With January being unusually dry and February mostly cold, the National Weather Service noted it’s been a while since the region has seen this kind of rain.

Nurses on strike at all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon approved new labor contracts in a vote tallied Monday, clearing the way for their return to work. The result means that most striking nurses will return to Providence’s hospitals Thursday.

Nurses who have been on strike for more than 40 days have voted to accept an agreement with Providence Health & Services, the Oregon Nurses Association said.