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...

August 2013 Revisited

August 2013 turned out to be:

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

My station's average temperature of 71.8° was way warmer than the long term August average of 66.7°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 69.1°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 70.4°.  This was the 12th consecutive month in Hood River to experience above average temperatures.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 93°, and the low temp was 53°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 94° and 52°.

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 92°, and the low wind chill was 53°.

Solar radiation averaged 512 Ly/day, compared to an average August of 571 Ly/day.  Meaning it was a little cloudier than average, likely due to thunderstorms, which will be discussed in some detail further down here.

Speaking of thunderstorms, they provided above average rainfall for the month, and set two local precipitation records (see below).   My station received 0.57" for the month, while HOXO reported 0.47"  An average August receives 0.36".    The longest dry spell this summer (43 days) started on June 27th, and ended on August 9th, due to... you guessed it... thunderstorms...

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 4.1 mph, compared to an average August 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 30.12", and the low barometric was 29.70".

Now... about those thunderstorms... On Friday, August 9th, one of the most spectacular thunderstorms in memory rolled into town, putting on an amazing show, complete with eerily awesome reddish-orange sunset skies to the west, and a double rainbow to the east.  Not to mention, breaking the rainfall record for the date.  The storm produced over 2000 lightning strikes around the Mt Hood/Gorge area, and 12,000 strikes throughout Oregon.

But wait, there's more!  The next day, August 10th, another T-storm arrived, not quite as impressive as the first, but producing measurable rainfall, which erased the "It never rains on August 10th in Hood River" record.

There were 4 local weather records set this month.  As mentioned, on the 9th we received 0.08" of rain, breaking the previous record of 0.03", set in 1989.  On the 10th, which hadn't ever had rain (at least since 1928), HOXO recorded 0.01", confirming that, yes indeed, sometimes it doesn't take much to set a new weather record.

Two "high low" temperature records were set during August.   On the 16th, the low temperature of 64° broke the previous record (63° in 2003), and on the 30th, the low of 63° topped the old record of 60° (1979)

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 August 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.

Ahh, August:   Fond memories of great times spent packing the kids (if I had any) and the dogs (if I had any) into the car for long road trips... If I remember correctly, those were great times, with the greatness mostly revolving around the "getting back home" part.

Anyway, this catchy little tune from the 1983 movie "Vacation" was written by Lindsey Buckingham (of Fleetwood Mac fame).   The official video for the song is catchy also, but a little too dark and depressing for my liking, kind of like being at work.

July 2013 Revisited

July 2013 stood out, in these mostly above average ways:

Above average:  Wind, temperature, solar radiation, humidity
Average or near: Nothing
Below Average: Rainfall

My station's average temperature of 72.1° was way warmer than the long term July average of 67.3°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 70.2°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 71.4°.  This was the 11th consecutive month in Hood River to experience above average temperatures.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 94°, and the low temp was 51°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 94° and 47°.

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 94°, and the low wind chill was 51°.

Solar radiation averaged 691 Ly/day, compared to an average July of 661 Ly/day.

My station ended up with absolutely no rainfall for the month, and HOXO also officially recorded absolutely nothing.  An average July receives 0.22". 

July was, to put it mildly, windy.   In fact, this was the windiest July since 1989, as measured at HOXO.   Those who love the wind were screaming with joy, while those of us who would like an occasional calm day in the summer, were just screaming, but couldn't be heard (because of the wind).  Still, it was good for business in Hood River.

The 24 hour average wind speed (for the month) at my weather station was 5.7 mph, compared to an average July wind speed of 4.3 mph.  The peak wind gust was 34 mph on the 4th.  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 29.74".   This was the typical boring July lack of barometric movement, except for the daily diurnal pattern brought about by atmospheric tides.

There were 3 local weather records set this month.  They were all "high low" records, and they were all in the first 3 days of the month.  On July 1st, the low of 66° topped the old record of 65° (1987).   On July 2nd, the low of 66° demolished the previous record of 63° (1986).  And then, on July 3rd, the low of 67° barely snuck by the old record of 66° (2006).

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 July 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.

Everyone knows.... it's.... windy ....

June 2013 Revisited

June 2013 wasn't its typical June-uary self this year:

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

My station's average temperature of 66.0° was warmer than the long term June average of 61.8°, and warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 62.8°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 65.0°.  This was the 10th consecutive month in Hood River to experience above average temperatures.

The first major heat wave of the year arrived during the last week of June, first exceeding 90° on the 28th, and then exceeding 100° on the 30th.  The heat was accompanied by relatively high relative humidity, which is relatively unusual, for this relative area.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 101°, and the low temp was 47°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 100° and 42°.

The high heat index (at my station) for the month was 101°, and the low wind chill was 47°.

Solar radiation averaged 630 Ly/day, compared to an average June of 609 Ly/day.  Less rain, fewer clouds, longer days.... more Langley units!

Regarding rainfall, the dry spell that characterized the first half of May also characterized the first half of June.  My station ended up with 0.59" for the month, and HOXO officially recorded 0.47".  An average June receives 0.77".  The max daily precipitation was on the 25th, when my station recorded 0.29" and HOXO 0.16".  Unfortunately, the rain couldn't have come at a worse time, as the local cherry crop took a big hit.

In thunderstorm news, we actually had one!  That was on June 15th, and although it didn't provide hardly any rain locally, it did provide this great photo from Panorama Point.

The 24 hour average wind  speed at my weather station was 3.8 mph, compared to an average June wind speed of 4.1 mph.  The peak wind gust was 30 mph on the 9th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (like the Waterfront) were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.24", and the low barometric was 29.61".

There was one local weather record set this month.   On the 29th, the low temperature only dropped to 68°, which shattered the previous "high low" record for the date (63° all the way back in 1937).

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 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.

This June's weather was much nicer than in recent years, and it actually felt like a Summer month (which it sort of is, but it doesn't usually feel like it).   So nice, in fact, that it seemed like a dream... 

An impressive video tribute to the Fleetwood Mac song, created by Oregonian Vickie Burns with Northwest pics and smooth transitions.   Great job, Vickie.   :)

May 2013 Revisited

May 2013 turned out to be:

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

My station's average temperature of 59.4° was way warmer than the long term May average of 56.2°, and way warmer than the more recent (2001-2012) average of 57.1°. The official average temperature in Hood River, recorded at HOXO, was 58.6°.  This was the 9th consecutive month with above average temperatures.

The maximum temperature (at my station) was 87°, and the low temp was 31°. Official Hood River highs and lows (at HOXO) were 88° and 31°.

The high heat index for the month was 86°, and the low wind chill was 31°.

Solar radiation averaged 534 Ly/day, compared to an average May of 543 Ly/day.

The first half of May started out with a very nice heat wave, which got all the vegetation's hopes up (and ours).   It was dry, but that was ok; a nice change from the May's we've had the past few years.

Things changed in the second half of the month.  Things cooled down, and the rains returned.  My station received 2.23" rain for the month, but HOXO officially recorded 1.80".   An average May receives 1.08". 
 
The max daily precipitation was May 29th, when my station recorded 0.82", and HOXO tallied up 0.58".

The 24 hour average wind speed at my weather station was 3.5 mph, compared to an average May wind speed of 3.6 mph.  The peak wind gust (at my location) was 29 mph on the 13th.  Wind speeds at other less sheltered locations (such as on the Columbia River) were, of course, higher.  

Barometric pressure peaked at 30.51", and the low barometric was 29.65".

There were 5 local weather records set this month!   On the mornings of May 7th and 8th, temperatures of 58° set new "high low" records.  The previous records were 57° (1992) and 55° (1971).   And then, as the heat wave continued, the record "high low" on May 11th was broken again.  58°, compared to the old record of 55° (1987).   And then again, on May 12th, another record "high low" was set.  On that day, the low temp was 59°, while the previous record was 57° (1993).

That's only 4 records, so here's the 5th:   On May 29th, HOXO received 0.58" of rain, breaking the old record for the date:  0.52", set way back in 1932.

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 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.