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News / Clark County News

Weather Eye: Enjoy Thursday, as sunshine won’t last

The Columbian
Published: March 7, 2012, 4:00pm
2 Photos
Geoff Kunkle, 22, plays frisbee with a friend between classes at Clark College this week.
Geoff Kunkle, 22, plays frisbee with a friend between classes at Clark College this week. Sunny skies are expected Thursday in Vancouver. Photo Gallery

Lots of weather tidbits to pass along so let’s talk weather! It was downright cold early Wednesday after that cold frontal passage earlier in the week. Most locations in Clark County dipped well into the 20s with Vancouver officially bottoming out with 26 degrees. I had 25 degrees in Salmon Creek and other lows reaching the 20-degree mark.

For the Portland airport it was the coldest March morning in 10 years and the 28 degrees there was the latest 28 degree temperature in the month of March in 17 years. It was back in 1995 on March 7 when they recorded 28 degrees. In Western Washington some lows reached the upper teens!

According to the National Climatic Data Center this past winter was the fourth warmest on record across the United States. Of course that is overall and the Pacific Northwest was much cooler and drier, as well.

Thursday’s weather will be very springlike, with light east winds and highs over 60 degrees, even at the coast, so enjoy it. It all goes downhill after that. Over the weekend cold rains return and snow down to the higher foothills and Coast Range mountains. Next week looks stormy and wet.

Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say that with the geomagnetic storm on Wednesday that nighttime sky watchers Thursday night could get a glimpse of the auroras. The weather will cooperate with crisp clear skies hopefully but the full moon may add some light on the subject. Try and get away from city lights. Look for some faint green and red haze above the northern horizon. For more information go to NOAA.

The Oregon chapter of the American Meteorology Society “Winter Weather Recap” meeting is March 13 at 7 p.m. at KOIN-TV studios in Portland. Hosted by KOIN-TV Chief Meteorologist Bruce Sussman, with KPTV Chief Meteorologist Mark Nelsen recapping the winter weather. Sussman will then give a presentation on “TV Weather Careers” and will hand out to the budding meteorologists in the audience something special. Find more information with driving directions and parking information on the night of the meeting at: Oregon Chapter American Meteorological Society.

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

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