Weather Eye: Enjoy summerlike weather, because it will be over soon

But who knows, between the almanacs, nature’s critters and meteorologists making their winter predictions, it seems to become an annual ritual this time of the year.

Many professionals utilize a series of analog years that have been similar to this year to perhaps draw a conclusion. I always say that you look back to the past to predict the future.

Regardless, the weather will do whatever it will do. Forecasting, no matter how far advanced it has become, still isn’t an exact science.

The woolly bear caterpillars I’ve observed in the northern part of the state this week had mostly wide orange bands. This would indicate a mild winter. We have discussed this numerous times but scientists tell us the little critters are actually telling us what the last winter was like. It was a fairly mild winter last year, hence the majority have wide bands. These caterpillars live for two winters before transforming into the Isabella moth.

Unless we get a third of an inch of rain before midnight Friday in Vancouver, we will end up below average in the rainfall department. September’s total was just 1.15 inches as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. The average mean temperature was 62 degrees Wednesday, 2 degrees below normal.

So do we call this month cooler and drier than average? I always say averages are just a collection of extremes. And so it goes.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the first taste of autumn weather.

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