Sandpoint, Idaho- Weather: Blog I

Background on Sandpoint

Sandpoint is located in the Northern part of Idaho almost touching the Canadian border. It is a small city with only 3.9 sq. mi. of land and roughly 0.8 sq. mi. of water. Originally Sandpoint or the Pend Oreille River area belonged to the Native American Tribe, Kalispel, but eventually like all Native American land settlers started to make their land home. In 1809 David Thompson established a relationship with the Native Americans and he settled in Sandpoint and brought with him some of his fur trading company Northwest CO. In 1880 the Northern Pacific Railroad surveyors came to look at making a railroad that ran between Montana and Pend Oreille (area that Sandpoint is now). This area grew largely over the next ten years while the railroad was being built; at this point the name was changed to Sandpoint. The majority of the population was farmers and with the Homestead Act they had the rights to 169 acres along to the west edge of Sand Creek. With the population growing, on February 7, 1901; Sandpoint became The Village of Sandpoint. Once December 12, 1906 it was voted to be established as a city. In recent years you can see Sandpoint has switched from being a resource-based economy to a diverse and balanced economy. (http://www.cityofsandpoint.com/)

http://www.cbsandpoint.com/about.html

Sandpoint is a continental region that is located at 48 ̊ 16’ N and 116 ̊ 34’ W. Sandpoint sits on the shore of the largest lake in Idaho, Pend Orelille. Sandpoint is affected by the Azores Highs, Pacific High, Aleutian Lows, and the Polar Jet Streams. Sandpoint’s average high run about 80 ̊ in July and August, the average lows are 19 ̊ in January. Their record low was in December of 1968, reaching -37 ̊, and record high was in July of 1994 reaching 104 ̊. Sandpoint’s snowfall can reach 20.2 inches of snow in December and 22.9 inches in January. Seven months out of the year Sandpoint typically sees snow.

(http://www.sandpoint.com/Today/weather.asp )

Average Annual Temperature

Month	AVG High	AVG Low	Mean	AVG Precip	Record High	Record Low
Jan	32	19	26	3.94 in	54 (1919)	-31 (1950)
Feb	38	23	30	3.47 in	61 (1995)	-35 (1933)
Mar	46	28	37	2.85 in	71 (1915)	-10 (1955)
Apr	56	34	45	2.25 in	87 (1977)	9 (1936)
May	65	41	53	2.75	97 (1936)	22 (1972)
Jun	72	47	59	2.46	96 (1992)	28 (1919)
Jul	80	50	64	1.63	104 (1994)	33 (1971)
Aug	80	49	64	1.43	100 (1961)	28 (1924)
Sep	70	41	56	1.60	96 (1938)	16 (1926)
Oct	56	33	45	2.30	82 (1923)	4 (1935)
Nov	40	28	34	4.75	66 (1975)	-10 (1921)
Dec	32	21	27	4.75	58 (1917)	-37 (1968)