Weather Eye: It looks like we’ll break 90-degree records this year

Well, a few places in the local area had some light measurable rain and brief downpours Saturday. Amboy had a good rain shower along with the Longview/Kelso area early Saturday. For the most part, the greater Vancouver area had just a trace with light sprinkles.

Rainfall amounts were much heavier along the Washington Coast and the farther inland in Western Washington. Skies cleared and blue skies were present midday along the coast. It would have been nice to have a half-inch of rain, but not this go-around.

It appears we jump back into the 80s today and will see highs at 90 degrees or higher most of the week. A good chance we have the most 90-degree high temperatures in a calendar year and set a record this month.

As skies clear today, perhaps this evening we will get a glimpse of the Perseid meter showers. Best viewing, of course, is out of the greater city areas where it is much darker.

I remember so many summers of lying in the backyard with the kids and watching these. Plus, the crickets added the feeling to a warm August night as summer wanes away. I had several readers let me know those critters were out and about chirping after dark. You know the old formula for telling the outside temperature — to get an estimate of the temperature, count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 37. You’ll be close.

The number of 90-degree high temperatures so far this year stands at 25 days here in Vancouver. We had one day in May, four in June, 14 in July and six so far this month. We will easily reach 30 days before the month is over.

I think of all the hot and dry weather and look at the calendar, and the first day of fall for us weather folks is only 19 days away, beginning on Sept. 1. Time goes by so quickly, it seems, but I know many of you enjoy autumn the best just like me.

It’s coming, those cooler days, crisp nights and the bountiful harvest from the gardens. Enjoy your week.

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

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