SEATTLE — 2019 has been a year for weather records.
After earning the titles of snowiest February, coldest February since 1989, and hottest winter day, Seattle experienced its second driest March in decades.
Sea-Tac Airport recorded 1.37 inches of rain for the month. The record was set in 1965 when 0.57 inches of rain fell. The third driest March was in 1979 with 1.55 inches; 1973 is in fourth place with 1.62 inches.
RELATED: Full forecast
Even though Seattle experienced three record-breaking days of warm weather earlier this month, we won't come close to the warmest March on record. The average high temperature so far this month is 56.3 degrees, which is 3.9 degrees warmer than usual; however, it's still in ninth place.
Driest March for Quillayute
It was the driest March on record around Quillayute Airport in Clallam County.
A total of 1.51 inches of rain was recorded at the airport. That's 14 percent of the average rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
Up in Bellingham, the Bellingham Airport recorded 1.08 inches of rain, making it the third driest March on record. Ditto for the Hoquiam Airport, which recorded 1.96 inches of rain, which is 28 percent of average.
Dry conditions will continue
Dry conditions are expected to continue through spring in western Washington. A three-month outlook released earlier this month from the national Climate Prediction Center predicted a 40 percent chance of drier than normal conditions and a 50 percent chance of warmer than normal weather in April, May, and June across Puget Sound.
Washington has already experienced the impact of that dry weather this month. The western half of the state saw 49 fires in one week, including a 100-acre fire near Mossyrock and an 85-acre fire in Wahkiakum County. Although southwest Washington saw a big snowfall last month, a Department of Natural Resources spokesperson said it melted quickly without much behind it.
Washington State Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said in February that the department thinks this will be a “very significant” fire season.