By Rod Hill on 2011-10-02
The 2010-2011 water year ended Sept. 30th. Portland's precipitation total of 44.74" was the wettest since 1998-1999. The total of 40.00" or more, ends the longest streak of less than 40.00" water years since records began back in 1870. I personally use 40.00" as the bookmark of what is considered to be a "wet" water year. By the way the new 30 year average water year precipitation total is 36.03". (Portland finished the season +8.71" above normal.)
The climate average is reset each 10 years, for a 30 year period. Our new climate normal is the 30 year average from 1980 - 2010. The old water year average was 37.07", the new average is slightly drier at 36.03 inches. The 2nd longest streak of less than 40.00" years ended in 1994 and was followed by the wet & flooding years through 1999. Remember, the atmosphere always fights to maintain balance. Almost always, dry is followed by wet, hot followed by cold and so forth and so on.
Current forecast outlooks call for wetter than normal weather October - December.
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