March 2013 Revisited

March 2013... Here's how things shaped up (or down):

Above average:  Temperature
Average or near: Solar radiation
Below Average: Wind, rain, snow

My station's average temperature of 46.1° was way warmer than the long term March average of 43.8°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 44.4°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 45.7°.  This was the 7th month in a row to have above average temperatures, and also the warmest March since 2007.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 75°, and the low temp was 27°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 74° and 24°.  

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 72°, and the low wind chill was 27°.

Solar radiation averaged 292 Ly/day, compared to an average March of 286 Ly/day.  This made it... average...

Regarding precipitation, my station had 2.32" rain for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 1.87".   Since an average March receives 3.17", this was another pretty dry month, the 3rd month in a row to have below average rain.

The max daily precipitation was March 20th, when my station recorded 0.58", and HOXO recorded 0.52".

There was no measurable snowfall here at my May and Rand location.  Average March snowfall, as officially (and historically) measured by MCAREC, is 2.2".

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 2.2 mph, compared to an average March wind speed of 2.9 mph.  The peak wind gust was 33 mph on the 15th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.46", and the low barometric was 29.59".

There were no local weather records set this month.

These monthly summaries use data from my weather station located near May and Rand Streets in Hood River. To view my weather station's data for March, click here.  For official Hood River data, and historical averages/records, the data comes from both the manually read NOAA station at MCAREC, and HOXO, the automated station located right next to MCAREC.

February 2013 Revisited

February 2013 started off exactly like January 2013 (boring), but eventually got interesting.  Here's how things averaged out:

Above average:  Temperature
Average or near: Wind, solar radiation
Below Average: Rain, snow

My station's average temperature of 42.1° was way warmer than the long term February average of 38.0°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 39.4°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 41.4°.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 58°, and the low temp was 27°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 57° and 26°, another confirmation that either both of our thermometers are accurate, or they're both off.  Your guess is as good as mine.  

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 57°, and the low wind chill was 27°.

Solar radiation averaged 193 Ly/day, compared to an average February of 184 Ly/day.  A little bit sunnier than average, but not by much.

Regarding precipitation, February was another one of those proverbial "studies in contrasts". The first half of the month was almost totally dry, following the boring dryness of January.  Then, on the 21st, the persistent blocking high finally broke down, and the rains returned.   My station had 2.01" rain for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 1.50".   Since an average February receives 3.81", this was still a very dry month.  In fact, up until the 21st, we were looking at tying the record for "least precipitation in February." 

The max daily precipitation was February 28th, when HOXO recorded 0.44", and my station 0.51".

There was no measurable snowfall here at my May and Rand location.  Average February snowfall, as officially measured by MCAREC, is 7.3".

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 2.4 mph, compared to an average February wind speed of 2.2 mph.  The peak wind gust was 29 mph on the 11th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.53", and the low barometric was 29.75".

There were two local weather records set this month, both having to do with waking up to warm mornings.  On February 12th, the low temperature of 43° topped the old "high low" record of 41°, set back in 1956.   And the very next day, the low temperature of 43° set another "high low" record.   Old record 41°, set in 1991.  Kind of odd that those two days had the exact same temperature numbers, but that's weather for ya.

These monthly summaries use data from my weather station located near May and Rand Streets in Hood River. To view my weather station's data for February 2013, click here.  For official Hood River data, and historical averages/records, the data comes from both the manually read NOAA station at MCAREC, and HOXO, the automated station located right next to MCAREC.

Every year, 'round about February, I start to think "wow, I'm really getting tired of this cold, grey winter weather," and then I start to wonder just how much longer I can take it, before I "snap".   Which isn't a pretty sight when it happens, believe me.   Regardless, 'round about February every year, "how long" is the question on my lips, which makes for some rather odd looking lips, which typically get better looking in March.

January 2013 Revisited

January 2013 was (to put it politely), boring. At least here at Hood River city elevation:

Above average:  Temperature (compared to long term averages)
Average or near: Solar radiation
Below Average: Wind, rain, snow, temperature (compared to short term averages)

My station's average temperature of 34.2° was a little warmer than the long term January average of 33.6°, but cooler than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 36.6°.  So, sort of in the middle, which is to say: boring. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 33.8°.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 54°, and the low temp was 17°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 53° and 17°, a pretty close match, if I do say so myself.  The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 54°, and the low wind chill was 17°.

Solar radiation averaged 87 Ly/day, compared to an average January of 88 Ly/day.  Perfectly average, almost boringly average, although it seemed to me it was grayer than average, thanks to a deep, deep temperature inversion in the middle of the month.

Speaking of the deep, deep inversion in the middle of the month, even Cliff Mass remarked how this one was extraordinary (and boring), with temperatures above the inversion fog layer in the 60's and 70's, and temperatures below the inversion fog layer (here) stuck around 30°, day and night.  Luckily, that only lasted 5 boring days, which seemed like at least 10 boring days.

It was, to put it mildly, a very dry month, which added to the boring-ness of it all.   My station had 1.54" precipitation for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 1.38".   This compares (rather poorly) to an average January of 5.14".  The max daily precipitation was January 28th, when HOXO recorded 0.40", and my station 0.31".

Snowfall was nothing to brag about either.  We received a measly 2" of snow on January 5th, and that was it.  Boring.  Average January snowfall, as officially measured by MCAREC, is 14.6".

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 1.5 mph, compared to an average January wind speed of 2.1  mph.  The peak wind gust was 29 mph on the 29th, which has a nice ring to it, in an otherwise boring month.   Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.58", and the low barometric was 29.18".

There were no local weather records set this month.  And this is (almost) the last time I'll mention "boring" in this post, but believe me, it was.

These monthly summaries use data from my weather station located near May and Rand Streets in Hood River. To view my weather station's data for January 2013, click here.  For official Hood River data, and historical averages/records, the data comes from both the manually read NOAA station at MCAREC, and HOXO, the automated station located right next to MCAREC.

I'm posting this January summary on Feb 22 (hey, that's a definite improvement over the past year!), so what better time for the video of the month to be Valentine's Day themed?   Notice how bored the female performers look, kind of all the same, pasty gray-white-ness, as if they weren't getting enough sun?  That's what January was like.  Pasty, gray, and boring.  And not enough sun.  Might as well face it?

Unless you headed for the hills, above the gray, in which case it was a fantastic month.  :)

December 2012 Revisited

December 2012 was:

Above average: Rain, snow, temperature
Average or near: Solar radiation
Below Average: Wind

My station's average  temperature of 38.2° was warmer than the long term December average of 35.7°, and also warmer than the more recent (2001-2011) average  of 35.2°.  The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 37.5°.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 53°, and the low temp was 25°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 54° and 26°.  The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 53°, and the low wind chill was 22°.

Following in the warm footsteps of November, this wasn't just sort of a warm December; it was the warmest since 2004.  Regarding my peppers and tomatoes, I finally gave up on them around the middle of the month, even though they were still sort of alive.  I can't remember ever having tomato and pepper plants last that late into the year.

Solar radiation averaged 74 Ly/day, compared to an average December of 73 Ly/day.  About as average as one can get.

In precipitation news, my station had 6.75" for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 6.16".  An average December gets 5.84", so we ended up above average.  The max daily precipitation was December 16th, when HOXO recorded 1.27".  That was the result of snow melt from the previous day, and rain on the 16th.

For a month that was pretty darn warm, historically speaking, we ended up with an above average amount of snow, all of it in the second half of the month.   We had our first measurable snowfall for the season, 3.5", on the 15th.  That was followed by another snowstorm (6") on the 19th.  On Christmas Day, yet another 6" of snow, for a gorgeous White Christmas.  And to end the month, 0.5" of snow on Dec 31st.  Total for the month:  16".  Average December snowfall, as officially measured by MCAREC, is 8.6".

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 1.3 mph, compared to an average December wind speed of 1.8  mph.  The peak wind gust was 35 mph on the 17th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.58", and the low barometric was 29.18".

There were (possibly) two local weather records set this month.  On the 19th, I measured 6" of snow, against the old record of 5" (1964).   And then, on the 25th, another 6" of snow, with the old record being 5" (1983).   MCAREC has yet to update their snow amounts for December, so we might have to wait, perhaps for a very, very long time, to see if those records were actually broken.  And don't get me started on how long it takes the good folks at MCAREC to update their data online...

These monthly summaries use data from my weather station located near May and Rand Streets in Hood River. To view my weather station's data for December 2012, click here.  For official Hood River data, and historical averages/records, the data comes from both the manually read NOAA station at MCAREC, and HOXO, the automated station located right next to MCAREC.

A White Christmas... we actually had one this year!  Just like the ones we used to know!   For this month's video presentation, there are so many versions of White Christmas that to pick one is painfully difficult.  So painfully difficult, in fact, that I gave up and picked this cute animated one.   With The Drifters providing the musical background, and real cartoon reindeer and a real cartoon Santa providing the on-screen action, this one truly rocks.

November 2012 Revisited

November 2012 can be summed up kind of like this:

Above average: Temperature
Average or near: Rain
Below Average: Snow, wind, solar radiation
 
My station's average temperature of 44.0° was way warmer than the long term November average of 41.5°, and way warmer than the more recent (2001-2011) average of 41.4°.  The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 43.9°.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 66°, and the low temp was 31°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 69° and 30°.  The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 65°, and the low wind chill was 31°.

This wasn't just sort of a warm November; it was the warmest since 1999!  My peppers and tomatoes continued to produce throughout the month, but noticeably less enthusiastically as the month wore on, and the daylight hours dwindled.

And speaking of daylight hours dwindling, solar radiation averaged 96 Ly/day, compared to an average November of 119 Ly/day.  Although November was mild, it was a little cloudier than usual.

On to rainfall:  my station had 5.61" for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 5.50".  An average November gets 5.30", so we ended up near average.  The max daily rain was November 19th, when HOXO recorded 1.34", and I recorded 1.19".  That occurred in the middle of the first major rainstorm of the season (see video below).

It didn't snow in November, at least not down at City elevation.   Average November snowfall, as officially measured by MCAREC, is 2.7".

The 24 hour average wind speed at my weather station was 0.7 mph, pretty wimpy compared to an average November wind speed of 1.7 mph. The peak wind gust was 23 mph.   Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations, such as the Columbia River, were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.47", and the low barometric was 29.53".

There was one local weather record set this month.  On the 5th, the high temperature reached 69°, which surpassed the old record for the date of 67°, set back in 1975.

These monthly summaries use data from my weather station located near May and Rand Streets in Hood River. To view my weather station's data for November 2012, click here.  For official Hood River data, and historical averages/records, the data comes from both the manually read NOAA station at MCAREC, and HOXO, the automated station located right next to MCAREC.

The first Really Big Storm of the season arrived in the Pacific Northwest starting November 17, and actually made the National News.   A very powerful Pacific front, so powerful it was being called a Superfront, wound up and slammed into the West Coast.   High winds, drenching rains... the typical Superfront type of storm action.   We didn't get much here in the Mid-Columbia except for the rain part.   But still, it was exciting, and the first really interesting active weather we had seen for quite a while.