Rod's Weather Headlines

After weeks of rain, a mostly dry forecast will allow river levels to recede this week.  The Columbia river at Vancouver will crest Monday near 14 feet, two shy of the 16 feet flood stage.  The Willamette at downtown Portland has reached it's crest at 14' and will slowly recede Monday night.  The downtown flood stage is 18 feet.  At this point, the forecast will be dry all but a few days over the next two weeks.  River waters will recede and the high snowpack should also begin to stabilize.  Avalanche danger has been high over the past weeks due to added weight brought by record rainfall.  

Portland, (PDX) reached into the low 80s Saturday, setting the new record for latest in the season to reach 80 degrees.  The old record was June 9th, 1991.  It is worth mentioning that the all-time record for latest in the season is June 16th, 1899.  The all-time record includes all reporting sites dating back to 1875.

Wednesday and Thursday delivered the minimum rain total I had forecast.  PDX received a two day total of .59" of rain.  This currently stands as the 2nd wettest June on record at PDX.

The June total is now 3.83" / The wettest June at PDX is 4.06" back in 1984.  (The records begin in 1941)  

With a long mostly dry stretch expected through much of next week, I have to say, it is at least possible that we will not break the all-time record.  I should tell you the records for the city of Portland date back to 1871.  The wettest June at all combined reporting stations is 5.38" back in 1888.  5th place on that list is 3.88" back in 1937.  As stated above, all forecast charts show an end to our wet weather pattern that began back in April.  

Tomorrow, June 12th will likely become the new PDX recored for latest in the year to reach 80 degrees.  The old record was broke back on June 9th.  I hope you enjoy a fabulous weekend!

The rain records keep stacking up, here is the latest as of 9:00 pm Sunday:

1.  Total rain for May and June at PDX 7.83" / New Record For The 2-Month Period

2.  June Rain Record (PDX) Is 4.06" / So Far We Have 3.08", 4th Place 

3.  Rain 52 Of 67 Days Since April 1st / Record For Most Days With Rainfall

*Sunday's rainfall at PDX is not a record as of this update.  The record is 1.70"

 A SLOW MOVING FRONT USHERED IN AN ABUNDANCE OF MOISTURE OVER THE 
 LAST 12 HOURS GIVING MANY PLACES IN EXCESS OF AN INCH OF RAIN. THIS 
 CAUSED SOME MINOR FLOODING AROUND THE PORTLAND METRO AREA. HERE IS A 
 QUICK SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE VALUES REPORTED AROUND THE AREA. 
 
 
 REPORTS COLLECTED BETWEEN:
 0108 AM PDT 06/05/2010 AND 0108 PM PDT 06/06/2010
 
 LOCATION                 RAIN (IN)    DURATION    REPORT TIME
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 BEAVERTON,OR...............1.68                12 HR       0102 PM PDT 06/06
 RYE MOUNTAIN,OR RAWS.......1.53         12 HR       0104 PM PDT 06/06
 VANCOUVER,WA AIRPORT.......1.39         12 HR       0103 PM PDT 06/06
 HILLSBORO,OR AIRPORT.......1.32           12 HR       0101 PM PDT 06/06
 PORTLAND,OR AIRPORT........1.28           12 HR       0101 PM PDT 06/06
 SW PORTLAND,OR.............1.2                  6 HR        1005 AM PDT 06/06
 PORTLAND,OR................1.14                 12 HR       1145 AM PDT 06/06
 SADDLE MOUNTAIN,OR RAWS....1.1       12 HR       0106 PM PDT 06/06 
 LARCH MTN.,WA RAWS.........0.97           12 HR       0105 PM PDT 06/06
 SCAPPOOSE,OR AIRPORT.......0.91          12 HR       0103 PM PDT 06/06
 TILLAMOOK,OR AIRPORT.......0.74          12 HR       0104 PM PDT 06/06
 SALMON CREEK...............0.73                 4 HR        1015 AM PDT 06/06
 MILLER,OR RAWS.............0.71               12 HR       0105 PM PDT 06/06
 MCMINNVILLE,OR AIRPORT.....0.65         12 HR       0103 PM PDT 06/06 
 TROUTDALE,OR AIRPORT.......0.63           12 HR       0107 PM PDT 06/06 
 AURORA,OR AIRPORT..........0.48             12 HR       0106 PM PDT 06/06
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

The above courtesy of the National Weather Service - Portland
 
 

Here are the climate highlights for the month of May:   

High Temperature Average 63.2 Degrees / -3.5 below normal.   (Does not Make top 5 list of coolest Mays)

Mean Temperature 55.0 / -2.1 below normal.

Total Rainfall:  4.75" / +2.37" above normal.  3rd wettest May at PDX.  Records date to 1941.

Highest Temperature 76 degrees.  Ties for 3rd lowest high temperature.  Becomes only the 12th May not to reach 80 degrees at PDX, since 1941.

Two Days Had Low-High Temperature Records.

Wednesday's PDX daily rain record of .46" could get doubled tomorrow!  All computer data points to an inch of rain Tuesday night and Wednesday day.  Look for the steadiest and heaviest rain to be during the morning hours.  The coast could see close to 2.00" of rain!  A strong Pacific jet stream flow will aim at the Northwest much of this week.  A second heavy rain event is in Friday's forecast.  A low pressure center nearing the coast Friday, may bring high winds to the coast and gusty winds to the valley.  Here is the "shocker - the metro area could easily receive close to the June average for rain in just the first seven days of the month!  The PDX June rain average is 1.59" of total precipitation.  

In other news, Portland received 4.75" of rain in the month of May.  The total stands as the 3rd wettest in the records dating to 1941.  The wettest May was back in 1998 when PDX received 5.55 inches.  The wettest June at PDX was 4.06" in 1984.

The rain total at PDX has reached 4.51" as of Saturday evening.  Showers expected Sunday will likely push the total over 4.57", which will place this May as the third wettest in the record books.  The wettest May will stand as 5.55" back in 1998. By the way, only November and January have had more rain than this May in regards to our current water year. I am following two additional stories.  Number one is the potential of more than an inch of rain this coming Wednesday through Saturday.  The average for the entire month of June is 1.59".  We could be close to a normal June, by the end of this coming week!  The second story is the record for latest in the season to reach 80 degrees.  The current date is June 9th. It is very possible that PDX will not reach 80 degrees this year until after June 9th.  If so, we will have a new record.  Remember July is only weeks away!!

It's no secret that PDX has not reached 80 degrees yet this year.  While this is not a record, it is a bit unusual.  The following statistics are courtesy of Mr. Steve Pierce with the local American Meteorological Society: