Today is the first day of the month and another start of a new weather season for us in the weather business. Of course, we are into the winter weather season and I should be chatting with you today about big storms lingering off the coast or maybe cold arctic air and snow from Canada.
However, all I can offer is a week or so of dry weather and at least a few days of sunshine, how about that? When we get a strong ridge of high pressure over us, we go into the inversion pattern with mild weather up in the ski areas and cooler temperatures down here in the lowlands.
We will have some gusty east winds beginning today, especially out in the Camas and Washougal areas, with gusts in the 40-50 mph range. Add the wind chill and it will be chilly. On the west side of Interstate 5, winds won’t be as strong, resulting in warmer high temperatures but much colder with lows in the 20s. In windy locations, overnight lows will hover in the 30s, unless the wind ceases for a spell.
As long as the east winds are blowing, we will be spared the dreaded foggy days in winter that occur with inversions. Areas south of Portland and north of Clark County could have fog and low clouds lasting into afternoon hours or maybe all day. So, the sky conditions will vary greatly. If east winds die down later in the week, air stagnation will be an issue.
