Weather Eye: Get ready for the autumn weather roller-coaster ride

As September arrives later this weekend the weather patterns change more quickly than in the summer season. Usually a few warm days, then cooling temperatures and even some showers. Get ready for the autumn roller-coaster ride.

Today will be the warmest in this latest mini heatwave, peaking in the mid- to upper 90s around the county. It will be a hot one. You will notice the heat as the humidity rises. Thursday, we had afternoon humidity in the teens, which makes it a “dry heat,” the old saying goes. Still hot though, but more tolerable.

A weather system moves northeastward from Northern California and will increase clouds on Sunday and offer light showers or thunderstorms over the Cascades. I don’t expect any here. It will knock the high temperatures down into the upper 80s and near 90 degrees depending on the clouds.

Cooler marine air and possible patchy morning clouds abound on Monday and Tuesday with seasonal highs, but a warm ridge of high pressure builds in Wednesday. High temperatures at this point will soar into the 90s mid- to late week and then cool once again. Remember the roller coaster?

The first day of the metrological fall begins on Sunday for us weather and climate folks. The rest of you look at the calendar and wait until later in September. Are you ready for the fall season? Mild days and cool and crisp nights? Leaves changing colors and the dear memories of a long warm and hopefully fun summer?

With highs in the 90s Thursday and Friday, Vancouver has 20 days at 90 degrees or higher this summer. That count is higher than average but far from the record. Does it seem more than that? To me it does but many summer days at the official weather station in Vancouver highs were either 88 or 89 degrees. Close but not quite. Portland airport had a few days more than Vancouver and a higher count is what you’ll see on the local TV stations.

As we lose the glory and beauty of summer flowers, remember these quotes. “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ~Albert Camus. “No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.” ~ John Donne.