452
NOUS46 KMFR 011247
PNSMFR
ORZ026-020100-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Medford OR
547 AM PDT Sun Sep 1 2024

...MEDFORD OREGON WEATHER REVIEW: AUGUST 2024...

An upper level ridge dominated the weather during the first half
of August. This brought typical summer weather to Medford, with
temperatures in the upper 90s and low 100s and periods of smoke
and haze from area wildfires. Around the 13th, the upper level
ridge weakened and temperatures trended cooler through around the
25th. During this time, two significant low pressures affected the
region, bringing fall like weather and wetting rains during one of
the hottest and driest months of the year.

The first trough developed offshore of the Oregon coast around
the 17th and this brought weather more typical of late September
with high temperatures in the low to mid 80s. After a round of
severe weather and wetting rains along and west of the Cascades on
the 17th, this low drifted northward and moved into Washington.
The Medford Airport recorded 0.45" of rain on the 17th, which was
the second greatest daily rainfall total for that date. Many of
the area wildfires also received a wetting rainfall with this
first trough and those that didn`t, would do so with the next,
colder trough that affected the region on the 22nd through the
25th. This second trough brought weather more typical of late
October with highs in the Medford area dipping into the 70s. In
fact, the high temperature at the Medford Airport only reached 70
degrees on both the 23rd and 24th, setting the record for the 2nd
coldest high temperature and tying the record for the coldest high
temperature, respectively. Additionally, and equally impressive,
the 0.40" of precipitation recorded on the 23rd was the second
greatest daily rainfall total for that date. Snow levels dipped
down to 7000 ft during this cold spell, and snow was observed at
higher elevations like Mt Bailey, Mt Thielson and Mt Shasta.
Needless to say, this precipitation was much welcomed and put a
slow down to fire season. While the Medford Airport only recorded
0.40", areas along the coast recieved 1-3" of rain as did the
wildfires burning in the Umpqua National Forest. This greatly
helped to diminish fire activity and stop the nuisance smoke that
plagued the region for multiple weeks prior.

After this last trough moved east of the region on the 26th,
temperatures trended warmer, returning to more seasonal norms. One
more fast moving trough passed by to the north on the 27th which
slowed down the return to hot temperatures. By the 29th, triple
digits returned to finish off the month. Despite the above normal
precipitation received during the month, the monthly total of
0.86" tied for 14th place in terms of the wettest August on
record.

The average temperature for the month was 74.2 degrees, which is
0.3 degrees below normal. The average maximum temperature was 90.1
degrees, which is 1.0 degrees below normal. The average minimum
temperature was 58.3 degrees, which is 0.4 degrees above normal.
The highest temperature for the month was 103 degrees which
occurred on the 1st and 30th. The lowest temperature for the
month was 45 degrees which occurred on the 25th.

There were 26 clear days, 4 partly cloudy days, and 1 cloudy
day.

Total precipitation for the month was 0.86 inches which is 0.53
inches above normal. Total precipitation for the water year
(beginning October 1st) is 17.26 inches which is 0.69 inches below
normal. Calendar year precipitation is 12.11 inches which is 1.52
inches above normal.

The average wind speed for the month was 4.7 mph. The fastest
recorded two-minute wind speed was 26 mph from the west which
occurred on the 26th. The peak wind was 35 mph from the west
which occurred on the 26th.

The highest pressure for the month was missing. The lowest
pressure for the month was missing.

$$

MNF