Clark County residents who enjoyed sunshine on Thursday likely will not be as fortunate over the holiday weekend.
After temperatures neared freezing Christmas night and into early Thursday, ice developed on roads throughout the county. A lack of overhead clouds Christmas night caused the ground to radiate heat, which then cooled and turned ground water into ice, said Miles Higa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
Temperatures rose to around 45 degrees Thursday, and the sun appeared for most of the day. Temperatures will likely be similar, though above freezing, over the next week, but several periods of rain are expected.
“The main storm systems are off the coast of western Canada, but we’ll just catch them by the tail end. It won’t be continuous rain,” Higa said. “We’ll be kind of in and out of these fronts coming into our area.”
Some rain was expected Thursday night and early this morning before clouds linger most of the day, according to the weather service. More rain is expected Saturday night into Sunday before a respite, and possibly even some sunshine, on Monday, Higa said.
Those headed to the coast for a getaway this holiday weekend should be careful if plans include a stop to see the Pacific Ocean.
The weather service issued a sneaker wave warning from late Thursday night through Sunday afternoon for the south Washington and central and north Oregon coasts. Waves may sweep up significantly on beaches — even on rocks and jetties — and knock people over before sweeping them into the frigid ocean. Children and pets should be kept away from the surf zone; beach-goers should stay off jetties, rocks and logs; and no one should enter the ocean.
In other words, “we’re asking people to keep an eye on the ocean as always,” Higa said.
Another rain front should arrive by Monday night and last through New Year’s Eve, according to the weather service. Lingering clouds may drop some showers New Year’s Day and Thursday.
