We have had a couple of weather systems move through the past few days but really not much to write home about rainwise. OK, except Monday’s scattered isolated heavy showers. And that will be the case the remainder of the month, mostly weak rain events. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, I measured only .04 of an inch in the Salmon Creek area.
It will average cooler than average with the west to northwest flow, with no return to 80-degree-plus weather in the foreseeable future. In fact, forecast charts indicate snow down to Cascade passes or below early next week, so we keep that sunbathing weather locked until maybe June.
The mountain peaks have really lost some good snow; rocky crags are showing on Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. Maybe a thin layer of white as a cover-up coming next week.
The month of June is statistically more cloudy than the month of May here in the Northwest. That is because the influence of marine air bringing those morning clouds and afternoon sunshine.
Weather for the Parade of Bands in Hazel Dell on Saturday still looks dry at the beginning, but showers may develop as the day goes on. Now, it hasn’t rained on the parade all that much over the years, at least not a steady downpour. Watch the latest forecast Friday night, and if showers are in the forecast, be prepared. The afternoon definitely looks like showers will be present. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the two hours of the parade, which begins at 10:30 am.
So, a good two weeks into the month and how do our statistics measure up for Vancouver? Rainfall (as of 5 p.m. Wednesday) is no surprise: only 0.15 of an inch compared with a normal of 1.30 inches. Our average mean temperature is 62.3 degrees, about 6 degrees above average. Dry and warm. The flip side of the month will be cool and damp, but not excessively. By the end of the month, things will probably average out close to normal on the temperatures but still be below average on the precipitation.
Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at Weather Systems.
