Weather Eye: Temperatures take a cooling turn, but more hot days likely ahead

I started to type in Jan. 21, 2015 for today’s column before I realized it is July 21. I think my mind wanted to think back to January and cool things off after last weekend’s heat wave.

However, nature will do that for us with more clouds and high temperatures sagging below the 80-degree mark today and Wednesday.

By Thursday and Friday it will mellow out as skies clear and high temperatures creep back to near normal, which is 82 degrees for a high. At least no more 90-degree days headed our way any time soon. Looking at forecast charts we may have to wait until August before another heat wave strikes — and I’m sure it will.

Some areas in Western Washington will experience some drizzle or maybe a light rain shower the next two days, with the best bet along the coast and over the mountains. If any moisture falls, it would be on the light side. Meanwhile, fire danger remains quite high, even with cooler temperatures and higher humidity.

Even with a few days dropping down in temperatures and more cloudiness, it really seems like a hot summer to me. I guess by the time I get rested up from the heat during the cooler days, it is back to hot once again.

Vancouver officially has tallied 16 days so far this year at 90 degrees or higher. Portland stands with 18. Here in Salmon Creek, I have recorded 19 days at 90 or better, with the highest Saturday at 99. Will we reach 100 degrees this summer?

So just for fun, what was it like on Jan. 21? We had a high of 49 and a low of 39 that day.

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