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64 °F 5 Day Forecast Monday, October 20, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 3, 2003 Casting long shadows in the early autumn sun, painters Robert Kilcollins, left, and Bill Ready seal cracks on an old building at East Main Street and Riverside Avenue in preparation for painting. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Talkin’ about the weather As we enter the second week of autumn, expect more slightly warmer, slightly wetter days By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune September was warmer and a little bit wetter than normal and October promises more of the same, the National Weather Service said. The average temperature last month was three degrees higher than normal, weather service statistics show. Both daily highs and lows averaged out to slightly above normal and, on different days, cracked records with their warmth, National Weather Service spokesman Dennis Hess said. On Sept. 3 the overnight low of 62 degrees was the warmest minimum temperature recorded on that date. It broke a record set in 1988, Hess said. Things really heated up Sept. 27 when a high of 102 degrees tied a record set in 1963. That’s the latest triple-digit temperatures have ever hit the region, weather record keepers said. Advertisement Temperatures topped 90 degrees on 14 days last month, records show. Record rainfall soaked the valley Sept. 9 when .76 inch fell. A good dousing often ushers in warm, dry fall weather. In all, only .86 inch of rain fell all month. That’s .08 inch more than normal, getting the water year, which begins Sept. 1, off to a good start, Hess said. Still, the hills are dry and firefighters remain on alert. "With these warm temperatures, the grass is extremely dry, Applegate Rural Fire District 9 Capt. Joe D’Amico said after a Wednesday roadside fire burned an acre and a half of grass along Upper Applegate Road. "We’d like to urge people to be careful," he said. "With hunting season coming up, this fire was a real reminder that fire danger is still there." Mowing, using power equipment, cutting with chain saws and welding remain banned during hot afternoons. Outdoor burning, campfires outside parks, fireworks, off-road driving and smoking in wildland areas are still banned, too. Fire-season restrictions usually remain in effect in this corner of Southern Oregon until mid-October or whenever wet weather arrives. The National Weather Service’s long-range forecast predicts October will be a little warmer than normal with a chance of a little more rain than usual, much like September was, Hess said. "September is a pretty boring month for weather around here," he said. He noted that the scorching heat of summer has passed and winter’s wild wet weather is still a ways off. "This is good tourist weather and if you live here, there’s no reason to go anywhere else," Hess said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times