September will end up on a warm and dry note after surpassing Monday's record high of 88 degrees set in 1993 with a 92 degree reading. Wow! At least the nights are longer and it cools off. It will also be another very dry month but it appears October will see a change for wetter conditions so stay tuned!

The following is a press release from OMSI about the Oregon Chapter of the ASMS annual winter forecast meeting. Couldn't have said it better myself:

OMSI HOSTS 16TH ANNUAL "WHAT WILL WINTER BE LIKE" AMS (WEATHER) MEETING FRIDAY OCT. 24!

Posted: September 29th, 2008 10:12 AM

Prognosticators to Give Weather Outlooks for Upcoming Winter

PORTLAND, OR (Sept. 29, 2008) — Weather experts from the Oregon chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) will gather at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for the 16th annual "What Will the Winter Be Like" meeting. The event is held in the OMSI auditorium and is free and open to the public.

"Will we have another La Nina this winter?" said Oregon-AMS president Kyle Dittmer. "We haven't seen a back-to-back La Nina since the 1970s – we're way overdue. Perhaps we'll just have a 'normal' winter, whatever that means anymore."

Experts in the field of weather will talk about the forthcoming winter. Mark Nelsen, KPTV meteorologist, will give a review of the past winter in the Pacific Northwest.

This year's speakers include: Steve Todd, Meteorologist-in-Charge, NOAA-National Weather Service Portland; Kyle Dittmer, Hydrologist-Meteorologist, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Portland; Pete Parsons, Meteorologist, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem; and George Taylor, Climatologist, Applied Climate Services LLC, Corvallis.

About Oregon AMS
The Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society is the local arm of the national organization that promotes the use and understanding of meteorology in the Oregon and Southwest Washington area. New members are always welcome to join the Oregon AMS; information on membership will be available at the meeting. www.ametsoc.org/chapters/oregon/index.html

About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation's leading science museums and a world-class tourist attraction and educational resource. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 800.955.OMSI or 503.797.4000 or visit www.omsi.edu.

On my soapbox: Getting tired of all this political stuff? Stressed out over the economy? There is certainly lots to be fretful about but one must keep the faith and pray that this country can once again be united and work together, if we don't we won't succeed. Some things do have ways of working themselves out outside the political realm. I don't think Congress has a clue how to solve this mess. It took a long while to get into this situation and it will take a long while to get out. Time has a way of healing all wounds both physically and mentally. We all suffer but this too shall pass and perhaps this country will be a bit wiser the next time around. And don't blame any one political party or organizations. It is human caused greed and self perpetual ideals that has laid our economy at its knees.

I offer more stabs on noteworthy items on my Facebook page. Browse my name there or if you are on Facebook too, be my friend! Take care. - Pat

We finally got some relief from the heat after three 90-degree days in a row Sunday through Tuesday, more seasonal weather conditions are upon us. The last weekend of summer still looks pleasant although much cooler high temperatures between 70-75 degrees and some clouds around as well. Still no big rains on the horizon although we will most likely be facing that sooner or later so enjoy things as they are. For the latest forecast and current conditions, please click on forecast on the right side of this page.

As of Thursday morning we still haven't received any measurable rainfall so far this month in Vancouver. Even though some light drizzle or mist was in the air this morning, we are on a roll. In 1993 we didn't receive a drop the entire month. Stay tuned.

I am an Enya fan and she is releasing a new album on November 10^th, nearly two years in the making. "And Winter Came" is the name of the new album and I can hardly wait. For more details go to www.enya.com

My two pair of jeans is getting somewhat threadbare so I ventured out to Macy's to retrieve some new ones. Well, after sorting through stacks of denim, I discovered most of them were in worse shape than mine and at $60 a pop I thought why should I purchase them when mine I guess are now in style and still wearable? Bottom line is that the longer you wear your jeans, the more valuable they get. Figure that?

About the only plus side of hurricane Ike in the news last weekend is that for a couple of days we were sheltered from the daily back stabbing back and forth between the two political parties. Enough is enough I say. And the degradation of Sarah Palin goes on, for some reason the Left just can't stand the idea of a woman in a high office. Is that it? Is it her conservative values? It is downright embarrassing as an American citizen to be part of this shady political democracy.

Okay, it is after 5 pm and it didn't clear off today yet. Marine layer deeper than I thought, bummer. Taste of fall for sure. Now looks like marine influence the next several days so below average highs in store for us. 70 degrees would be nice. Take care.

The current political race for the White House is heating up in more ways than one. Or you might say relationships between McCain and Obama supporters are getting rather stormy. Anyway you call it; the forecast is for more of the same. Most Americans know the issues and what we need to do to actively turn the country around. It is the details that are lacking and quite frankly, neither candidate is sharing them. Ideas yes, but details, no. But plenty of he said, she said etc.

I must say that I am elated that Governor Sarah Palin is on the McCain ticket. I know that McCain is a maverick and he has been rather vocal in years past against Bush and his ideas. By bringing in a woman of Palin's stature is perhaps the best thing going and a good move for our country. I know it will NOT be business as usual in Washington under their administration.

And I don't think that it was a "last minute" decision to select Palin as McCain's running mate. I first read about her last April when his list of potential VP's was circulating around. She was low on the list and at that time a long shot. However, when I read that she believes that global warming is not man caused, she got my vote.

The time is right for a woman Vice President or President with her attributes and leadership. Opinion polls on the Democratic led Congress have the lowest approval ratings yet, about 18%, much less than President Bush which is hovering at the freezing point. I know many women do not agree with her stands on some woman's rights as abortion and such, but check out her record in Alaska. She has not pushed or passed any laws reflecting her personal moral values. Although not agreeing with some, she signed into law, benefits for state employee gay partnerships.

She is as fresh as a summer breeze and adds a new high to McCain's attempt to really change Washington. In contrast, during winter time in the great Pacific Northwest, high pressure in Alaska often brings us some very chilly weather, but this time around the political high from Alaska is bringing us a warm relief.

Before we get too far down the road in September, let's review some rainfall reports from your friends and neighbors around the region for the month of August. Pearson Field, Vancouver, 1.54 inches, .47 of an inch above average; Dan Hein, Camas, 1.74 inches; Gary Collins, Brush Prairie, 2.26 inches; Claudia Chiasson, Carson, 1.52 inches; Judy Darke, Felida, 1.18 inches; Tyler Mode, Minnehaha, 1.73 inches; Pete Conrad, Tukes Mountain, Battle Ground, 1.53 inches; Jim Knoll, Orchards, 1.87 inches; Bob Starr, Cougar, 4.41 inches; Robin Ruzek, Lakeshore, 1.26 inches; Phil Delany, above Dole Valley, 4.0 inches; Irv St. Germain, SW Prune Hill, 1.92 inches; Phil Harris, Washougal, 1.94 inches; Ellen Smart, Ridgefield, 1.80 inches; Larry Lebsack, NE Hazel Dell, 1.83 inches; Bud Maddux, Home Valley, 2.20 inches;  Nancy Ellifrit, Mt. Vista, 2.14 inches; Merle Moore, two miles west of  Yacolt 2.86 inches; and Charles Bryan, NE 152^nd & NE 19th Ave, 1.64 inches.