By Rod Hill on 2012-12-10
Mild temperatures this fall are not producing records, but they allowing flowers to bloom. So far, the lowest temperature at PDX has been 35 degrees, reached twice in November. This is the latest in the season without an official freeze since the fall of 1999. In fact, since 1999 this year becomes only the third fall to not have a freezing temperature before December 1st. I remember, because the fall of 1999 was the year I moved here and my roses were still blooming Christmas week! That year stayed above freezing at PDX until Dec. 24th when the low dropped to 30 degrees. The average 1st freeze in Portland is November 8th. The year of 1934 holds the record for no freezing temperatures all year.
A few stats to highlight our mild weather include: since October 1st, 45 days have averaged above normal temperatures, only 21 days have been cooler than normal and we have had more overnight lows in the 50s than the 30s as of today's date. The normal low today is 35 degrees, the normal high is 46. The 7day forecast for Portland has no freezing numbers, but it does show a cooler pattern with temperatures likely to be near normal. The snow on the ground at Government Camp and Skibowl represents one of the few times this season the snow level has been below 4,000 feet for a number of days, but by the end of Sunday, rain was once again falling at Timberline.
Forecast charts are hinting at colder, wet weather with heavy mountain snow below Cascade passes the days leading up to Christmas.
Warm Phase Of Changing Climate