Well, according to the official records from the U.S. Drought Monitor, Clark County is now out of the drought category and back in good standing with nature. No surprise, is it? We have measured 5.34 inches of rain this month in Vancouver.
That 5.34 inches so far this month is nearly 1.5 inches above average. The average rainfall for the entire month is 6 inches so we are waterlogged at this point. More rain arrives today and lasts through the weekend, and I expect probably another inch or so of rain, easily surpassing the monthly average.
The good news is that beginning Monday we begin to dry out and we could see dry weather most of next week, at least Tuesday through Thursday. East winds will pick up and highs remain seasonal in the 40s with frost at night in wind-sheltered locations. The dry spell will be most welcome, I’m sure.
I don’t see lowland snow or frigid conditions arriving before Christmas in my crystal ball. I’ll have to shake the snow globe on my desk. There is no atmospheric river heading our way beyond this weekend, at least not for now. The mountain ski areas will get a brief burst of snow as precipitation starts today but will quickly turn to rain as the milder Pacific air gets entrenched with the moisture. That adds to the woes of resort operators. We knew an El Nino winter would most likely forebode poor snowfall in the Cascades. Hopefully it will turn around soon but it is anyone’s guess at this point.
