Helix, OR

... Month in review for northeast Oregon and southeast Washington for
the month of January 2012...

I. Temperature and precipitation overview

     January 2012 average temperatures were near to above normal for
the region, except in south central Washington where average
temperatures were near to below normal. Total precipitation was near
to above normal for most of the region.


January 2012 data and departure from normal for selected cities:

                   Max dep min dep Ave dep pcpn dep
                  temp norm temp norm temp norm totl norm
Yakima 40.9 +2.3 18.5 -4.8 29.7 -1.3 1.18 +0.03
Kennewick 46.0 +4.5 26.1 -3.4 36.0 +0.5 0.99 -0.09
Walla Walla 45.2 +4.3 28.7 -1.4 37.0 +1.5 2.34 -0.19
The Dalles 44.0 +1.8 28.3 -2.7 36.2 -0.4 2.90 +0.40
Redmond 47.2 +4.8 22.5 -0.6 34.9 +2.2 1.51 +0.54
Pendleton Airport 46.2 +4.4 25.4 -3.4 35.8 +0.5 1.54 +0.11
La Grande 40.6 +2.2 25.6 +1.1 33.1 +1.7 2.06 +0.43


Ii. Selected records

     while average temperatures were near to above normal for the
region, most locations reported above normal monthly maximum
temperatures during the month of January. At the beginning of the
month, a warm air mass was over the region ahead of an advancing
cold front. Southerly winds also aided in bringing warmer air to the
region on January 4th. Several locations reported record high
temperatures the afternoon of January 4th.

City previous record new record
Bend, or 60 in 1984 60 (tied)
Heppner, or 67 in 1984 67 (tied)
John Day, or 60 in 1954 61
Joseph, or 58 in 1914 58 (tied)
La Grande, or 49 in 1983 52
Long Creek, or 52 in 2003 62
Madras, or 60 in 1969 65
Meacham, or 45 in 1953 49
Monument, or 55 in 2008 55 (tied)
Moro, or 55 in 1984 59
Pendleton Airport, or 62 in 1994 69
Pendleton exp St, or 62 in 1994 67
city of Pendleton, or 63 in 1994 72
Prineville, or 67 in 1902 67 (tied)
Redmond, or 61 in 2001 65
Sisters, or 58 in 1969 63
Dayton, WA 64 in 1984 65
Goldendale, WA 51 in 2001 54
Walla Walla, WA 60 in 2008 69

     one station reported the warmest maximum temperature for the
month of January on record for that station. As the station is a
cooperative observing station, the information is reported on the
morning of the 5th, therefore the actual maximum temperature
occurred on the 4th. The city of Pendleton reported a maximum
temperature of 72 degrees, breaking the previous daily maximum
temperature record for the month of January. The previous record was
71 degrees, set on January 24th in 1935.

     The first major widespread winter storm began to impact the
region starting on January 17th. A weather disturbance as well as an
upper level jet increased lift over the area. This in combination
with a stream of very moist air into the region led to heavy
precipitation over the course of several days. For many locations,
24-hour precipitation totals were broken by the 18th. The following
table lists 24-hour precipitation records in inches for cooperative
weather stations ending the morning of the 18th.

City previous record new record
Condon, or 0.48 in 1987 1.56
Heppner, or 0.41 in 1953 0.50
Moro, or 0.55 in 1953 0.55 (tied)
Pelton dam, or 0.56 in 1996 0.73
city of Pendleton, or 0.39 in 1913 0.60
Pendleton exp St, or 0.42 in 1970 0.63
Bickleton, WA 0.84 in 1974 0.95
Satus Pass, WA 1.15 in 1996 1.26
Whitman mission, WA 0.32 in 1995 0.34

Two Airport locations reported record 24-hour precipitation totals
from midnight to midnight on the 18th. The Dalles Airport reported a
total of 0.92 inches of precipitation, breaking the previous record
of 0.75 inches in 1974. The Yakima Airport reported a total of 0.56
inches of precipitation, breaking the previous record of 0.54 inches
in 1974.

     Most of the precipitation on the 17th and into the 18th fell as
snow over the region. Many cooperative weather stations broke
24-hour snowfall totals ending the morning of the 18th. The
following table lists snowfall totals in inches.

City previous record new record
Condon, or 4.0 in 1962 15.4
Ione, or 3.0 in 1937 4.0
La Grande, or 1.2 in 2002 6.0
Moro, or 3.0 in 1937 7.5
Pendleton exp St, or 6.0 in 1937 6.0 (tied)
Bickleton, WA 6.0 in 1954 10.5
Glenwood, WA 5.0 in 1999 10.0
Goldendale, WA 10.0 in 1913 12.0
Satus Pass, WA 3.0 in 1972 13.0
Whitman mission, WA 0.2 in 1987 1.2

Two Airport locations reported 24-hour record snowfall totals
between midnight and midnight on the 18th. Walla Walla Airport
reported 4.7 inches of snow, breaking the previous record of 3.0
inches set in 1969. Yakima Airport reported a total of 6 inches of
snow, breaking the previous record of 3.0 inches set in 1973.


Iii. Significant weather

     as mentioned previously, the first major widespread winter
storm for the region occurred during the middle of the month of
January. This system brought not only snow, but freezing rain and
sleet to many locations in the Columbia Basin. High winds were also
reported in central Oregon as high winds aloft were brought to the
surface.

     The first weather disturbance brought precipitation just east
of the Cascades on the 16th. A weather spotter seven miles
north-northwest of Easton picked up 11 inches of new snow during the
day of the 16th. Then, the spotter called back with an additional 18
inches of snow overnight into the morning of the 17th. The system
then moved east, spreading snow across the region through the 18th.
The following table lists selected snow reports from cocorahs
network observers, storm spotters weather stations and the public.

Location time/date report

1 W Trout Lake, WA 245pm on 17th 17 inches in 24 hours
Athena, or 500am on 18th 4 inches in 12 hours
Heppner, or 600am on 18th 4 inches in 12 hours
Condon, or 630am on 18th 15.4 inches in 24 hours
5 SSW Chenoweth, or 700am on 18th 10.2 inches in 24 hours
9 N Elgin, or 700am on 18th 13 inches in 24 hours
5 SW Spout Springs, or 700am on 18th 15 inches
2 N Meacham, or 703am on 18th 10 inches in 24 hours
Glenwood, WA 800am on 18th 10 inches in 24 hours
10 NNE Ukiah, or 800am on 18th 8 inches in 24 hours
3 SW Lyle, or 800am on 18th 24 inches in 24 hours
NE Dayton, WA 800am on 18th 7 inches overnight
10 SSE Maupin, or 830am on 18th 10 inches in 24 hours
ski bluewood, WA 900am on 18th 18 inches in 24 hours
WSW Camp Sherman, or 900am on 18th 16 inches in 24 hours
15 SSE Flora, or 900am on 18th 21 inches in 17 hours
NW Wasco, or 930am on 18th 14 inches in 24 hours
The Dalles, or 930am on 18th 10 inches. Power outages
4 ENE White Salmon, WA 930am on 18th 18 inches in 24 hours
7 NE Goldendale, WA 930am on 18th 14.5 inches in 24 hours
Bend, or 930am on 18th 7.7 inches in 24 hours
9 N Ione, or 930am on 18th 4 inches in 24 hours
5 N La Grande, or 1000am on 18th 12 inches overnight
3 NNE Ellensburg, WA 1014am on 18th 4 inches in 24 hours
9 NW Roslyn, WA 1042am on 18th 48 inches since the 15th
13 SW Mitchell, or 1100am on 18th 5 inches in 24 hours
5 NNW Service Creek, or 1127am on 18th 10 inches overnight
Toppenish, WA 1214pm on 18th 6 inches in 12 hours
18 NNW West Richland,WA 1214pm on 18th 5 inches
Lostine, or 145pm on 18th 5 inches overnight

High winds were reported in central Oregon on the 18th as higher
winds were mixed down to the surface. A weather station located 5
miles south-southeast of Black Butte Ranch in Oregon reported a wind
gust of 80 mph during the early morning hours. During the afternoon,
a weather station 8 miles north-northwest of Clarno, Oregon reported
a wind gust to 66 mph.

     The next weather system moved into the region during the
evening of the 18th into the 19th. This system brought warmer air
over the region. Cold air trapped in the Columbia Basin led to
widespread freezing rain in those locations. Many of these
locations reported up to one half inch of ice accumulation.
Accidents were reported near Pendleton along I-84, and near
Kennewick along I-82. Power outages were reported in White Salmon
and tree limbs broke off trees in Lyle. The higher elevations and
portions of central Washington continued to receive more snow
through January 19th. The following table lists selected storm
reports from January 19th.

Location time report
11 SSW John Day, or 900 am 6 inches in 12 hours
12 se Seneca, or 1000 am 6 inches in 12 hours
5 SSW Spout Springs, or 1200 PM 8 inches in 7 hours
7 SSE Fox, or 112 PM 4 inches in 12 hours
2 NW Ellensburg, WA 440 PM 5.8 inches in 12 hours
Connell, WA 518 PM 4.5 inches in 12 hours
8 se Cliffdell, WA 104 am (20th) 13 inches in 24 hours