The last day of September was uneventful, with some low clouds in the morning and hazy afternoon sunshine. We reached the 70s after two days in the 80s. Portland posted a record number of 80-degree days this calendar year with 85. Although not in the forecast, we still have a couple weeks left to add a day or two in the 80s, especially if we get an offshore flow of easterly winds.
We just get used to cooler temperatures as the weeks roll along. Soon we will struggle to reach 70 degrees and then the 60s.
September goes into the record books as a cool and dry month. I thought it was pleasant ,even with a few days of rain showers.
The first day of October will be much like the last day of September, with some low clouds and hazy afternoon sunshine. Highs will be in the low 70s. On Friday, expect another repeat, but increasing clouds in the afternoon may keep us just shy of 70 degrees. A weak weather system drops south out of Canada with little moisture. If we do get some raindrops Friday night, it won’t amount to much.
Skies begin to clear Saturday, and Sunday looks pleasant, even at the coast, with highs there well into the 60s.
It is possible a few snowflakes fall at the highest elevations as the low swings through the Northwest. Mount Hood on Wednesday was just a plain, barren rock. That dusting of snow a week ago is long gone. It will sure be nice to see it dressed in white for an extended period.
Last year, October began with a nice day and 68 degrees. We went 10 more days in the 70s and 80s until the middle of the month, when things went downhill quickly. We had 6 inches of rain in the last half of the month and much cooler than average temperatures. We managed to measure 6.03 inches of rain in October 2014. Looking at the monthly outlook, that doesn’t appear likely to reoccur this year. It will likely be drier than average.
Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. patricktimm.com
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