Weather Eye: Glad for dry, sunny days? Pollen will raise rain’s appeal

Once the morning low clouds dissipated around the Pacific Northwest, it was sunny skies in all directions Saturday. Brisk northwest winds tempered high temperatures a bit, but it was still pleasant in the mid-60s.

Today will be the warmest day so far this year, with highs in the mid-70s. I don’t rule out hearing it hits 80 degrees on someone’s patio. We thank strong east winds and a thermal trough of low pressure (typical low pressure pattern for summertime heat) along the coast.

If this doesn’t get you outside or prepare you to barbecue, I don’t know what will. Imagine a day like late June.

Of course, with the warmth and east winds, tree pollen will be in the air big time. I could sure feel it Saturday and if you couldn’t detect it in your sinuses, I’m sure your car and anything else outside was coated in a fine yellow dust. Imagine breathing that in. Even those without allergies can get overwhelmed. Grab the bottle of antihistamines!

Deciduous trees and Douglas fir trees are exploding right now and the pine trees won’t be far beyond. I have watched my little pine tree on a sunny windy day. Those pollen pods just burst open with yellow dust flying. Next come the June grass pollens.

A nice downpour would help the plants’ nasty attack on us humanoids. This week will be cooler and cloudier with a “chance of” all week. No defined systems yet but showers or light rain — no frog-stranglers — are always on the horizon. Good weather for kids to be back in classrooms.

We will chat again Tuesday under mostly cloudy skies.