June 2014 Revisited

June 2014 was:  

Above average in: Temperature, wind
Average or near in: Rainfall, solar radiation
Below Average in:  Nothing

June 2014 was windy.  And not just windy, but consistently tremendously, stupendously windy.   In fact, it was the windiest June since I've been keeping track of wind speeds here at May and Rand, and that goes back to 2001.   And from what I've heard from seasoned wind sports folks, this could well have been the windiest June (and the best windsurfing) since 1990, give or take a few years.

My station's average temperature of 63.8° was warmer than the long term June average of 61.8°, and just a little bit warmer than the more recent (2001-2013) average of 63.0°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 63.0°.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 87°, and the low temp was 48°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 87° and 44°.

Solar radiation averaged 620 Ly/day, compared to an average June of 611 Ly/day. 

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 5.7 mph, compared to an average June wind speed of 4.1 mph.  The peak wind gust was 34 mph on the 18th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher. 

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.20", and the low barometric was 29.74".

Regarding rainfall, my station received 1.13", while HOXO recorded 0.67".  An average June receives 0.77".   Since my station's amount was above average, and HOXO's was below average, I'm calling it.... average.   And as mentioned in the May Revisited post, there was no measurable rain from May 11th through June 11, making for a 32 day dry spell.   It remains to be seen if that will be the longest dry spell this summer... even though it wasn't technically in summer at all...
 
There were no local weather records set in June.

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 June 2014, 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.

June 2014 contained the only Friday the 13th of 2014.  Oddly enough (and this is scary), it fell on the 13th day of the month, which was.... a Friday...

Now, I'm not superstitious, but what are the odds of that??

Anyway, as Stevie Wonder reminds us, in a very musically enthusiastic and danceable manner:  "Superstition ain't the way..."

May 2014 Revisited

May 2014 was:  

Above average in: Temperature, rainfall, wind, solar radiation
Average or near in: Nothing
Below Average in:  Nothing

May 2014 was above average, in so many ways.   In fact, let me count the ways (there's 4, see above)...

My station's average temperature of 60.4° was way warmer than the long term May average of 56.1°, and way warmer than the more recent (2001-2013) average of 57.2°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 59.4°.  This was the warmest May since 1997.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 88°, and the low temp was 41°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 86° and 40°.

Solar radiation averaged 583 Ly/day, compared to an average May of 542 Ly/day. This was the sunniest May since 2007.

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 4.1 mph, compared to an average May wind speed of 3.6 mph.  The peak wind gust was 32 mph on the 21st.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher. 

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.39", and the low barometric was 29.68".

Regarding rainfall, my station received 2.18", while HOXO recorded 1.77".  An average May receives 1.07".   Oddly enough, the rain stopped entirely on May 11th, and the subsequent dry spell (consecutive days without any officially measurable rainfall) lasted 32 days; ending on June 12th.   Very unusual to have that long of a dry spell at this time of the year. 
 
There was one local weather record set in May. On the 8th, HOXO received 0.65" of rain, topping the previous May 8th record of 0.40", back 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 May 2014, 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.

May is sort of a teaser month, weather-wise.   Temperatures start feeling like maybe there's hope for Summer; but we still have to wait.... just a little while longer...

And speaking of waiting, this "I Will Wait" rendition from 2CELLOS is yet another one of their aurally and visually awesome productions.   Hey, it's not just women who are swooning over these 2 extremely hot guys and their music; I'm mesmerized also (by the music.....just the music...).   Amazing that they can make just 2 cellos do all that!

For more of their talented musical creations, check out their YouTube channel.

April 2014 Revisited

April 2014, summed up:  

Above average: Temperature, rainfall
Average or near: Wind, solar radiation
Below Average:  Nothing

After an exciting February and March, April calmed down into a more typical April pattern.

My station's average temperature of 52.2° was way warmer than the long term April average of 49.7°, and way warmer than the more recent (2001-2013) average of 49.6°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 51.6°. 

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 80°, and the low temp was 33°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 78° and 32°.

Solar radiation averaged 440 Ly/day, compared to an average April of 435 Ly/day.

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 3.0 mph, compared to an average April wind speed of 3.2 mph.  The peak wind gust was 32 mph on the 11th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher. 

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.55", and the low barometric was 29.71".

Regarding rainfall, my station received 2.64", while HOXO recorded 2.01".  An average April receives 1.66".   The abundance of April showers set up the usual May flowers sequence; not to mention, pushing us over the top for water-year precipitation.   That was a long time coming this year.
 
There were no local weather records set in April.

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 April 2014, 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.

April brought the passing of a local music legend, Rick Hulett.   Not unexpected, due to his long fight with cancer, which he fought with courage, music, and love, but still a huge loss to the community, and fellow musicians across the country.   Play on, Rick...

March 2014 Revisited

March 2014 was exciting, exactly like February, only different:  

Above average: Temperature, rainfall (total precipitation), snowfall
Average or near: Solar radiation
Below Average: Wind

March came in like the proverbial lion this year.  On the 1st of the month, it snowed 1".   Not too unusual for early March.   More unusual, though, was the 6.5" of snow the next day, which set a new snowfall record for any March 2nd in Hood River.  And then... rain, rain, and more rain for nearly the whole month.   There were only 9 days in March when it didn't rain, and most of those were during the first week of Spring.

And, as in February, record daily flows were set on the Hood at Tucker Bridge during March. As warmer temperatures prevailed, and the rains continued, 7 consecutive daily flow records were set, from March 5th through the 11th.  Nowhere near flood stage, but records none the less.

After a really cold February, March turned warmer than average.  My station's average temperature of 45.7° was warmer than the long term March average of 43.8°, and a little warmer than the more recent (2001-2013) average of 44.6°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 45.2°. 

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 66°, and the low temp was 26°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were the same:  66° and 26°.   We're in tune, or something, at least for March.

Solar radiation averaged 287 Ly/day, compared to an average March of 286 Ly/day, almost an exact match.   A little surprising, due to all the rain (and therefore cloud cover), but apparently cloud cover isn't too unusual for any given March.

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 2.0 mph, compared to an average March wind speed of 2.8 mph.  The peak wind gust was 31 mph on the 14th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher. 

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.58", and the low barometric was 29.52".

Regarding rainfall (including melted snowfall), my station received 5.79", while HOXO recorded 5.21".  An average March receives 3.17", and, as in February, this went a long way towards moving us closer to water year averages.

Regarding snowfall, we received 7.5" total, whereas an average March receives 2.2".   According to MCAREC's official records, this was the most snow received in March since 1962!   Hard to believe, but apparently true.
 
And lastly, regarding local weather records, we set 4 in March.   On the 2nd, we received 6.5" of snow, breaking the previous record of 5" in 1962).  On the 5th, 0.95" of rain fell (old record 0.74" in 1996).  And then, as things warmed up, the low temperatures on the 6th and 9th (44° and 48° respectively) set new "high low" temperature records for those dates (43° in 1997 and 47° in 1983, respectively).

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 2014, 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.

March is an amazing month of transition; from Winter darkness into Spring lightness.   And as such, it's a very welcome renewal of wonder, hope, and faith in the wisdom of the Universe.   In other words, a Ticket to Heaven, which we've all been given, in the Here and Now, if we just take the time to appreciate it, while we can.   All the way....to Paradise...

February 2014 Revisited

Ok, so January 2014 was boring.  February 2014 was anything but, as Winter roared back onto the scene after a long absence.  

Above average: Rainfall (total precipitation), snowfall
Average or near: Nothing
Below Average: Wind, temperature, solar radiation

February started off with a bang, as actual Winter weather finally arrived.  On the 1st of the month, 1" of snow broke the long snowless streak, dating back to December 7th.   And then, on February 6th, snow arrived big time, with 9" on the 6th, 9" on the 7th, and 6" of snow on the 8th.   It then rained almost continually until February 21, at which point the deluge pretty much stopped.  All that precipitation brought the Hood basin snow-water equivalent from a low of only 20% of normal, back up into somewhat more normal ranges.   Skiers and water managers rejoiced, as did those of us who were near comatose from the boring lack of interesting weather in January.

Speaking of water, record daily flows were set on the Hood at Tucker Bridge on February 12th and 13th due to snow melt and runoff.

Temperature-wise, it was cold...very cold...  In fact, this was the coldest February since 1993.  My station's average temperature of 35.7° was much colder than the long term February average of 38.0°, and way colder than the more recent (2001-2013) average of 39.6°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 35.3°. 

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 53°, and the low temp was 12°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 53° and 8°.

Solar radiation averaged 122 Ly/day, compared to an average February of 184 Ly/day, mostly due to the fact that it was cloudy a lot.

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 1.6 mph, compared to an average February wind speed of 2.2 mph.  The peak wind gust was 30 mph on the 15th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher. 

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.62", and the low barometric was 29.49".

Regarding rainfall (including melted snowfall), my station received 6.60", while HOXO recorded 5.44".  An average February receives 3.84", and this went a long way towards moving us closer to water year averages.   This was the wettest February since 2000.

Regarding snowfall, we received 25" total, whereas an average February receives 7.4".  This was the most snow received in February since 1990.
 
And lastly, regarding local weather records, we set two in February.   On the 6th, the high temperature only reached 18°, setting a new "low high" record (previous record 25° in 1989).  On the 7th, the 9" of snowfall broke the old daily record of 6.2" in 1985.  

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 2014, 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.

For some reason, every February's "Revisited" video post here for the past few years has had a Valentine's Day theme.    Which is odd, because it's probably my least favorite "Holiday".  I think the only reason I post relationship-related videos in February is because I can't figure out when else to post them.

Anyway, I suspect that the fact that "Valentines Day" even exists is due to the need to give the economy (especially the candy, flowers, and card sectors) a needed boost after a slow Winter.  Call me cynical, or call me... suspicious....