Weather Eye: Be prepared for showers, or not, on July 4

Boy, that was quite a cool-off on Tuesday from Monday’s high of 93 degrees. Vancouver had a 20-degree drop, with a high of 73 degrees. Ocean air always provides our natural air conditioning. Today and Friday we will have highs close to seasonal averages, with 80 degrees or so. Morning clouds are likely as well.

The holiday weekend appears to be cooler than normal, and we have to mention a chance of showers Sunday and Monday. It is too early to know for sure what will develop; I think most of the showers will remain over the mountains. However, a 50 percent chance is a good guess right now.

It is also possible that conditions develop and we get a good soaking Sunday into the Fourth, with maybe a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain. That’s the other 50 percent. I do feel we will experience some light showers at any time through the Fourth and even on Tuesday, the day after.

I don’t see hot weather on the horizon the week of July 4, but maybe the week afterward. They always say summer begins on July 5, referring to summerlike weather, of course. This year, July 5 will be cloudy and cool, with maybe a shower.

One reason it is not a clear-cut forecast this weekend is we have a pesky upper-level low that will be wandering around, and where it stops, nobody knows for sure. Those of us who have lived here a while usually prepare for both warm and cool and sometimes wet weather for the Fourth. If I recall, I think it has rained maybe only four times in the past 30 years or so.

Looking at June statistics as of Wednesday for Vancouver, our average temperature was 73.2 degrees, which is exactly normal. That doesn’t happen often. Our rainfall still stands at 3.22 inches, 1.55 inches above normal. It’s a mixed bag for June records.

Last year on June 28, Vancouver reached its all-time record high of 115 degrees. Two days later, on June 30, it was only 77 degrees. I’m glad we are looking back on that and not ahead.

I’ll see you on Sunday.