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Click Here 48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | 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 February 3, 2004 January proved to be wet, gray By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Rogue Valley residents will remember January 2004 for the snow that blew in while some people were still recovering from New Year revelry. Kids in Medford frolicked in a few inches of wet slush, while people in wetter parts of Jackson County struggled through a foot or more of snow during the first weekend of January. It was a month of steady, albeit unspectacular, rain and plenty of gray skies. The National Weather Service station at the Medford airport collected rain, snow, sleet or some mixture of all three on 18 days, for a total of 2.98 inches, .51 inches above the monthly average. Yet there was more than .5 inches of rain on just two days. January was also warmer than average by 2.4 degrees. There were just six nights when the temperature fell to freezing. January is one of the most dependable months for rain, if not the wettest (that distinction goes to December). Only seven times since 1912 has Medford seen less than 1 inch of rain in the first month of the year. Remarkably, three of those dry Januarys were recorded in consecutive years — 1983-84-85 — in the middle of one of Oregon’s prolonged dry spells. Advertisement It’s also the month when temperatures begin to climb as the sun starts its return to the northern hemisphere. When January begins, Medford’s average daily high temperature is just 43. By the end of the month, the average daily high has climbed 6 degrees. Leaving the valley at this time of year can be an adventure. To help travelers know what to expect, the National Weather Service now provides telephone forecasts for the Oregon coast and the Klamath Basin. The coastal forecast number (776-4305) provides information about conditions from southwest Washington to northern California. Distinct forecasts are available for the south Oregon coast (Florence to Point St. George), north Oregon coast (Florence to Cape Shoalwater) and the Northern California coast (Point St. George to Cape Mendocino). Each forecast includes wind direction and velocity, as well as the height of wind waves and ocean swells, along with the interval (in seconds) between cells. The forecasts are updated about every six hours, usually around 8:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. Unusual developments may be announced in unscheduled updates as conditions warrant. Eastbound travelers can get similar forecast information for the area around Klamath Falls by dialing 541-882-5060. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, 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 © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times