A weak weather system moved through Saturday, which kept skies gray all day with chilly temperatures in the mid- to upper 40s. Rainfall was paltry, only a tenth of an inch as of 4 p.m. Saturday. We enjoy a break today with partial clearing after morning clouds or fog, then one more storm late tonight and Monday.
That storm should bring about a quarter-inch of rain, perhaps a half-inch in the foothills. Then we enter into some early winter doldrums on Tuesday the first day of December. This translates to no rain and some stagnant conditions with fog and low clouds a good share of the day. However, the saving grace for us will be a flow of easterly winds through the Gorge, which will keep a good share of Clark County free of fog and clouds.
Sunny skies and highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s in wind-sheltered locations — and near freezing in exposed windy locations. We most likely enter into an inversion with warmer air aloft. The mountain ski areas could be in the 50s. But given the low angle of the sun, snowmelt will be minimal.
How long will the calm weather last? At least through this upcoming weekend as it appears now. Some longer-range models hint of colder weather and a chance of lowland snow, but that is 10 to 14 days out. We’ll see.
