HI there! my name is Patrick Timm but my friends call me Pat. I am a freelance writer, author and columnist. I have written a weather column for The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Washington since December 1990. I have also written articles for Sunset, Oregon Coast and Weatherwise magazines and was a columnist for two years at the South Whidbey Record newspaper on Whidbey Island, Washington
An editor and feature editor on my high school newspaper for three years at Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon where I majored in Graphic Arts and Journalism. I studied journalism at Portland State University and received the Eric W. Allen award for journalism from the University of Oregon. Memberships include the Willamette Writers Association, Oregon Colony of Writers, Whidbey Island Writers Association , Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorology Society and Northwest Independent Writers Association.
My latest endeavor is writing the trilogy, ‘Whispers in the Wind’ which I will have a separate page on this site with snippets of that work in progress. I am getting book 2 complete and have ideas for the conclusion of the trilogy. I also have begun writing a mystery/thriller set on the Oregon coast. Quite intriguing. I will also share some of my short musings which are a short gathering of words from my imagination for you to ponder. A spattering of this and that, pomp and prose and almost anything else to wonder.
While
not writing I enjoy walking and meditating on the beach, hiking, playing with my two little Yorkie’s, daydreaming and of course weather. I was born and raised in Portland Oregon, lived in Vancouver and now reside in Ocean Park, Washington.
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Feel free to contact me with items of interest or just to chat about the weather, writing and other musings. Take care, ~Patrick
“The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller
I should have known! I sent my message to you before I read the above. If I were to covet anything, it would be the gift you have for writing! More dazzling to me than even a fine painting! Truly!
Jacquie
Just for something maybe a bit different for your column, yesterday my husband and I saw a flock of at least 12 robins picking worms in our backyard. They were having a high time with the worms and grubs they scrounged out of the grass. I always read your column and saw your comment today about not really having anything new to say. Hope this helps! By the way, we live in east Vancouver not too far off NE 162nd Ave.
Sandy Nesvick
I now live in Hawaii, but still enjoy your writing talents online. Keep up the fine work! You’ve been given a great gift!
Thanks for your nice comment! Best to you!
Pat
Hi, Pat. I am Will Hayden’s daughter. Thank you for the tribute you wrote about him 2 years ago.
I wanted to how many 90 degrees and above days have we had for 2014 and what is the record of such.
Thanks much!
Carolyn Hayden Finch
Always enjoy your column in The Columbian. We also attended the Winter Weather Meeting yesterday at OMSI and noticed that, in your review of it this morning, you identified all forecast presenters by name (even two who were not present) except the NWS presenter, Liana Ramirez. Ms. Ramirez made an excellent presentation and surely deserved credit for her efforts along with her male colleagues.
I referenced the NWS as a whole and not the presenter. She was indeed a good communicator.
Al Hase, my husband, is a fan. “I took a double take and read your Sunday colume out loud to wife. It was awesome and moving.”
Thanks for your kind words!
Thank you so much! Best to you both.
Congratulations on your 29th year! I enjoy your weather column. Keep up the good work.
I enjoyed Sunday’s column. It was lovely and well done. Thanks–Juanita Edson
Thank you so much. Appreciate your kind words.
Pat
I love your column and have read it for years.
Keep up the good work.
Frank B.
Fbullis@AOL.com
Hi Pat; Happy New year!! Is this the best place now to contact you? Anyway- wish you all the best! Sincerely, Roland
p.s. VERY high pressure readings here: 30.90 at present
Thanks Roland. Best to use my personal email which you have. We had 30.83 inches here.
I can picture you dancing with your frog in the sprinkler. 🙂
That would be a scene for sure. Thanks for reading!
Hello Pat
I’ve often wondered why the Columbian’s daily weather forcasts differ from the local Portland channels. Whether the daily highs or lows vary or the chance of rain it seems those Portland stations come closer most often.
Thank you Pat
Terry Smith
I really enjoy your column. We are recent arrivals in Vancouver and are learning about the wild and crazy local weather!
Hello, Great column you do and we always enjoy all you put out there…even with our winter as icky as it has been you always seem to end it on a happy note!
Thanks!!
Patrick – longtime follower and former newspaper writer/editor. Weather is no. 1 for readers and you provide a personal, local view. Thanks.
Tom Knappenberger, NW Vancouver
Dear Mr. Timm,
First, thanks for a no-nonsense, NON political weather column (in The Columbian). Probably the better part of that particular newspaper, other than the Comics.
Sincerely,
Mike Martin
Near Fargher Lake
Mr. Timm, Your weather column has slowly grown on me over the years until now I eagerly look forward to it. I just visited your website for the first time and will check out your other writing projects as I have a fondness for Northwest writers. And keep up your insightful work!
Best, Rick Krahn
Camas
I am a weather watcher and farmer. The latter I guess automatically makes me a weather watcher. In my experience a mild winter like this make for excessive bugs in the summer, (box elder, mosquitoes, wasps) etc. is this reality or perception? I had a hatching of gnats last week in my barn. This should not happen in January. If a freeze is needed to knock back insects, how cold and how long is needed. I know you are not and entomologist, but thought you might have some input. Thanks. Praying we get winter sometime this year.
Hi there,
Out of all the decades watching and forecasting the weather the subject of bugs and insects always come up. Will it get cold enough to kill some of these pests?
I don’t really know but it seems no matter how cold of a winter we have there are always insects and pests. Maybe someone has done research on this I don’t know. Maybe Google that.
We have some cold nights coming up this week so maybe some pests will be knocked out. So I think it just is perception.
My dad was raised on a farm in Nebraska and he said no matter how cold it got in winter, they always fought pests in the cornfields.
Take good care,
Pat
Hello Pat,
I also enjoy your weather column in The Columbian. Do you ever worry about a tsunami?
Betty
Hi Betty,
Thank you for your email I do not worry about a tsunami because if did I would just worry about something else. And I believe when it is my time to go, it is my time to go. I don’t want to miss out on God’s beauty here at the beach. I enjoy the fresh air, the sounds of the surf and watching the sunsets. These over power any worries of getting washed away.
Again thanks for your kind words and take good care.
Enjoy your column. When we hear what the TV weather guys have to say, my wife and I say, “What does Patrick Timm say”.
Thanks Kenneth for your nice words. The disadvantage I have is writing my column the day before. Forecast models change every 6 hours so the TV mets have the latest data.
Often I go with my gut feeling and draw from my years of observations and experience.
Weather is not an exact science for sure. I chuckle at some of the TV people and their prognostications. Win a few, lose a few I guess. This past 2 weeks has been crazy to say the least. I personally know most of the TV weather folks.
Say hi to your wife too.
Why do people call it freezing rain? I thought that was hail? If rain falls on ground that is frozen then it freezes it did not freeze while falling but after it hit the ground. And then of course there is snow. You are doing a great job.
Freezing rain is rain that freezes on contact with below freezing objects so yes after it hits the ground it freezes but liquid as it falls. Ice pellets or sleet are raindrops that freeze before landing on the surface. Hail is ice pellets that usually are associated with thunderstorms. Graupel are soft snow pellet-like and cover the ground in white. Snow is snow. haha. Thanks for your kind comment.
Hi, Mr Timm,
Your comments today on our dry weather and need to water are very timely. If we want our plants and trees to survive this second dry year, we will need to water them. I have several large rhododendrons that are telling me it is too dry and the neighbor’s large cedar tree has lost much of its greenery. I usually measure more than 70″ of rain per year in the Daybreak Park area-last year-32″. This year is not looking any better.
Thanks for your hard work and weather knowledge!
Larry Kingsbury
Thanks Larry, Yes we seem to be in a pattern of drier than average monthly rainfall. Even along the Washington coast some locales are in the severe drought category. Let’s hope one day the winds change for the better.
Hi Pat, I enjoy reading your weather eye column in the Columbian 3 days a week. They are interesting, informative and witty and almost always accurate. My comment/question has to do with the regular and fairly strong north/northwest winds that we have in the afternoon and into the evening. I don’t remember this always being the case and it seems to me this pattern started 5 or6 summers ago. I live in old town Battle Ground. Do you notice this where you live and do you have any theories as to why this is occurring? Thank you and thanks for writing your column for the Columbian. I like reading what you have to say.
Thanks so much Dianne for the nice words! I have lived for decades in the west side of the county, Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek. As long as I can remember I have experienced strong gusty northwest winds in the late spring and summer months sometimes gusting to 30 or 35 mph making whitecaps on Vancouver Lake. So I do not think it is unusual. Since you live in old town Battle GRound, perhaps the rapid and dense development around you has altered the northwest winds to funnel more directly over your location? possibly. Other than that I have no idea. They are a quiet welcome breeze in summertime but I know they can be annoying as well.
My wife and I have lived here in Vancouver all our lives, that’s 65 for me.Each morning at the breakfast table
she’ll ask me what the weather is going to do. I’ll respond with “well the TV says this.,but Patrick says this”
we always put our money on you!! Love your articles. Wish they came out every day!
Thanks James for the kind words. Say hi to your wife for me. I try my best with a light hearted venue.
Take good care.
Pat
Hi Pat,
I’m a longtime fan, been reading you in the Columbian for years! I have two questions I hope you can answer.
Recently, I got into a friendly argument with a friend over whether or not Vancouver has ever had snow on Thanksgiving day or anytime before Thanksgiving. I remember back in 1972 we had snow sometime in either November or early December, but I can’t remember the exact dates. I also definitely remember snow in November of 1985, possibly November 23rd? It may have snowed on and off for at least a few days after that. If you can settle this argument for me, I would certainly appreciate it!
Also: I grew up in Hazel Dell and I remember 50 years ago there used to be a brick house on the southeast corner of 78th street and Highway 99 that looked like some sort of a weather station. There was a tower with a ladder and on top was a weather vane, an anemometer and other instruments. As a kid, I was always fascinated by this house and have wondered about it ever since. Do you have any information about it?
Thank you for your time and take care! 🙂
Doug
Hi Doug,
I sent you an email.
Pat
I have a comment about your piece in the Columbian today. You listed the driest Novembers. I remember a couple of big snowy cold months following some of those Novembers, especially 1936 and 1956.
I enjoy your work.
Congrats on your 29 years writing about the weather in The Columbian. We have been reading and enjoying your column for those 29 years. And, we look forward to the next 29 years!
Hi Carol!
Thanks for your kind words. I don’t know if it will be another 29 years but I’d go for it! Happy Holidays.
Pat
Love today’s (12/12/19) lyrics for Walking in Winter Wonderland! Thanks for making me smile!
Thank you! Whacky crazy word thoughts before a press deadline! Why not? Smiles🤗
Pat
Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your”Weather Column” in the Columbian newspaper. Keep up the great work. Barbara in Washougal, WA
Thank you Barbara for your kind words! Take good care.
Pat
Congrats on the writing ability and success.
95°F here just west of Fargher Lake. Wonderful 36% RH with a slight NWN breeze to keep the heat from standing in one place. Perfect day to sit in the shade with a good book and an adult beverage and enjoy….
Keep up the weather report; it’s one of the very few things in the Columbian worth reading besides the Comic Section.
m
Thanks Mike!
I always enjoy your well written and informative columns about our local weather.
I need some help, if you can.
Sometime in the month of September of this year, I plan to hold an outdoor sale at my home in Ridgefield.
Can you discern any long term forecast as to which weekend is most likely to be moderate in temperature and without moisture?
Asking you because what I know about long term weather forecasting would fill a thimble, a small thimble.
Hi David,
Try to ‘guess’ what the weather would do on a particular date in September is beyond my capability at this point. Please pass the thimble. Labor Day weekend is always a good weekend for a sale however sometimes those days are jinxed. I would plan the weekend after Labor Day. Toward late September rain chances increase. So sorry I can’t pinpoint it better.
Good luck with your sale!!
Take good care,
Pat