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Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Medford, OR
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NOUS46 KMFR 011227
PNSMFR
ORZ026-020030-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Medford OR
527 AM PDT Thu Apr 1 2021

...MEDFORD OREGON WEATHER REVIEW: MARCH 2021...

"In like a lamb, out like a lion", so the saying goes for March
weather. Well, March 2021 was in like a lamb, and out like a lamb
too, although there were a few "lion" systems to move through the
area during the month. Overall, the month ended with cooler than
normal temperatures and below normal precipitation despite the
fairly active weather.

March 2021 started off under high pressure with dry conditions and
above normal temperatures. Then a strong trough moved through the
region on the 4th and 5th, which brought strong winds and more
beneficial rain and snowfall. This system brought the strongest
winds of the month for the Rogue Valley with a maximum wind gust of
44 mph on the 4th.

Periods of active weather, followed by brief periods of high
pressure continued through much of the month. Another system passed
through the region from the 9th through the 11th. This system was
weaker than the previous, but still brought gusty winds to the area.
Another, much colder, system affected the area on the 14th and
15th. Snow levels initially started out at around 4500 ft, then
quickly lowered to 1500 ft behind the front with a few inches
recorded in the foothills around Medford and Ashland area. This
system brought one of the coldest March air masses that the region
had seen since 2012. The high temperature of 46 degrees at
Medford on the 15th was the 4th coldest high temperature on
record. Temperatures moderated over the next few days as a brief
period of high pressure moved through the area.

Another windy system affected the area on the 18th. Precipitation
with this system was focused along the coast, especially along the
Curry Coast. Downsloping from these strong winds significantly
limited precipitation in the Rogue Valley and only 0.01" was
recorded with this event. After this system, high pressure developed
over the eastern Pacific, leaving the region under northwest flow.
Weaker systems moved through the area during the week of the 21st,
but precipitation was focused along and west of the Cascades,
especially north of the Umpqua Divide.

High pressure dominated for the end of the month with a thermal
trough at the surface, and this brought above normal afternoon
temperatures. However, a cold front pushed through the area on
the 29th, and afternoon temperatures dropped by 15 to 20 degrees
over a 24 hour period. The month ended on a warm note with the
warmest temperatures of the year so far occurring on the last day
of the month. 81 degrees was recorded at the Medford Airport, and
this was only 5 degrees shy of the record for the day (86 degrees
in 1911). This was common across the area with other climate sites
also recording high temperatures within 5 to 7 degrees of their
daily record.

The average temperature for the month was 47.7 degrees, which is
0.7 degrees below normal. The average maximum temperature was
60.4 degrees, which is 0.9 degrees above normal. The average
minimum temperature was 34.9 degrees, which is 2.2 degrees below
normal. The highest temperature for the month was 81 degrees which
occurred on the 31st. The lowest temperature for the month was 30
degrees which occurred on the 1st and 23rd.

There were 14 clear days, 11 partly cloudy days, and 6 cloudy
days.

Total precipitation for the month was 1.47 inches which is 0.24
inches below normal. Total precipitation for the water year
(beginning October 1st) is 11.86 inches which is 1.93 inches below
normal. Calendar year precipitation is 5.32 inches which is 0.83
inches below normal.

The average wind speed for the month was 5.1 mph. The fastest
recorded two-minute wind speed was 36 mph from the southeast
which occurred on the 4th. The peak wind was 44 mph from the
southeast which occurred on the 4th.

The highest pressure for the month was 30.42 inches on the 30th.
The lowest pressure for the month was 29.70 inches on the 3rd.

$$
National Weather Service National Headquarters
