Clouds rolled in Friday, blocking sunshine that would have warmed us. The high was 40, resting in the mid-30s most of the day. Rainfall was light and some areas, including Battle Ground, had a little freezing rain as reported by weather observer Tyler Mode.
Saturday wasn’t much better with gray skies and drizzle. The early morning low kept above freezing at 34 degrees in Vancouver. More light rain falls today and tapers off Monday. A storm arriving Tuesday and Wednesday could drop an inch of rain. Cold air will follow the precipitation and any lingering showers will be in the form of snow in the coast range and foothills to the east.
Late in the week high pressure rebuilds for another dry period. East winds will return and the air will be colder in the Columbia Basin. Christmas weekend looks sunny, windy and cold. If we had any moisture, we would have a white Christmas perhaps. Most will be content with the winter chill and sunshine.
Things could, and probably will, change in the extended outlook. We will adjust the forecast as the week wears on. As of midafternoon Saturday, Vancouver only had 0.43 inches of rain for the month, nearly three inches below average. And this is our second wettest month? We will tack on another inch of rain this week, but unless the weather pattern really changes, we may end up much drier than normal.
