Weather Eye: Fair weather is carrying us closer to our first frost of the fall

Summer’s last holiday certainly wasn’t a sunny, hot weekend but, all in all, not too bad.

It has rained five of the past 10 Labor Days. As of late afternoon, this one was dry, but pesky clouds kept temperatures in the 60s. The only rain of this three-day weekend was Saturday, with 0.01 inch recorded in Vancouver.

The coastal beaches had the most sun Monday, and plenty of people enjoyed it. That was true Saturday and Sunday, too, with mostly clear skies at the beach and clouds inland.

Satellite pictures Monday afternoon showed another weather system sliding down from British Columbia and rain falling at Forks. The rain was forecast to begin locally late Monday, and showers may continue today, ending by tonight.

Another weak system will pass to our north Wednesday and Thursday, and we should enjoy fair weather, with temperatures still not quite up to normal — unless we get plenty of sunshine. The fair weather should continue into Saturday. After that, forecast models differ. Some bring remnants of Hurricane Lester close for showers Sunday.

I am reminded that we are into autumn weather, with lows around the county dipping into the cool 40s the past several nights — some as low as 40 degrees. It won’t be long before some outlying rural areas get their first frost; it’s usually by the end of September. The first frost in Hazel Dell/Felida is generally in mid- to late October. Downtown Vancouver usually waits until November — sometimes until Thanksgiving.

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

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