That cold air mass that arrived really gave us a variety of weather. Snow in the mountains down to pass levels at times. Snow falling at Government Camp in mid-June? Several inches up at the timberline on Mount Hood. A taste of winter. Here in the lowlands, we had some crazy weather. A waterspout over the Camas Slough along the Columbia. A tornado across the river in Clackamas County.
Weather observer Ellen Smart above Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge reported a heavy shower Sunday that dumped one inch of rain in 20 minutes. She had hail too that her petunias didn’t care for, to say the least. I heard from others of you of downpours that flooded streets curb to curb. Others, like in Felida area, had light showers. The official gauge in Vancouver along the Columbia tallied 0.46 of an inch.
There were lightning strikes, the majority cloud to cloud rather cloud to ground, which are more noticeable. Meanwhile along the Washington Coast, it was a mostly sunny day with plenty of clear skies. That occurs many times under a cold air mass as the cold, unstable air moves over the warmer land areas.
Despite the rain Sunday and another quarter-inch of rain Monday, Vancouver is still below average for the month. Sunday’s high temperature of 58 was 15 degrees below average but 2 degrees above the record low maximum of 56 degrees back in 1973.
Showers will be scattered today but dissipate after dark. Wednesday, we transition back to summer weather with a high at normal and highs Thursday through Saturday are 80 degrees or better.
