Weather Eye: Monday’s springlike weather will prove fleeting as rain moves in

Monday was a contrast of winter and spring, cold, frosty temperatures in the 20s in the early morning hours and an abundance of sunshine later on. Then, almost spring-like weather, with afternoon temperatures swinging into the mid- to upper 50s.

Easterly winds were blowing Monday afternoon, keeping the air nice and dry. I had 25 degrees for a low in Salmon Creek and Vancouver officially had 26 degrees.

But that was yesterday and yesterday is gone. Today, a cold front will bring cooler air with lowland rain and mountain snowfall — nothing excessive, but enough to go around even down into California. Showers could bring some thunder and hail as well. March is on a roll.

It still appears that we could flirt with winter next week, with lowland snow a possibility. With that being said, it is a ways out and we have had these long-range forecasts this past winter and little to show for them. We do have a nice sunny weekend in store, if that helps.

Seattle reported it had tied its seventh-driest February on record. Northern and central California has been on the dry side, too, during both January and February. Northern California had its driest January/February science 1852. Looking ahead, the next three weeks in March will be more dry than wet.

Japan had a devastating snowstorm over the weekend that virtually trapped and killed motorists in their cars on Hokkaido Island, with winds up to 68 mph creating snow drifts of over six feet high.

See you on Thursday!

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://weathersystems.com.