Bend’s May was warmer, drier than normal, NWS says

Bend was warmer and drier than normal in May, according to preliminary data received by NOAA’s National Weather Service office in Pendleton.

The average temperature at the official recording station at Bend Airport east of town was 53.3 degrees, which was 2.9 degrees above normal.

High temperatures averaged 68.5 degrees, which was 3.9 degrees above normal. The highest was 87 degrees on the 24th. Low temperatures averaged 38.2 degrees, which was 1.9 degrees above normal. The lowest was 26 degrees, on the 7th.

There were six days with the low temperature below 32 degrees.

Precipitation totaled 0.10 inches during May, which was 0.79 inches below normal. Measurable precipitation -at least .01 inch- was received on 2 days with the heaviest, 0.06 inches reported on the 15th.

Precipitation this year has reached 4.70 inches, which is 0.32 inches below normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at Bend has been 10.14 inches, which is 0.93 inches above normal.

The highest May wind gust was 45 mph, which occurred on the 16th.

The outlook for June from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-normal temperatures and near to below-normal precipitation. Normal highs for Bend rise from 69 degrees at the start of June to 77 degrees at the end of June. Normal lows rise from 40 degrees to 45 degrees. The 30 year normal precipitation is 0.70 inches.

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