Weather Eye: Showers today and possibly a funnel cloud
By Patrick Timm
Published: March 12, 2019, 6:01am
Share:
Our weather will feel more like how March weather should feel and maybe a little bit more for good measure. After steady rain overnight, we will have showers today. Those showers may contain hail or graupel, and we could see lightning and thunder.
As cold air aloft arrives today, it is possible that we may hear of a report of a cold core funnel cloud. We are in that season now through April. When a tornado does touch down, it is usually in the spring months.
Heavy snow was expected in the mountains which is more good news as snow levels drop down to 2,000 to 2,500 feet. Beginning Wednesday, we enter an extended period of dry weather through the weekend and we will reach that long-anticipated temperature of 60 degrees by the weekend with Sunday being the warmest in the mid- to upper-60s. Maybe a 70 somewhere?
We did manage to reach the 50 degrees mark both days over the weekend and as of 4 p.m. Monday it was a balmy 56 degrees in Vancouver. Time goes so fast. Does that cold and snowy spell we had seem long ago?
The snow at the lower levels in our foothills was melting at a slow rate over the weekend. Good for soaking into the soil and better than a fast runoff. After today’s precipitation, it will continue to be a slow melt-off in the mountains as freezing levels soar. Great spring skiing coming up.
The warmer weather heading our way will induce a round of spring in nature, with the frogs busy singing at night, birds building nests and folks getting anxious to plant flowers and ready the vegetable garden. We sure deserve it after enduring that ‘six more weeks of winter.’
Vancouver was still running nearly ten degrees below normal on the average mean temperature so far this month. Rainfall was also below average by 1 inch. Hopefully we balance the averages slowly and even the statistics by the end of the month.
Get through today and the light at the end of the tunnel will be shining brightly soon.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
Support local journalism
Your tax-deductible donation to The Columbian’s Community Funded Journalism program will contribute to better local reporting on key issues, including homelessness, housing, transportation and the environment. Reporters will focus on narrative, investigative and data-driven storytelling.
Local journalism needs your help. It’s an essential part of a healthy community and a healthy democracy.
