I hope your holiday was a great one Wednesday even with the blustery, wet weather that was forecast to move in later in the day. Today we will have showers and gusty winds before yet another storm front moves in with steady rain and more wind. It will be a changing situation so keep abreast of weather forecasts in case wind speeds become a problem. We could see a thunderstorm early in the day before the steady rain begins. Another chance of thunderstorms on Friday. Plenty of cooler air rushing in after each storm, so snow will fall at times to pass levels. The upper ski areas will get plenty of new snow. Our temperatures will continue to hover above average through the weekend and then next week, cool down to normal around 45 for highs and 35 for lows. Rainfall will be much less Monday and Tuesday with heavy rain moving into California as I see things right now. There could be heavier rain falling after New Year’s Day. We remain in an active weather pattern to say the least. As of early Christmas Day, Vancouver was still running over one inch below average in the rainfall department. I know that sounds like a broken record, but hopefully that is the last time I must pass that along. The incoming weather should easily erase that deficit.

Another reminder if you are interested in weather, Clark College is offering an insight into the weather this winter term. It begins on January 29 for five weeks and is taught by Professor Kyle Dittmer. You will learn the basic science of meteorology and climate by working with weather maps and how to produce a weather forecast. It is entitled Weather 101 and is part of their Continuing Education Winter 2025 courses. Check it out online. I hope some of you got a gift that involves the weather. I’m talking about weather gadgets, instruments, books and the like. But even those of you that received an umbrella or a pair of new mittens can qualify to some degree. At least you will be prepared to be out in the weather. Snow for New Year’s? Forget it, it will be as green as Christmas Day around our area. Snow lovers will have to wait a while. Take good care and we will have our last chat of 2024 on Tuesday.