Record Hot Summer In Portland, But Not The Way You Think

Are you amazed at how sunny and warm summer 2014 has been?

Me, too.

And we’re not done yet, because 90s are in the forecast. Mother Nature doesn’t care if it is after Labor Day! But it’s not the hot days that have us setting records.

While we wait on summer’s final tally, we can already know one thing: in one big way it’s been a record warm summer in Portland, Vancouver, Salem, McMinnville and Eugene. So far.

Unusually Warm Nights Lead To Record Warm Portland Summer 

In the old days, you might have said, “The knights have it.”

But this summer you’d have to say, “the nights have it.” Sorry, I couldn’t resist that little play on words!

Our nights have been unusually warm much of the summer and that has in many cases been the biggest factor in making this an unusually warm summer. I mean, honestly, I cannot remember another summer with so many nights where I could go out and leave the jacket at home and not regret it. Can you?

The National Weather Service Office in Portland has tallied things all the way through mid-August. Here’s part of the office’s special weather statement–and yes, their official format is to write in all caps.

IT IS THE UNUSUALLY WARM OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WHICH HAVE
DRIVEN THE SUMMER OF 2014 TO BE ONE OF THE WARMEST ON RECORD IN
TERMS OF OVERALL AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. 

 

…WARMEST DAILY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES…
…PERIOD OF JUNE 22 TO AUGUST 14…

PORTLAND AIRPORT – RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1940
——————————————–
1. 71.7 DEGREES – SET IN 2014 ***
2. 71.5 DEGREES – SET IN 1990
3. 71.2 DEGREES – SET IN 2009
4. 71.1 DEGREES – SET IN 2004
5. 71.0 DEGREES – SET IN 1985

VANCOUVER WA – RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1890
—————————————-
1. 70.8 DEGREES – SET IN 2014 ***
2. 70.5 DEGREES – SET IN 1906 (TIE)
2. 70.5 DEGREES – SET IN 2004 (TIE)
4. 69.8 DEGREES – SET IN 2006
5. 69.6 DEGREES – SET IN 2003

SALEM AIRPORT – RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1892
—————————————–
1. 71.8 DEGREES – SET IN 2014 ***
2. 70.3 DEGREES – SET IN 1926
3. 70.1 DEGREES – SET IN 2013
4. 69.9 DEGREES – SET IN 1990
5. 69.7 DEGREES – SET IN 1906

EUGENE AIRPORT – RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1892
——————————————
1. 70.2 DEGREES – SET IN 2014 (TIE) ***
1. 70.2 DEGREES – SET IN 1990 (TIE)
3. 69.2 DEGREES – SET IN 1967 (TIE)
3. 69.2 DEGREES – SET IN 1992 (TIE)
5. 69.1 DEGREES – SET IN 1958

MCMINNVILLE AIRPORT – RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1894
———————————————–
1. 70.7 DEGREES – SET IN 2014 ***
2. 70.5 DEGREES – SET IN 1925
3. 70.1 DEGREES – SET IN 1992
4. 69.4 DEGREES – SET IN 1926
5. 69.2 DEGREES – SET IN 1998

HILLSBORO AIRPORT – RECORDS KEPT SINCE 1929
———————————————
1. 71.7 DEGREES – SET IN 1998
2. 71.0 DEGREES – SET IN 1958
3. 70.3 DEGREES – SET IN 1961
4. 69.4 DEGREES – SET IN 2014 ***
5. 69.3 DEGREES – SET IN 1992

 

And this just in…it is also officially Portland’s warmest July & August on record in Portland. The average daily temperature was 72.5 degrees breaking the old record of 71.7 degrees set back in 1985.

I’ll let you know about summer’s final-final-final numbers when they’re out in late in September.

In the meantime, stay cool…