Weather Eye: Weather starting to heat up again, with 80-degree days ahead

Pleasant (by my standards) weather continues around the Great Northwest, with highs in the 75-80 degree range. We have struggled to reach the 80 degree mark the past several days ,with a pair of 79s over the weekend.

Finally, at 5 p.m. Monday, the temperature hit 81 degrees, and today we will top 80 by several degrees at least. Then we pull out another 80 degree day on Wednesday and head back into the 70s Thursday, with morning clouds lingering into the afternoon. Over the weekend, high pressure from the desert southwest is forecast to build over us and swing the weather back into the hot category by Monday, with maybe a pair of 90 degree-plus days before another cooling trend arrives.

I make it a point not to discuss political hot potatoes in this column because it will never end up with a happy resolution despite the facts. With emails, I try to be somewhat neutral to avoid conflicts, as everyone has their own opinion on things.

The two topics are climate change and contrails. I have stated my opinion on both here over the years. Still, I don’t mind listening to those that wish to write me, as long as we respect each others’ viewpoint.

Moving right along, five years ago this month, we had just four days with highs at 90 degrees or better. It was a similar month, with the usual ups and downs. A few days with morning clouds and highs in the comfortable 70s, then back into the 80s and occasionally eclipsing the 90-degree mark. Two days back in July 2008, it didn’t make it out of the 60s. No complaints here.

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