Weather Eye: Break in high pressure should let some moisture flow to the area

The only change in the weather scene is, forecast models show the strong ridge of high pressure weakening about midweek. This will allow several weather systems to move our way with periods of rain and mountain snow at the highest elevations, say 6,000 feet or so. It won’t be enough to affect the nearly nonexistent snow pack that we are still hanging onto.

So, right now it looks like: high clouds Tuesday, showers Wednesday and Thursday, dry Friday, rain Saturday. Of course we will see just how strong these storms are when they get here. But forecast charts indicate about ½ to 1 inch of rain for the week.

I think that will be difficult to take, don’t you? I mean, we have become accustomed to day after day of sunny and dry weather. Spoiled, I guess.

Hardly any rain in the bucket for the first seven days of the month — 0.01 of an inch March 2, three-quarters of an inch below average.

For the next couple of months, the National Climate Center forecasts drier and warmer than average, maybe getting into the drought territory in some areas. No news there if our trend continues, and I don’t see any reason why not at this point.

We all have heard the old folklore saying that if March comes in like a lamb it will go out as a lion and vice versa. I know from years of weather history that comes true about two-thirds of the time. Vancouver resident and KGW weatherman Rod Hill did a fun fact check. Read his blog here: http://tinyurl.com/pew459t.

While we enjoyed the lamb-like weather a week ago, let’s hope the lion sleeps through March 31. Enjoy today’s flirtation with 70 degrees and we will chat on Tuesday!

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