While waiting for the good possibility of showers tonight and Friday, the drought conditions continue to worsen around the state. It is known that all of Central and Eastern Washington is in an extreme drought, the second-highest category, but that category has also slipped west of the Cascades.
It includes the northern half of Pacific County (includes Long Beach north on the Peninsula), all of Grays Harbor County and parts of Lewis, Thurston and Mason counties. That’s why we have heard of wildfires along the coastal areas recently just south of Astoria, Ore., and just north of Long Beach.
In Clark County we are in the severe drought category.
It doesn’t look too good anytime soon for relief of the warm temperatures, as experts predict that August through October has a greater chance of seeing above-normal temperatures. Precipitation chances favor below-average rainfall. Will autumn rains start in October as usual or be delayed? Only time will tell; but with the current warmer ocean waters and a strong El Niño in the offing it doesn’t look promising.
Our forecast goes like this: Increasing clouds today and showers developing late evening into Friday morning. Some forecast models indicate a tenth to a quarter-inch of rain.
Friday should see highs in the 70s. Chilly! The trough of low pressure lifts northeastward from the southern Oregon Coast and will be off to the east by Saturday. The weekend looks nice with highs getting back into the 80s.
