Weather Eye: What rain we had wasn’t much, and soon it will be hot again

Goodness! Where does time go? We are halfway through the month of August and summertime continues in full force.

Friday’s rainfall was a disappointment, to say the least, with rainfall amounts around the county from just a trace to about a tenth of an inch. I recorded 0.07 of an inch in Salmon Creek. Hardly enough to settle the dust, was it?

Our friends in Puget Sound received most of the weather action with thunderstorms, hail, lightning and thunder. At one point around noon, a heavy shower hung over downtown Seattle, and it was almost as dark as night. Rainfall amounts up there were 1 inch or more in many locations, and some reaching much more.

Some interesting rainfall amounts Friday included 5 miles south of Lacey in Thurston County, 3.37 inches; Wells Creek in Whatcom County, 4.60 inches; Olympia 1.37 inches; Sea-Tac, 1.20 inches; and Lake Stevens in Snohomish County, 1.45 inches.

Look at those rainfall amounts in just one day! In contrast, here in Vancouver the official tally for the city was only 0.01 of an inch, barely measurable. Our rainfall total since the first of May is only 1.36 inches. Surprising looking up the amounts we had: 0.68 of an inch June 1 through Aug. 14, and also 0.68 of an inch in the month of May.

We are back in the 80s today and Monday and then — ready for this? Yep, back in the 90s, which will set a record for the number of 90-degree or higher days in a calendar year in Portland and other communities.

Yes, the drought continues, with no rain in sight.

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