Weather Eye: April to finish cool and wet; May to begin in same vein

So, about time to utter, “Bye, bye April, hello, hello May.” I hope when May arrives Sunday it responds with “let the sun shine.” Maybe wishful thinking on my part.

Wednesday’s high in Vancouver was nearly 10 degrees below average. We should be enjoying highs in the mid- to upper-60s during a normal month. But we all know that “normal” is only a collection of extremes.

Even if we were dry these last couple days, April would be well above normal in rainfall. I’m ready for a change in May, with warmer weather to see how those flowers pop up. Looking ahead, however, I don’t see a 70-degree day or a day above average until maybe Wednesday.

Meanwhile, showers increase later today and tonight, ease off a bit Friday, then more showers Friday night and early Saturday. Rain could be moderate to heavy. Could we elude those raindrops on the first day of May on Sunday? We will optimistically place that in the forecast.

Eleven years ago today, June Lake near Mount St. Helens had over 12 feet of snow on the ground at the 3,340-foot elevation. And another 2 feet were in the forecast. Remember that 2011 was a chilly spring, and this month is the coolest since 2011.

As of Wednesday, there is about 9 feet of snow at June Lake. Higher up at Swift Creek SNOTEL station, there is over 13 feet at 4,440-feet. These amounts for both locations were 26-35 percent above normal. Of course, kudos for that go to this month of April. The silver lining in the cold and wet weather.