Weather Eye: Hotter weather enters the scene as dry season arrives

Monday had to be one of the most pleasant days this month as far as the weather goes. Not too hot, not too cold, kind of a Goldilocks day if you will. Afternoon temperatures were in the mid- to upper 70s as I write this column and plenty of blue skies and sunshine.

Today and Wednesday we remain with pleasant temperatures, maybe a few morning clouds giving way to sunshine and perhaps some passing higher clouds. All in all, a great way to end the month of June. After June departs Friday, it will begin to warm up well into the 80s.

I mentioned here the other day about extended weather charts hinting of hotter weather as July enters the scene and we get closer to the Fourth of July. The odds of a heat wave are increasing, and it is probably OK that I say hotter weather will be with us for the long, extended holiday weekend.

No worries about a rainy Fourth for sure. There are some scenarios that give rise to “hotter than a firecracker” weather on the Fourth. That would be temperatures reaching 100 degrees or more. Right now, it is in the 10 percent to 20 percent odds range and we keep a weather eye out for that, of course.

The rest of the month will be dry and right now we have less than half of what we would expect for the month of June in the rain bucket. The dry season has already begun, I would say. Vancouver is running only 1 degree above average so far in June thanks to seven days with highs below average.

The extended outlook through the end of next week calls for much above average temperatures and, of course, dry weather. Wildfire dangers will rapidly go upward the day before the Fourth and if we get any easterly winds or gusty north winds, vegetation will become a tinderbox. We hope that is not the case but I’m sure officials are keeping a sharp eye out as well. Regardless, with hot and dry conditions, be careful with any fireworks, campfires and barbecues.

Enjoy the remaining days of June because we will slide into the hazy, lazy and crazy days of summer in July. Dog days are almost upon us.