C.O.’s ‘June-uary’ weekend warmth smashes records

Redmond Airport smashed its daily record for the second straight day Sunday, reaching 69 degrees as the “June-uary” weather continued to bring smiles for many, but furrowed brows for skiers, snowboarders, resorts and others concerned about the thin winter snowpack.

The old Jan. 25 record of 61 degrees, set back in 1951, was obliterated, one day after Roberts Field reached 67 degrees, also blowing away the 61-degree mark set in the same year. Much of the High Desert was in the upper 60s, with some spots reporting low 70s for a rare late January warm spell.

NewsChannel 21’s Samantha O’Connor predicted one more day of potentially record-breaking temperatures in the mid to upper 60s before temperatures cool back to the 50s and upper 40s later in the week.

Commenters on KTVZ’s Facebook page expressed both joy at the warm conditions that allowed them to talk long walks and do other outdoor activities, and concern over things such as the potential for water issues and wildfire danger later in the year if the rest of the winter stays warm and dry.

But others noted there’s plenty of weeks of winter left and that February can be pretty cold and snowy on the High Desert — like last year, when more than two feet of snow fell, closing schools and the airport..