September 2013 Revisited

September 2013, arranged semi-neatly into categories:

Above average:  Temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity
Average or near: Nothing
Below Average: Solar radiation

My station's average temperature of 64.3° was way warmer than the long term September average of 60.3°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 62.3°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 63.0°.  This was the 13th consecutive month in Hood River to experience above average temperatures.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 97°, and the low temp was 42°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 96° and 40°. 

Solar radiation averaged 360 Ly/day, compared to an average September of 424 Ly/day.

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 4.1 mph, compared to an average September wind speed of 3.8 mph.  The peak wind gust was 30 mph on the 1st.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher. 

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.13", and the low barometric was 29.36".

The most interesting part of September's weather was:  the rainfall.    Most days were dry, but a few days were really wet, as in "record breaking wet".   My station received 3.84" for the month, while HOXO reported 3.64"  An average September receives 1.01".

Incredibly, and unfortunately, we ended up the month only 0.06" away from setting a new rainfall record for any September in Hood River.   The record month was 3.69" in 1982.   If it had been my station setting official records, we would have set one.   But am I bitter, and filled with resentment??   Nope, no more than usual!   :)

The record breaking wetness near the end of the month was brought about by the tattered remnants of Typhoon Usagi, as the tattered remnants made their tattered way across the Pacific, and reached the Pacific Northwest.  

The Hood River News reported the event thusly, which included some rather lame quotes from yours truly.  As I astutely noted, "something" combined with "something else" caused the whole exciting weather event, and resulted in records and stuff.   Hey, I just report the weather, I don't pretend to understand all the "why's" of it.  I leave that for other, more technically understanding folks.  ;)

There were 5 local weather records set this month!   3 of them in the temperature category:  On 9/3, the low of 62° broke the old "high low" record (61° in 1982).   On 9/11, the high of 96° broke the old high temperature record (95° in 1990).   And, on 9/15, the low of 62° broke the old "high low" record (60° in 2007).

The other two records were in the category of rainfall:  On 9/28, HOXO recorded 1.28", crushing the previous record (0.75" in 1947).   The next day, HOXO recorded 0.88", besting the old record (0.58" in 1962).

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 September 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.

After last month's August Revisted video, which featured "going away" on vacation, this month's video features the "coming back home" part.   Classic John Denver, tugging at the heartstrings...