Bend ends dry year with a warm, dry December

According to preliminary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service in Pendleton temperatures at Bend averaged slightly warmer than normal during the month of December, and it also was drier than normal, continuing a trend seen throughout the year.

The average temperature was 32.9 degrees, which was 1.9 degrees above normal. High Temperatures averaged 40.9 degrees, which was 1.5 degrees above normal. The highest was 54 degrees on the 17th. Low temperatures averaged 24.9 degrees, which was 2.2 degrees above normal. The lowest was 7 degrees, on the 4th.

There were 23 days with the low temperature below 32 degrees. There were 4 days when the high temperature stayed below 32 degrees.

Precipitation totaled 1.85 inches during December, which was 0.35 inches below normal. Measurable precipitation – at least .01 inch – was received on seven days, with the heaviest, 0.71 inches reported on the 19th.

Precipitation in 2018 totaled 5.93 inches, which is 5.43 inches below normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at Bend has been 2.54 inches, which is 1.65 inches below normal.

December’s greatest depth of snow on the ground was one inch on the 26th.

The outlook for January from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation. Normal highs for Bend during January are 41.1 degrees and normal lows are 24.5 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 1.53 inches.

The National Weather Service is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.