Weather Eye: Rain returns, but first part of next week looks sunny, bright

I hope you enjoyed Wednesday’s weather because it is back to rain today, showers Friday and Saturday. We risk enduring more heavy showers, hail and thunder, Friday especially.

Rainfall amounts over the next three days could easily reach or exceed an inch in Vancouver and 2 inches or more in the foothills and outlying wetter areas. Of course with showers some areas will be wet and some wetter.

Will the sun shine for Mother’s Day? Stepping out on a limb I will go for a repeat of Easter Sunday. Warm with highs near 70 degrees and mostly sunny, some clouds here and there. The beginning of next week looks absolutely perfect. Sunny with highs in the 75- to 80-degree range. At least through Wednesday.

Early yesterday morning it was cool or shall I say cold with reports of frost in many outlying areas. Tyler Mode reported 35 degrees in Battle Ground and Phil Delaney reported 30 degrees above Dole Valley. It just goes to show you that it can get cold even into May.

The upper Cascade mountain ski areas picked up several inches of snow Tuesday, adding to that spring skiing delight. Snow continues to melt rapidly at lower elevations so remember when the weather turns nice next week, area rivers and lakes will be chilly. Don’t risk hypothermia.

Just a last reminder that this week is Severe Weather Awareness Week and good discussions and information are posted on our local National Weather Service office’s website at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/.

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