Finally, we managed to get a good push of marine air Monday to keep our highs in the 70s. In fact, at 5 p.m., Vancouver had the warmest afternoon temperature in all Western Washington at 71 degrees. Here is what I wrote in my last column: “With cooler air off the ocean, I expect high temperatures Monday through Wednesday to reside in the 70s. Then back to sunny and warm weather by Friday as September presents itself.”
No change in that forecast currently. An upper-level low will provide some widespread light rain or showers today through Thursday. Amounts will vary but could be upward of one-quarter inch. Beneficial yes, but enough to put out all the wildfires? Nope. They will take a good hit from higher humidity, lower temperatures and some rain falling from the skies.
High pressure will briefly move in Friday through the Labor Day weekend but hot weather is not in the cards. The National Climate Center has the first two weeks of September with cooler and wetter weather than average. Let’s hope that pans out.
Even with a cooler outlook ahead, I have heard some folks say that our 90-degree weather is over for the season. While none is in the outlook, we can have 90-degree highs even into the first week of October, especially if east winds develop. Most hot weather in late September and early October has highs in the 85- to 90-degree range. The last 90-degree highs in October in Vancouver were in 1987 and 1988.
