Counties in Oregon with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
Bobjgalindo // Wikimedia Commons
Counties in Oregon with the fastest-rising temperatures in the last 100 years
Hitting 116 degrees F in normally temperate Portland, Oregon. 105 degrees in Reno in September, just as summer is meant to be waning. And in California’s Death Valley National Park, temperatures hit almost 130 degrees in the aptly named Furnace Creek, marking a world record for the hottest September day in history.
2021 and 2022 saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, as across the country extreme heat waves wreaked havoc on communities accustomed to more moderate weather. For many regions, the consequences were grave: in the 2021 Western heatwave, hundreds lost their lives, largely due to a lack of air conditioning, and wildfires ravaged the area.
Stacker
Map of the past year’s temperatures compared to the 100-year average
While not every county in the nation has experienced such extreme heat, climate change has dramatically changed the heat landscape in nearly every state. Coastal regions and the Southern U.S. are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and are also frequently targets of extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.
Just as all states are not impacted equally by rising temperatures, regions within states have also seen widely different temperature changes over the last decades. Factors such as proximity to urban areas, bodies of water, and mountains can dramatically change the climate of a region. Stacker cited data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information to identify the counties in Oregon with the greatest departure from average temperatures during the period December 2021 to November 2022 compared to the 1901-2000 average. Average temperature over the past year served as a tiebreaker. Additional data on recent average high and low temperatures for each county is also included.
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Wallowa County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 43.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #36 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 32.6 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 54.7 F (1.3 F above century average)
EncMstr // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Lincoln County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #19 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 43.2 F (0.5 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.9 F (1.9 F above century average)
cpaulfell // Shutterstock
#34. Benton County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #20 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 42.5 F (0.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63 F (1.8 F above century average)
Jmabel // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Linn County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #20 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 40.5 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.4 F (1.6 F above century average)
USFWS Headquarters’ photostream // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Tillamook County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #19 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 42.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
Lauram12345 // Wikicommons
#31. Lane County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 41.1 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.1 F (1.8 F above century average)
M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Washington County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #21 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 42.2 F (1.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.1 F (1.9 F above century average)
M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons
#29. Yamhill County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 43 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62 F (1.7 F above century average)
Williamborg // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Union County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #21 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.1 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 55.9 F (1.9 F above century average)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Baker County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #23 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 34.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 57.3 F (1.5 F above century average)
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA // Wikimedia Commons
#26. Malheur County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #22 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 35.6 F (1.1 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
English: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Clatsop County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #19 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 41.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.1 F (1.6 F above century average)
Edmund Garman // Flickr
#24. Marion County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 40.9 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.3 F (2 F above century average)
Stuart Seeger // Wikicommons
#23. Multnomah County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #21 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 43.3 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61 F (1.6 F above century average)
Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Columbia County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #19 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 41.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Polk County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #16 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 42.4 F (0.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.4 F above century average)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Grant County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #16 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 32.8 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 57.4 F (2.2 F above century average)
Debbie Tegtmeier // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Coos County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 43.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.5 F (2.1 F above century average)
Mrgadget51 // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Clackamas County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 40.6 F (1.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.4 F (2 F above century average)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Sherman County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #18 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39 F (0.9 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 62.9 F (3 F above century average)
Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Wasco County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.5 F (1.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.4 F (2.3 F above century average)
Gancayco // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Umatilla County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #17 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.2 F (1.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.7 F (2.2 F above century average)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Morrow County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #18 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.1 F (1.8 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.9 F (2.1 F above century average)
Tedder // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Gilliam County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #18 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63 F (2.6 F above century average)
English: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Douglas County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 41.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61.8 F (2.2 F above century average)
Manuela Durson // Shutterstock
#11. Curry County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #13 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 43.7 F (1.3 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.3 F (2.6 F above century average)
Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Deschutes County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #9 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 32.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 58.3 F (2.5 F above century average)
Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Hood River County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 38.3 F (2.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 55.1 F (2 F above century average)
Tomas Nevesely // Shutterstock
#8. Wheeler County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.3 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.4 F (2.8 F above century average)
Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Crook County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #10 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 33.6 F (1.4 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.4 F (3.1 F above century average)
Little Mountain 5 // Wikicommons
#6. Jackson County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 39.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.1 F (2.7 F above century average)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Jefferson County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #9 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 36.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 61 F (2.9 F above century average)
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Lake County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #11 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 32.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.1 F (3.2 F above century average)
Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Harney County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #14 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 33.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 60.6 F (3.1 F above century average)
Joseph Novak // Wikicommons
#2. Josephine County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #7 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 41.5 F (1.7 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 63.1 F (3.3 F above century average)
Bobjgalindo // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Klamath County
– Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
– #8 warmest year since 1895
– Recent average low: 32.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
– Recent average high: 59.4 F (3.2 F above century average)
