June-uary? Nice C. Oregon weather set to get warmer

We’re one month into winter, but lately it’s been anything but snowy and cold on the High Desert.

“It feels like March,” a Redmond High School student said Thursday.

On Thursday, the high was 47 degrees, and over the weekend the High Desert will warm into the 60s.

It’s got many Central Oregonians outdoors and excited.

“I just love summer, and it’s going to be great to give us a little teaser,” Bend resident Caitlyn Swarm said as she prepared for a run at Bend’s Riverbend Park.

The nearby dog park was also packed with pooches.

“Sunny and dry, I can’t complain,” said Greg Miller, who came to the park with his three dogs.

It’s not all fun in the sun, though. Warmer weather and fewer visitors have forced the downtown Redmond ice rink to cut its operating hours earlier than expected.

“So far in January, it’s been a little warmer, and with the warmer temperatures it’s harder to keep the ice frozen,” said Katie Hammer, executive director of the Redmond Area Park and Recreation district.

Hammer said the weather, coupled with a natural drop in rink attendance following the holidays, led the district to make the decision.

The new hours start on Sunday, January 25 th and only affect weekday afternoons:

Monday – Thursday: 5pm-9pm
Friday –Saturday: 2– 10pm
Sunday: 2 -9pm

Hours for free skating will stay the same.

Meanwhile, area sno-parks are also looking spare, and Mt. Bachelor only has about 50 percent of its expected snowpack.

“I’ve lived here for a long time, and I have that 60-inch rule,” said Miller, who has yet to hit the slopes. “The mountain is not quite ready for me yet.”

Redmond resident Jed Montagner is also waiting for better conditions.

“The weather has been so warm, we haven’t gone up to the mountain,” Montagner said.

Miller is crossing his fingers for a colder February.

“I don’t think winter is over, not by any means,” Miller said. “It’s just getting started.”