Unlike some Novembers of the recent past, we have one that is acting more like itself, with a series of storms lined up out in the Pacific. With such mixing out in the ocean waters and an unstable atmosphere, chaos can develop with little notice.
We’re watching closely in this pattern for a rapid development off the Oregon Coast that stays inside 130 degrees longitude. If quick-developing storms move northward off the coast, then we are looking at windstorms.
We have a storm matching that criteria today, and a high-wind warning is issued for the Oregon Coast, with a local wind advisory. Winds will be in the 30- to 45-mph range here — not exactly a windstorm, but stormy nevertheless. Winds along the Washington Coast were expected to remain a little below the warning category.
Colder air aloft flows inland, and scattered thunderstorms are possible, mainly along the beaches. Snow levels will fall by the weekend, with our first good mountain snowfall well below the Cascades’ passes. Cooler weather, anyone? The woolly bears are hunkered down, folks.
The plan includes a half-inch of rain by Friday morning here in the city. Showers are on tap Friday through Sunday with partial clearing, but we could see thunder or hail. The mountains will see moderate snow. Steady rain should fall Monday through Wednesday, with increased storminess once again.
Although Vancouver was running slightly below average on rainfall as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the water level in the rain gauge will rise in the next week or so. November usually brings us at least 6 inches of rain, so get used to that wet stuff. “At least we don’t have to shovel it” is the old saying to counter that gloomy prediction.
Speaking of rainfall, the Portage Glacier visitor center about 50 miles south of Anchorage, Alaska, received a two-day total of 18.84 inches Oct. 30 and 31 — close to half the annual rainfall here in Vancouver. All that came courtesy of the Pineapple Express.
We’ll have to watch for an atmospheric river taking aim at us next week — with, of course, much less than the amount experienced in Alaska. Hang on to your hat in today’s blustery weather. Don’t open the umbrella.
