Strong east winds will develop today, with winds of more than 60 mph in the Columbia River Gorge and between 30 and 45 mph in the greater Vancouver area. More debris, twigs and limbs are sure to break off the trees, especially with all the leaves still on them.
This is a result of cold air following the high pressure slipping down east of the Rockies. This air mass brought snow to Montana and Wyoming. Early-season snow fell even at lower elevations in the Rockies. The air will warm, however, as it flows westward today, bringing temperatures in the low 80s. As the colder air slides eastward, the thermal low pressure will be over us, pushing the thermometer back into the upper 80s and low 90s over the weekend.
The winds will slowly die down on Friday — kind of a repeat of last week but, initially, stronger winds will present themselves. Low humidity will accompany the winds, increasing the fire danger. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Portland had issued a red flag warning, wind advisory and a special weather statement for Clark County.
So even with clear skies and sunshine, there is plenty of weather action. I hear that this weather is great for the fall grape harvest in the western valleys — and a great harvest for warm-weather crops in your garden as well. That is as long as everything gets watered.
