Vancouver is still running more than 5 degrees above average with temperatures this month so far. With an expected heat wave beginning today through Sunday that will continue to rise. It appears likely we will see highs at 90 degrees or so through Sunday. We will also have some wildfire smoke at times, making for hazy skies.
We throw another wrench in the weather scene as a cutoff low to our southwest rotates unstable air northward and produces thunderstorms, mainly nocturnal ones which can produce much more lightning strikes than daytime storms. The main activity will ride along the Cascades but no doubt if they make it this far north, we will see flashes in the sky to our east. Only a slight chance one will drift over Clark County; however, a good downpour would feel good.
This may ignite more wildfires, so a fire weather watch was up on Wednesday. It may seem humid at times, making a 90-degree afternoon temperature feel several degrees hotter.
That’s the pattern lately, warm to hot back to warm with smoke, haze and humidity thrown in. Ready for fall anyone?
Overall, it has been great summer weather, but you can be sure fall is quickly approaching, the nights are getting longer. The ants are busy, and the grasshoppers are carefree. Plenty of action in nature outside our windows.
I had several readers comment on how early some trees are turning colors. One must remember we have had little rain for months and it is quite dry. Between the dry soil and excessive heat waves, the trees that are not watered are under extreme stress, which is causing the leaves to dry up and fall and change into their autumn colors. We need a soaking rain to slow things down.
Forecast models are in a good agreement that a trough of low pressure will swing inland early next week and bring our best chance of rain so far this summer. If it were to transpire, a quarter to one-half inch of rain could fall. While it is somewhat confident most computer models show this, I’m not 100 percent sure it will go as planned.
Stay tuned to the daily forecast and see how the extended forecast plays out. Fingers crossed.
Prepare for hot weather and keep yourself safe.
