We had a little relief from the heat Wednesday as marine clouds were very slow to burn off. In fact, the predicted highs of low 80s fizzled to the low 70s without too many complaints.
Our friends in the higher elevations near 1,000 feet and farther east enjoyed clear skies all day. The coastal strip had drizzle overnight into early Wednesday, enough to wet the streets in some locales.
The weather forecast now includes more of those morning clouds but highs still above average, mainly in the 70s to perhaps near 80 degrees if we get considerable clearing.
The odds of any showers or thunderstorms over the weekend have dissipated and will remain over the southern Oregon Cascades. Bad news down there with possible lightning. Locally, the dry spell continues into next week and maybe through the last day of the month. Certainly not much on the horizon to bring us any rainfall.
I had a couple of emails Wednesday afternoon asking if our 80-degree weather is over for the year. Even though the forecast calls for highs in the 70s, sure, we can still get 80 degrees, especially if we receive an easterly wind flow. October can have highs in the 80-degree range with no problem, although it just takes a little bit more doing, ha, ha.
Oct. 12 will mark the 50th anniversary of the famous Columbus Day windstorm that struck the Pacific Northwest, causing massive destruction. There hasn’t been a windstorm like that since.
The Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society will provide an in-depth look at the windstorm at its October meeting at 10 a.m. Oct. 13 at OMSI. There will be feature presentations, videos, television broadcasts, audio recordings, historical photographs and much more. The public is invited to this free event.
Enjoy your weekend!
Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at Weather Systems.
