Rain returns, will stick around awhile

Looks like we’re mostly out of the big chill and walking with our old companion rain.

But snow is possible Monday morning, particularly above 1,000 feet, says Paul Tolleson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.

“The arctic air we had last week has moved away, but the air mass in Southwest Washington is still on the cold side,” he said.

There is a winter storm warning for the Cascades and foothills today, Tolleson said.

How about the bitter cold?

“I don’t think we’ll drop below freezing for a while,” Tolleson said.

But watch out for Tuesday night and Wednesday as a strong system should bring wet and windy conditions. And that wind could also kick up Monday morning, Tolleson said, with gusts of 40 to 45 mph possible.

Today, expect lows in the mid-30s, the high about 43, and rain and maybe snow at higher elevations.

Tuesday, will be rainy with a high of 44 and a low of 35, Tolleson predicts.

“There’s a chance of rain every day this week,” he added.

Sunday’s gray weather brought out few, but sisters Rachael Harmon, 13, and Kendra Harmon, 18, said the rain did not bother them. They enjoyed themselves at Salmon Creek Park.

“We like all of it (weather) except the heat. We don’t like the heat,” said Kendra, noting that the family moved from Las Vegas about five months ago.