Warmup, Clearing for the Northwest
May 06, 2012; 8:08 AM
As a storm system moves slowly inland, a clearing and warming trend is in store for the I-5 corridor in the Northwest.
Along with the return of sunshine, temperatures will rebound to above-normal levels for several days.
The recent drenching rain and high country snowstorm will continue to produce a pool of chilly air over the region going into the start of the weekend. However, some rather pleasant changes will progress along the coast and into portions of interior Washington and Oregon.
Granted, even Saturday will struggle a bit to warm temperatures and clear skies along the coast, and areas from Eugene to Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Bellingham and Vancouver will experience substantial improvement.
Along the coast, substantial breaks should develop in the coastal cloud cover Saturday afternoon. Spotty showers will depart. Plenty of sunshine is in store for most coastal areas Sunday and Monday.
Areas from Spokane to The Dalles, Pendleton and Burns will experience a more gradual clearing and warming trend with the warmest conditions in store Monday.
Farther east, over the I-15 corridor, the cloud cover and coolness will linger much of the weekend, but there should at least be a few breaks of warming sunshine Sunday afternoon.
Much of the winter and spring brought below-average temperatures to the coastal Northwest, unlike much of the nation. The past several days have matched some of the greatest cooler-than-average departures since the winter.