Weather Eye: More April showers before chance of warmer temps

With over one-half inch of rain falling as of 5 p.m. in Vancouver on Monday, our monthly total is well above normal. It could stop raining today and we would end up about average at the end of the month. However, more of those April showers are on tap through Wednesday night.

The forecast gets a little tricky Friday through the weekend with many forecast models showing dry and warmer conditions. I would expect to see highs in the 60s, but whether we make 70 degrees is up in the air. Other models keep unsettled conditions going.

You’ll see a hybrid forecast in the extended outlook with more seasonal temperatures. As the next trough of low pressure moves on, some of the colder locations could see frosty conditions Thursday morning. In addition, colder air aloft will lower snow levels back down to our foothills. Snow showers at 1,000 feet or so. Sounds like a broken record, doesn’t it?

As I write this column, the record rainfall for Monday was .73 of an inch set in 1916. Today’s record was set last year with 1.10 inches. If it kept raining until midnight Monday, we could be close to that .73 of an inch record. Not the kind of thing to write home about.

This latest bout with a pineapple express pushed snow level way up above the ski areas. Fortunately, the snowpack is so deep it would have soaked up much of the rain. Lower elevations had a good runoff and the creeks in Clark County were roaring Monday.

By now we should be seeing plenty of days in the 60s and even 70s. Not this year. It seems like the trees and shrubs are a week or two behind in their leafing out process. And breezy conditions robbed many of the flowering trees of their beautiful blossoms.

I drove by Skyview High School over the weekend and the flowering trees on the southern side of the street were in full bloom despite the dribbly skies.

There is still some snow on Silver Star Mountain to our east so the chances of frost remain. Be prepared to cover tender plants for a while yet. We’ll chat Thursday and see if we are any closer to a 70-degree day.