Public Information Statement Issued by NWS Portland, OR
000
NOUS46 KPQR 190041
PNSPQR
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON
540 PM PDT MON MAR 18 2024
...UNUSUAL WARMTH FOR MARCH...
After a cool start, Mother Nature decided to give the region some
spring-time temperatures. In general, high temperatures for the
interior lowlands are in the middle to upper 50s for mid-March, and
50 to 55 deg along the coast. So, temperatures over the past few
days have been quite above average. On average, most sites only see
one day above 70 deg in March. Coastal areas have already cooled
back to average, and the interior will more typical mid-March
temperatures on Wednesday.
So, how unusual is this warmth? Rare. But, not out of the question
of possibility. Many stations have seen temperatures above 70 deg
earlier than mid-March. But, what makes this stretch of warm days
stand out is number of days and the consecutive days of such warmth.
For many of the interior locations, one has to go back to MAR 2019
or MAR 2005 to see as many days in March with 70 deg. But, even
farther back to March 1994 for as many consecutive days of 70+ deg.
FIRST, the warmest day of the this warm spell...
Warmest Day First 70 deg Day of Spring Season
City temp / day Average Earliest on Record
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Area...
Astoria 75 / 16 MAR 19 APR 30 JAN 1040
Tillamook 75 / 16 MAR 3 APR 26 JAN 2015
Newport 72 / 15,16 MAR 21 APR 8 JAN 1893
Florence 70 / 16 MAR 19 APR 17 FEB 1977
Across the interior...
Kelso, WA 76 / 16,18 Mar 31 MAR 18 FEB 2015
Vancouver, WA 76 / 16 MAR 3 APR 26 FEB 1905
Portland (airpt) 76 / 16-18 MAR 2 APR 28 FEB 1988
Portland (downtn) 76 / 18 MAR 2 APR 27 FEB 1968
Troutdale 77 / 18 MAR 3 APR 7 MAR 2001
Hillsboro 77 / 18 MAR 1 APR 28 FEB 1968
McMinnville 75 / 16 MAR 3 APR 27 FEB 1968
Salem 76 / 16 MAR 4 APR 25 FEB 1991
Corvallis 73 / 16 MAR 5 APR 1 MAR 1905
Eugene 74 / 16 MAR 31 MAR 14 FEB 1916
NOTE: for many sites, one or more of these days are in the top
10 warmest days of March on record (but, not the warmest).
==================================================================
NEXT, the TOTAL number of days above 70 with this warm spell...
On average, most sites only see 1 day in March with 70+ deg.
Last MAR with As MARCH 70s
MAR 2024 Many 70s as 2024 [Record Most]
----------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Area...
Astoria 1 MAR 2019 [ 6 / in 1941 ]
Tillamook 2 MAR 2019 [ 3 /last in 2019]
Newport 2 MAR 1986 [ 3 /last in 1987]
Florence 1 MAR 2019 [ 4 /last in 1994]
Across the interior...
Kelso, WA 4 MAR 2019 [ 8 / in 1934 ]
Vancouver, WA 4 MAR 2005 [10 / in 1934 ]
Portland (airpt) 4 MAR 2005 [ 6 / in 1947 ]
Portland (downtn) 3 MAR 2005 [ 8 / in 1941 ]
Troutdale 4 MAR 2005 [ 7 / in 1965 ]
Hillsboro 4 MAR 2019 [ 7 / in 1947 ]
McMinnville 4 MAR 2019 [15 / in 1926 ]
Salem 4 MAR 2019 [ 9 / in 1934 ]
Corvallis 4 MAR 2005 [ 9 / in 1941 ]
Eugene 3 MAR 2015 [ 7 / in 1934 ]
==================================================================
FINALLY, the CONSECUTIVE number of days 70+ with this warm spell.
MARCH 2024 Record Longest in March
----------------------------------------------------------------
Portland (Airport) 4 days 6 days, in 1941
*** 2024 string of 4 days is currently tied as 3rd longest
along with MAR 2005, 1994, 1969 and 1947.
Salem 4 days 6 days, in 2005
*** 2024 string of 4 days is currently tied as 4th longest
along with MAR 2019, 1994, 1969, 1947, 1923, 1915, 1905.
====================================================================
PERIOD OF RECORD FOR KEY STATIONS...
ASTORIA 1887-2024 PORTLAND DOWNTOWN 1871-2024
TROUTDALE 1948-2024 PORTLAND AIRPORT 1941-2024
HILLSBORO 1929-2024 VANCOUVER 1894-2024
SALEM 1892-2024 MCMINNVILLE 1892-2024
CORVALLIS 1893-2024 EUGENE 1892-2024
$$
ROCKEY