Weather Eye: Soak in the thrill of the last showers we’ll see for a while

Were you dancing in the streets Saturday like many around Clark County? I think the rain enticed a few to do just that. I heard no complaints — take it with stride, we did.

I recorded 0.37 of an inch Saturday as of 5 p.m. while downtown Vancouver had 0.16 of an inch. This was the most since the first days for many in the county. I had a few reports in the foothills of over a half-inch of rain.

The thirsty ground quickly soaked in the rain but it just pounded on some hard-packed areas. As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the thermometer hadn’t quite reached 70 degrees, the coolest since the 66 of June 3. Savor that high temperature — more in just a moment.

First we will see more showers today, maybe even a thunderstorm and heavy downpours. This will be the last moisture for a while as the upper-level low pressure off the British Columbia coastline is moving slowly eastward.

That will allow strong high pressure to build northward into the Pacific Northwest and beginning Tuesday we quickly warm — into the 90s Wednesday through Friday. Might we do a 100 degree high this year?

I might add that the metro area had the most rain of the region. The partly sunny south Washington coast was around 70 degrees — warmer than us. I wish it had rained an inch or two but we’ll take all we get.

Even though the rain helped the fire conditions, an extended period of hot weather and maybe some east winds this week will bring the red flags back. Be careful. Take a walk in any showers you may be under today. Enjoy.

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