Weather Eye: Lovely summerlike weather will continue through the week

Our great summer weather will continue all week before we see some changes over the weekend. Oh, did I say summer? I meant summerlike spring weather. I could easily get used to the sunshine every day, at least for a while.

Did you get out and enjoy the 80-degree-plus heat over the weekend? Probably more than a few went back to school or work on Monday wearing a little sunburn on their skin. After some morning clouds today and maybe Wednesday we get more sunshine Thursday and highs in the mid-80s so watch out for sunburn.

Computer forecast models do show a trough of low pressure sliding over us later in the weekend for more clouds, cooler temperatures (back to normal) and a chance of showers.

Highs Sunday were the warmest of the year with Vancouver boasting a very nice 85 degrees, Kelso beat us with 88 degrees and weather observer Ellen Smart of Ridgefield had 90 degrees. For the first five days of May, Vancouver is running six degrees above average and of course no rain.

The Washington and Oregon beaches over the weekend were in the 80s, temperatures higher than some coastal areas in Florida! Amazing what that downslope east wind can do.

That is all history now as the low stratus clouds followed the heat low up the coast and it is much cooler now. At 5 p.m. Monday it was 83 degrees here in Vancouver and 58 degrees at Astoria, Ore. That is why I love the Pacific Northwest. When it gets too hot here you can always run down to the ocean or just wait a couple of days, the marine air it will come to us and cool us off.

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://weathersystems.com.