After several calm, dry days across the region, residents in Cowlitz County should prepare for a return of rain by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say high pressure over the Pacific Northwest, which has kept conditions mild and stable, is expected to weaken late Friday. As the ridge breaks down, a series of Pacific systems will bring increasing clouds and a growing chance of showers through Saturday and Sunday. Daytime highs are forecast to remain in the mid– to upper–50s, with overnight lows near 40 degrees.

While this week’s quiet weather helped dry out local roads and construction sites, moisture returning to the region may slow outdoor work and could bring slick travel conditions, especially on shaded rural routes during early morning hours. The National Weather Service recommends allowing extra travel time and keeping vehicles prepared for wet-weather driving.

The pattern shift mirrors conditions described by The Columbian’s Weather Eye column, which attributed the recent lull to persistent high pressure acting “like a lid on the atmosphere.”

Light rain is anticipated to continue intermittently into early next week before drier, cooler air returns.

Source: National Weather Service, The Columbian