Weather Eye: Excessive heat in effect; July to finish on hot, dry note

Nine days and counting. That is the number of high temperatures in the 90s so far this summer in Vancouver. We’ll add another five or six of those most likely before cooler air arrives late Sunday. That would be our annual average of 90-degree days.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, we had yet to reach 100 degrees, but it was hovering at 99 degrees so a short while after this writing we could have reached that milestone for the first time this summer.

Not much of a relief but if you were exposed to the northwest breeze Monday, at least it had a slight cooling effect if you were in the shade. Otherwise, if you didn’t have access to air conditioning you were suffering. The excessive heat wave is in effect for the next couple of days, so this hot weather is nothing to mess around with. Take a break from outdoor activities.

We have another day today around 100 degrees and also Wednesday and Thursday. In fact, it stays well into the 90s Friday and Saturday before dropping in the low 90s Sunday and upper 80s by Monday. July finishes on a hot and dry note.

The only light rain we had measured in July was a little under a quarter of an inch with 0.24 of an inch falling on July 5, 6 and 7. I don’t even remember that after this heat wave that struck abruptly on Sunday. What a difference from Saturday with those morning clouds and an afternoon high of only 78 degrees.

Once again as usual, only the immediate ocean beaches escaped the hot stuff while inland a mile or two it was in the 80s. But still, perfect beach weather to escape the excessive heat of inland valleys.

The visible satellite photo Monday afternoon showed wildfire smoke from the fires in Northern California moving northward into Southern Oregon. This will continue migrating our way and we may see some high-level hazy skies midweek. Meanwhile, we flirt with 100 degrees through Thursday.

Surprisingly enough, last July after that record heat in June, we only managed to reach 96 degrees as the warmest for the month. We have done that easily. Stay safe and we’ll chat on another hot day Thursday.