Weather Eye: We look forward to a few dry days, but beware of fog, frost

Rain and breezy conditions described the first few days of November as the rainy season is well on its way. Blustery south winds swept across the county early Monday morning with gusts reported between 25 and 35 mph. There may have been higher gusts in the foothills. Our monthly rainfall at mid-day on Monday was close to average with .53 of an inch in Vancouver.

Rain showers dwindle today, and we may have three dry days Wednesday through most of Friday. The overnight hours with cool air mass, damp ground conditions and the longer nighttime hours can produce fog and even frost in the colder locations. Skies should be partly sunny and daytime highs near or a little above seasonal levels.

And then what is in store, you ask? Yep, the storm track returns, and rain is in the forecast over the weekend into early next week. Snow fell in the Cascades over the weekend and Timberline had a preview day over the weekend with 2 feet of snow on the ground. With more precipitation this weekend I expect they will pick up another foot or so of snow. Maybe an early ski season?

Lower elevations like Government Camp had 4 or 5 inches of snow and roadways had slushy conditions at times over the passes. Most of that snow will vanish this week. The snow will remain in the higher Cascades.

After sharing October’s weather last week in my column, I had a reader ask about a heavy one-day record rain that fell in Vancouver years ago. Looking back, the way October 1994 was going during the first three weeks, it looked like it would be in the top 10 driest. However, from Oct. 26 and 31 I recorded over 7.5 inches of rain at my home in Hazel Dell. And a monthly total of 8.40 inches. On Monday, Halloween, I recorded my heaviest one-day amount with 3.27 inches breaking my old record of 3.25 inches on Jan. 31, 1987. Vancouver officially recorded 3.42 inches, a new record. High winds to 50 mph and heavy rains caused all kinds of havoc. With leaves still on the trees, several trees went over with the rain-soaked ground and blustery winds. Power outages were common, and snow was falling late Halloween evening down to 800 feet in the county.