Weekend promises a fleeting taste of the warmest weather yet in ’12

Having suffered through yet another week of dark clouds and cool rain, Southwest Washington can expect a weekend of warm — but temporary — spring weather.

Forecasters expect a high in the 70s today, and it might get close to the 80-degree mark Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Partly to mostly sunny skies are expected both days.

If so, this weekend will be the warmest of the year thus far. But it won’t be the first time Vancouver has cracked 70 in 2012. Pearson Field recorded a high temperature of 71 on Easter Sunday.

The shot of warmth likely won’t set any records, either. Vancouver’s record high for April 21 is 88 degrees, set in 1947. For April 22, the city’s all-time high is 84 in 1910, according to the weather service.

This weekend, the area likely will top out in the high 70s. But don’t expect to hear much complaining.

“People will take that,” said Kirsten Elson, a forecaster with the weather service in Portland.

The run of beautiful weather should last only through Monday, when the weather service predicts a high of 76 under partly sunny skies. Then it’s back to clouds, showers, and cooler temperatures through much of next week.

Eric Florip: 360-735-4541; http://twitter.com/col_enviro; eric.florip@columbian.com.