Weather Eye: Rain, rain will continue to wash that snow away

Now that the snowmelt is happening, the cleanup continues with more rain upon us today. So, before we proceed let’s catch up and see how much rain fell in January around the area from your friends and neighbors.

Rob Starr, Cougar, 21.04 inches; Robin Ruzek, Lake Shore, 8.03 inches; Larry Lebsack, Barberton, 7.93 inches; Jim Knoll, Five Corners, 8.38 inches; Chuck Houghten, Hockinson Heights, 10.73 inches; Dave Campbell, one mile west of Heisson, 11.15 inches; Murphy Dennis, Rawson Road near Clark Rifles, 11.53 inches; Tyler Mode, Battle Ground, 7.55 inches; Bob Mode, Minnehaha, 6.16 inches; Irv St. Germain, Prune Hill, 8.21 inches; Rick Krahn, Camas, 8.75 inches; Judy Weber, one mile west of View, 11.49 inches; Barry Fitzthum, above Chelatchie Prairie, 11.31 inches; and Bill Sobolewski, Livingston Mountain, 9.54 inches. The official rainfall for Vancouver was 7.49 inches, 1.99 inches above average. Our friend in the other Vancouver, in British Columbia, Roland Derksen, had 10.10 inches.

As you can see, last month was a wet one. So far in February, Vancouver has had a little under 3 inches, which is ahead of the game. That includes the melted water of the snowfall.

Today we have a good storm that promises plenty of rain and mountain snow. Snow levels start off low early this morning — under 1,000 feet — but rise later in the day to 2,500 feet.

Showers Friday and then steady rain Saturday, Sunday and Monday; it all equals wet and wetter. Highs in the 40s but rising into the 50s next week. I expect Vancouver could get 2 or 3 inches of rain in the next five days. The satellite photos show moisture trailing back to near Hawaii, the old pineapple express.

So, the attire will be a rain jacket and umbrella. At least you won’t have to shovel it, right? The damage from last week’s freezing cold weather is amazing after looking at all the photos in the area. Roofs caved in, trees down and branches, too many to count. Power still out five or six days later for many in the Northwest.

Hopefully, spring arrives early. Some forecast models were showing cold and snow again by the end of the month — low whisper, no.