Cloud cover prevented temperatures from rising well into the 70s, not even getting close to our average high of 77 degrees or so. Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m., it was barely 60 degrees in some rural areas of Clark County. Feel the chill?
More clouds Thursday through the weekend, with maybe the first good rain in a couple of months over the weekend. Computer forecast models are divided on the strength of the weather systems Saturday night and Sunday.
Most of the energy travels northward to British Columbia, but we get some rainfall. Amounts could vary from a tenth of an inch of rain to one-half inch. So stay tuned to the latest forecast as we get closer. We should see the sun once again next week, although it will remain on the cool side with highs in the 70s by mid week.
Computer models always have difficultly at this time of the year as the seasons change and moisture gets entailed into the jet stream far out at sea from tropical moisture such as typhoons, etc.
Vancouver officially has tallied 10 days with highs of 90 degrees or better this year, a little bit below the average of 13 days. We did have several more days, however, that were close in the 88-89-degree range.
The cooler air moving in and moisture may bring some new snow to upper Cascades peaks by Sunday. We have been in a bit of an inversion the past couple of days, with cool air at the surface and warmer air aloft. At times, it was warmer at Timberline than it was in Vancouver, but that will change quickly.
I think wading pools and summer fun stuff in the backyard can begin to be put into storage, and we can get the outside of the house ready for the fall and winter weather. Never hurts to plan ahead while it isn’t pouring down rain!
Reports of the woolly bear caterpillars are coming in, so we will wait and see what their consensus is of the upcoming winter, just for fun. Weather experts will meet Oct. 29 at OMSI for the winter predictions. This year it will take place on Saturday, so mark your calendar. The event is open to the public and sponsored by OMSI and the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorology Society.
Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://weathersystems.com.
