Before we start talking weather, let’s review some rainfall from your friends and neighbors for December. Claudia Chiasson, Carson, 13.81 inches; Rob Starr, Cougar, 18.63 inches; Robin Ruzek, Lake Shore, 5.72 inches; Dave Campbell one mile west of Heisson, 8.79 inches; Larry Lebsack, Barberton, 6.60 inches; Phil Delany, above Dole Valley, 14.10 inches; Tyler Mode, Battle Ground, 6.63 inches; Judy Darke, Felida, 9.30 inches; Ellen Smart, Ridgefield, 7.00 inches; Matt Sloan, west Vancouver Heights, 4.21 inches; Bob Mode, Minnehaha, 5.22 inches; Jim Knoll, Five Corners, 6.19 inches; Chuck Houghten, Hockinson Heights, 8.12 inches; Murphy Dennis, Rawson Road near Clark Rifles, 8.59 inches; Irv St. Germain, Prune Hill, 6.84 inches; and Bill Sobolewski, Livingston Mountain, 8.64 inches. Our friend Roland Dersken in Vancouver, B.C., had 13.17 inches. The official rainfall for Vancouver, Wash., was 4.91 inches, 1.86 inches below average.
December had more rain than November but November was also below average by 3.54 inches. January so far is running 1.50 inches below average. And with the split flow of the jet stream out in the Pacific things aren’t getting better.
The funny thing this winter is that the storms heading our way on the satellite pictures look huge spanning hundreds of miles of ocean. Then the energy is split as it reaches the coast or just sits off the coast.
Our east winds are back and gusty out near the Gorge. On the bright side, we have more sunshine to enjoy with the next batch of rain not until Thursday. Meanwhile, the area rain gauges are still thirsty.
