Are you enjoying our spring-fling weather? I just added the fling thing for a little bit of flavor to get us going in the swing of things for weather this month.
The countryside is turning mighty green now, and many blooms are dotting neighborhoods across Clark County. That’s payback for all of those April showers. Yes!
Drier conditions are shaping up again for this weekend after we get the Thursday and Friday rainfall behind us. Skies are even expected to be clear enough by Saturday night to view the full moon around 8:30 p.m.
This month’s full moon ties in with the moon’s closest approach to Earth this year, making it appear larger than normal. It also will be about 15 percent brighter than average, so catch it as it rises to the east for the full effect. If you can add a few trees or dwellings between you and the horizon, it will appear even larger thanks to an optical illusion. My camera is ready.
The full moon also will make tides around the world either higher or lower than normal.
With warming temperatures during the weekend and into early next week, we should see a rapid rise in runoff from melting snow entering local waterways. Factor that in if you are going boating or fishing.
A little more snow fell earlier this week in the Cascade Mountains and the higher foothills. A week ago, weather observer Phil Delany hiked Silver Star Mountain and said he found about 8 to 10 feet of snow near the top.
Clearing skies and a lingering cool air mass brought a definite chill in the air early Wednesday in many areas of the county, with temperatures dipping into the 30s and a few reports of scattered frost.
Get through the May showers, and focus on the weekend becoming brighter and warmer. Enjoy!
Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at Weather Systems.
