Weather Eye: January records heaviest month of rainfall

In Tuesday’s column, I mentioned that we should easily pass November 2017 rainfall of 6.50 inches and needless to say, we easily did that the other day. The rain kept falling and we passed the next heaviest month of rainfall which was March 2017 with 7.05 inches. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Vancouver’s January rainfall totaled 7.06 inches.

This month is the heaviest month of rain since February 2017 when a deluge of 10.38 inches was recorded. That was 6.35 inches above normal. Lots of flooding that month. With only today and Friday left in the month, we won’t get close to that amount thank goodness.

We have more light rain or showers in the offing today and Friday. Total amounts should be about a quarter-inch to half-inch in the outlying wet locations. Finally, a month with above-average rainfall. Place a gold start on the kitchen calendar. I’ll let you know Sunday how much we did have if you want to include that as well.

The weekend looks wet as a cold front heads our way on Saturday. Temperatures will cool and lots of mountain snow and even some down on our foothills. I doubt the groundhog would see his shadow here Sunday. An early spring?

We see a temporary cool down as snow levels drop to 500 feet overnight Monday and Tuesday before we inch up to more seasonal temperatures. We could have a frosty morning on Tuesday if skies clear long enough overnight.

We know it has been on the wet side locally but how about other places in Western Washington? Pacific County including Long Beach, Ocean Park, Naselle, South Bend and Raymond have been literally inundated by excessive rain. Some rain gauges in these locations have had over 35 inches of rain this month as of earlier this week. Upward of ten inches more rain is on the way in the next seven days. Water is standing along roadways and yards. Many homes are flooded and isolated by surrounding water.

Keep warm and dry, we’ll chat on Sunday.