reported.