Weather Eye: Enjoy mild temps because colder weather on its way

At 5 p.m. Monday, Vancouver reached 70 degrees and normally I would most likely remark that it was the first 70-degree day of the year. However, those unusual five days in a row of 70 degrees in mid-March removed the luster of announcing such an April achievement.

We will enjoy one more day with highs beyond 70 degrees before clouds increase this evening and cold showers abound on Wednesday. Don’t anticipate any record-setting high temperatures today, which would be a lofty effort to tie or break the record for April 2 at 80 degrees. And that was a long, long time ago in 1944.

With the sunny skies the past few days we had a glorious view of the local Cascade peaks in our area. You also may have noticed plenty of that white stuff yet to melt off Silver Star Mountain to our east between Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. Those foothills will get several inches of snow on Wednesday into early Thursday.

Here is the rundown on the upcoming days as far as the weather is concerned. The cold low that will bring a sharp drop in temperatures Wednesday and induce the precipitation will slowly slip down the coastline as a closed low. It will park itself off the California coast after it leaves its calling card at our doorstep.

Remember I always mention this time of the year to watch Silver Star if snow resides on its slopes, frost is possible. If we get enough clearing overnight as the low drops southward, many of us in the county could drop to freezing and experience frosty conditions. Downtown Vancouver would probably escape frost, but it may be close if it is cold enough.

Mild April showers

I don’t expect a ton of rain from this system because the brunt of the convection will remain to our west. Enough rain will fall to justify the wording of April showers, however. A weaker ridge of high pressure is scheduled to lazily join us late over the weekend and present a few days of dry and mild weather next week. We will welcome that.

Enjoy today’s weather as we will see a 20-degree drop or more in afternoon temperatures on Wednesday. Back to warmer attire I’m afraid. Take good care everyone.