OK, I think autumn weather is going to return now

Well, most of October has been nothing short of brilliant. We even had a record breaking day last week with several locales busting over the top of 70 degrees. I think this spectacular early autumn delusion is going to fade away now. The National Weather Service is calling for more 'normalish' 50s this week. However they are still expecting mostly sunny conditions. I think this may be the sunniest October I have seen in a dozen years.

Funny thing also, I have yet to record a temperature below freezing. I can't remember the last time October went by without a sub freezing morning. of course there is still a few days to go and you never know. Enjoy the sunshine while we have it, then enjoy the brilliant fall color under a cloudy blanket. It's all good. Soak it up my friends, soak it up.

Sunny, Sunny, Sunny October

What an amazing week we just witnessed. It was sunny every single day. Last week came off a mostly sunny week previously and this week the NWS says... More of the same. We are getting thick surface fog in the morning that burns off to gorgeous blue skies and warm sunshine. Careful driving, running or biking in the AM. Look at this week's forecast!

I have an out of town guest arriving next week and I just hope this nice weather can hang on. Has it ever gone this long in October without clouds and rain? The last rainy day was October 8th. Some weather sites are suggesting the dry sunny days will continue to the end of the month. We are going to need a wet November to offset this bone dry October. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and soak it up my friends, soak it up.

Hello Vancouver USA, Are you Soaking This Up?

It's 1:30 pm, the merc is soaring past the mid sixties and that magically rare 70 could possibly happen later on this afternoon. We have a sky full of blue and a raging star raining down warm rays of sunny goodness. You better be reading this on your mobile device so you can be... soaking it up my friends, soaking it up.

Foggy, Cloudy, and sometimes Sunny but Always Gorge-ous

Flashing color in the Gorge, 10-24-2009

The Autumn Express is tearing down the track will a full head of steam. This past week the weather guys were all pointing towards warmer sunnier weather. They had forecasts for temps in the mid sixties that just never materialized. This is autumn, this is how we roll. Cooler temps tend to prevail. October is usually the last opportunity for outdoor activity that does not leave you sopping wet and cold to the bones. So we all need to get outside and enjoy the fall color and the crisp nip in the air.

Now that I am on about fall color, the trees this week seem to be snapping into brilliant mode. I notice that the urban planted trees seem to flash color first then the native trees in the country go second. I will be taking a run out to Carson tomorrow and will be careful to note the colors of the gorge and report back in my next blog post. For those of you not in the Portland Metro Area, Carson is a town near Stevenson, WA about 45 miles East of Vancouver, WA in the Columbia River Gorge.

I can make a strong argument in favor of the idea that the very best time to visit the Gorge is middle Autumn from late October to early November. One need not drive all the way to Carson, either. One of the most breathtaking fall views you will glimpse is at Cape Horn, WA. That my friends is only a short 20 miles from the SR-14 and I-205 interchange.

Gorge-ous Views so Close to Home

The drive from Camas to Cape Horn is spectacular when the color is flashing, and the view from the lookout is amazing. What I like about Cape Horn is that it appeals to my inner lazy man, oh who am I kidding, my outer lazy man too. There are not many opportunities to glance upon a panorama so grand with out nary a footstep to hike. But there it is for us to behold.    

The View from Cap Horn Lookout, 10-24-2009

So what are you waiting for? Better weather? well, yeah that could be it. Get out there and soak it up my friends, soak it up.

What a GREAT weekend!

I was gone on Friday and most of Saturday but I few into PDX late Saturday afternoon and it was spectacular. The was the most beautiful landing I have ever had. The sun was tickling the horizon as our plane skirted along the western flank of the cascades. Every peak was warm and reddish with alpenglow as the sun set. Sisters, Jefferson, Hood, Adams, St. Helens and Rainer were all aglow and crystal clear.

The plane made its way over the city and I could see the trees were showing a little color as they prepare for the autumn show. It was 70 degrees around 6:30 when I landed and the skies were clear. What a beautiful day it obviously had been and I couldn't wait for Sunday.

Sunday was a masterpiece with temps in the low to mid seventies under a glorious sun filled blue sky. I finally got around to mowing the lawns, possibly for the last time till spring. I even trimmed some bushes and put away the last of the patio furniture for the season. I love fall weekends like this. Bravo October, Bravo. Later this evening some showers are expected to develop as we return to traditional cool autumn weather. You can still get our and soak it up, my friends. Soak it up.

A Slippery September has Slid into the Books

Daily Rainfall for September

How's that title for a tongue twister? September was quite wet in fact it was the wettest month of 2013, thus far. I recorded more than five inches of rain in a month I typically see less than two and half. That says as much about our dry winter and spring as it does for a damp late summer.

The temperatures were a touch chilly by day and a tad warm by night compared to my long term averages. That said I also recorded the hottest day of 2013, a blistering 94.6 on the 11th. I think that will stick at this point lest we break the all time heat record for October by 5 or 6 degrees. The lowest afternoon high was a cool 53.7 on the 27th. September's evenings were comfy as we enjoyed mild temps most of the month with an average overnight low of just under 55 degrees, the warmest was 62.4 on the 2nd and the chilliest came in at 43.8 on the 19th. The wettest day of this watery month came on the 28th when 1.55 inches fell. That was the second day this past month with over an inch of rain. Although the rain gauge had 5.23 inches for the month, there were only 11 rainy days compared to 13 sunny days.

Daily Temperatures for September

The Autumn Plunge I have talked about this past month is well under way. By Halloween our highs will struggle to get into the mid 50s. It is time to break out the sweaters if you don't like it chilly. For me it is not quite sweater weather yet. I will be watching for our first frost and freeze of the year. I find that both typically arrive in October with a frost in the first ten days and a hard freeze by week three.

I am noticing that some of the early turners have begun to flash some color. Of course, I am talking about autumn leaves. Here in the Northwest we are granted a gift of brilliant and beautiful color as recompense for a precipitous drop in temperature.

Looking ahead to winter, the almanacs are suggesting a cold and snowy season awaits on the other side of Thanksgiving. Those ancient periodicals The Farmer's Almanac and The Old Farmer's Almanac, that have been continuously published since 1818 and 1792 respectfully, are both pointing to reduced solar activity and oceanic conditions in their predictions of a frigid winter. Hmm, we are due for a snowy winter. Last time I had more than ten inches of snow was 2008-09 and that was five years ago. Almanac, schmalmanac, I have my own anecdotal evidence and I think were in for white winter this year. So get outside and soak it up my friends, soak it up.