Weather Eye: Expect 85 to 90 degrees today through weekend

Happy first day of September, the beginning of fall for us weather folks. No worry, summer continues for another three weeks according to the calendar. And you’ll hardly notice any fall-like weather this week as a warm and dry air mass settles in.

I talked Sunday about highs 85 to 90 degrees beginning today right through the weekend and into early next week. That is still on and I also mentioned some forecast models indicated even hotter weather late this week. That remains to be seen. Bottom line, some days in the 80s and some in the 90s.

It is a tricky atmospheric pressure balancing act which controls the winds. If winds are from the northwest and north 85 to 90 degrees sounds good. If we get easterly or northeasterly winds, then perhaps in the 90s. Also, if we get a southerly flow, we can also reach past 90 degrees.

I’m taking the safe approach and keeping us in that 85- to 90-degree range. Watch the direction of the winds to see how warm it will be. If we were to get five or six days in a row at 90 degrees or higher that would be unusual for September, so we will see. We still need a few more days to reach our average of 14 or 15 summer days at 90 or above. I’ll be counting for you.

Another reason to watch the winds both at the surface and aloft are the wildfires that are burning to our east and south over California. As pressure gradients change, we could see hazy skies from the smoke. I hope not, nothing worse than hot temperatures and smoky skies. Fingers crossed on that possibility.

I mentioned the other day that the Farmers’ Almanac called for mild and dry weather for our winter. By reading their detailed text they indicate possible wet and cold as is the prediction for east of the Cascades. The Old Farmers’ Almanac states it like this for us, “Wet? You bet!” Of course, every winter is wet here. The driest winter I recall was 1976-77 as far as totals, but still many rainy days.

Still looking for the woolly bears. Take good care.