Weather Eye: Cloudy June could give way to sunny days next week

It seems like we use the phrases “partly sunny, partly cloudy or mostly cloudy” a good share of the time in the month of June. How true it is.

June is a cloudy month due to either high clouds from weakening weather systems passing by to our north or low clouds from the persistent marine layer that tends to linger inland this time of the year.

The rest of the week includes all three phases, as well as rain or showers for today and Wednesday, and high temperatures running a little below normal this week.

Any sunshine in June is always a bonus. Despite lots of clouds and rainfall so far this month, I am getting reports of fresh local strawberries and that is a good sign. I guess our local berry plants are used to the cloudiness and thrive anyway. And speaking of strawberries, my favorite, we already had the full strawberry moon this month on June 4. I sure didn’t see it, however, with all of the clouds and heavy rain.

As the astronomical beginning to summer arrives next week, it appears on longer-range computer forecast models that high pressure will take hold, and we might experience some nice summer-like weather.

So far this month, we have had 2.02 inches of rain in the bucket, which is a healthy 1.30 inches above seasonal averages. With all of the clouds, we also are experiencing a much cooler than normal month as well, with the average mean temperature at 57.8 degrees, four degrees below average.

With somewhat clear skies and good visibility Monday, one could certainly see the fresh covering of snow on Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. The barren, rocky outcroppings that were showing early this past week are now nice and white.

Enjoy your week, and I will see you Thursday!

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at Weather Systems.