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News / Clark County News

Weather Eye: Some county residents may have dusting of white Christmas

By Patrick Timm
Published: December 23, 2015, 6:08pm

First off I would like to wish everyone Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and such. A big thank you to all the faithful readers who continue to report their weather observations and insights.

Another year is almost in the record books and boy we have had a wild ride this year, haven’t we? From one extreme to another.

A couple of months ago I would have never thought December would be such a soggy month. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Vancouver has seen over 15 inches of rain. It will be interesting to see December’s records around the state.

Yesterday was a busy day in the weather department. Snow mixed in with the rain here in the city — chunky rain we like to call it. Many reports of sticking snow at 500 feet and above. Several readers sent me pictures of fresh white-covered yards.

The last batch of moisture swings in today and many people in just the slightest elevations may wake up early Christmas with a glimmer of white. That was the forecast for much of the Puget Sound region and Southwest Washington.

King Tides (www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm) hit the Washington beaches Wednesday and again today, pushed by strong westerly swells. Many of the beaches on the Long Beach Peninsula and also at Ocean Shores had little if any visible beach at times. Foam several feet deep creeped into the beach dune grasses. An enthralling sight!

We also are looking at the full cold moon tonight, which will peak early Christmas morning. It shows up during the beginning of winter, which officially rolled in two days ago. A full moon hasn’t appeared on Christmas Day since 1977 and it will be another 19 years before this event occurs again.

I think skies will clear well enough after the kids are all snuggled in their beds tonight for a good opportunity to open the sash and take a peek. Santa will have no problem navigating this season. With all the bright moonlight, Rudolph may have to tone it down just a bit.

Ho, ho, ho.


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

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