Could we be entering an extended dry spell as we approach the middle of April? Forecast charts like to keep us mostly sunny and dry this weekend and for all of next week. Ah, spring will be in the air. We must get through one more chilly night tonight, with widespread frost expected Sunday morning.
High temperatures each day next week could be in the 70s, with Monday the warmest as things look right now. My geraniums are blooming nicely in the garage; perhaps I will set them outside next week and soak up more sunshine. That may be temporary, however. We may not be free from frost quite yet. Most of us are free from damaging frosts by Mother’s Day, when I usually get my garden going.
As of Friday, Vancouver was running 2.6 degrees above the average temperature, and despite a couple of cool nights, that will jump quickly if we get a string of 70-degree days. Rainfall, on the other hand, is below average for the month to date; we’ll get further behind as the month wears on. A weak weather system may graze Southwest Washington today, but rain will likely be limited to coastal regions and areas north of Clark County. To summarize, it will be a fantastic weekend for a scenic drive. We’ll accept it.
Dry-ish April
It’s not unusual for us to have a week or so without rain in April. Last year, we went from April 16 to April 24 without measurable rain in Vancouver. One month that was on the dry side was April 2020, when we went nearly two weeks without rain. The month ended 2 inches below average, and the rainfall totaled less than an inch.
