Wet June leaks into July but heat is on the horizon

Meet the new month, same as the old month.

After a month that some came to recognize as “June-u-ary” for prodigious rainfall — the 4.21 inches equalled a normal March for Vancouver — the soggy weather continued unabated in the first two days of July.

Vancouver officially recorded 1.29 inches of rain in the first 40 hours of the new month, well above the normal total of 0.8 of an inch for the entire month of July.

There is a piece of good news for rain-weary celebrants on the Fourth of July: Forecasters say this weekend is looking good.

“We’re seeing morning clouds, but then drying out,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Liana Ramirez on Friday afternoon. “We’re going to see sunshine Saturday and Sunday.”

Friday’s downpour included ¾ of an inch of rain in just two hours during the morning commute.

Vancouver weather watcher Steve Pierce scoured the record books and declared it the sixth wettest July day since record-keeping began in Vancouver in 1898. He noted that an especially cold and wet late spring and early summer will give way to soaring temperatures early next week.

Forecasters are looking for clearing skies and highs in the low- to mid-90s Tuesday through Thursday.

“We’re definitely going to be above normal,” Ramirez said.

Erik Robinson: 360-735-4551 or erik.robinson@columbian.com.