Today is Flag Day, but as far as the weather scene goes, there are no red flags in the forecast. More like “steady as she goes,” as the ship’s captain commands. Lots of clouds, maybe a shower or drizzle today and Wednesday, but other than that, status quo.
I would say our weather this week will be pretty close to whatever “normal” is for the month of June. With the clouds, sun breaks and a risk of drizzle, afternoon highs will be textbook as well. That means highs around 70 degrees, plus or minus a degree or two. The average high for Vancouver is about 71 or 72 degrees at this time of year.
Looking around the globe, there are plenty of natural events occurring right now. Earthquakes and aftershocks in New Zealand, and volcanic eruptions in Chile and Africa prove that the earth is active.
Very dry conditions, which enabled the giant wildfire in Arizona to run uncontrolled, will continue, with humidity levels as low as five percent. As of Monday, it was very close to being the state’s largest fire in history. With such dry and windy conditions, it will most likely reach the record today.
Meanwhile, we are enjoying afternoon humidity levels in the 50 to 60 percent range. There’s certainly no wildfire threat in our neck of the woods. We will continue with elevated humidity and moist air over us all week. If we were to get some good clearing and temperatures near 80 or so, you would certainly feel the muggy conditions.
Although we have now officially entered into the Atlantic hurricane season, there are no tropical cyclones on the horizon and none predicted for at least the next seven days or so. That is a bit of good news.
More information is still coming in on the deadly Joplin, Mo., tornado, which so far is the eighth-deadliest tornado in U.S. history. News sources have reported that there are several additional fatalities due to a deadly fungus infection that has killed some survivors. If this is confirmed, the tornado would move up to No. 7, with 151 deaths. The worst tornado recorded was on March 18, 1925, with 695 deaths in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
Enjoy the “normal” June weather, and I will see you on Thursday.
Pat Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://weathersystems.com.
