Let’s begin by reviewing last month’s rainfall around the area from your friends and neighbors: Bob Starr, Cougar, 12.15 inches; Jim Knoll, Five Corners, 5.58 inches; Robin Ruzek, Lakeshore, 3.89 inches; Chuck Houghten, Hockinson Heights, 6.11 inches; Tyler Mode, Battle Ground, 5.04 inches; Bob Mode, Minnehaha, 3.69 inches; Irv St. Germain, Prune Hill, 6.10 inches; Dave Campell, 1 mile west of Heisson, 5.43 inches; Ellen Smart, Ridgefield, 4.90 inches; Judy Weber, near View, 6.14 inches; and Barry Fitzthum, Amboy, 6.22 inches. Our friend Roland Derksen in Vancouver, B.C., reported 5.42 inches.
The official rainfall for Vancouver USA was 4.17 inches, .40 inches above average.
February rainfall totals from the observers were about half of what fell in January across the board. The only reason we surpassed the average rain for February was that extra day in the month this year, which was a wet one. Many of the observers, especially in the higher elevations, had days with snowfall, and I’m sure those folks are pleased that we have passed that point.
I know we have had snow in April in recent years, but that is rare, and nothing in the extended charts shows enough cold air heading our way for the white stuff. We could see scattered thunderstorms with small hail today as the atmosphere cools once again.
The next week of weather will fill the rain gauge to normal or beyond for the remaining days of the month as a series of weather systems will move through our region. On Thursday, Vancouver was running nearly an inch and a half below average for the month. Catch-up time, indeed.
