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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 2, 2005 While setting no records, July was typically hot By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Nothing like a steady diet of 100-degree days to make 88 feel downright pleasant. August arrived on a relatively mild note Monday after the hottest July in 10 years. Forecasters said temperatures were expected to return to the 90s today and perhaps be back to triple digits by the end of the week. The seventh month of 2005 had more 100-degree heat than any month since the summer of 1996. There were nine 100-degree days in July 2005 — in July 1996 there were 11 days of broiling heat. Monday’s high of 87 marked the first time since July 13 that Medford’s temperature failed to pass 90 degrees, and it was the coolest day since July 10. Statistically, July is typically the hottest month in Medford’s weather cycle, although people often perceive August to be hotter. Advertisement "August feels hotter because so many forest fires seem to start," said Larry Jacobs, of the National Weather Service’s Medford station. More fires tend to break out in August because grass and trees have been parched by weeks of July heat. July also saw the hottest day in Medford’s history — 115 degrees on July 20, 1946. That doesn’t mean, of course, that the beginning of August signals the end of summer. August has produced some of Southern Oregon’s most brutal summer heat, including a memorable spell in 1981 when the high temperature climbed to at least 110 degrees four days in a row, and soared to 114 on Aug. 8. From year to year, July and August trade places as the hottest month, but July is more often the winner. During the past 40 years July has had the most 100-degree days 28 times; August, a mere 12. On average there have been 4.9 100-degree days in July during the past 40 years (1965-2005) compared to just 4.1 100-degree days in August. July is almost always Medford’s driest month. July’s average rainfall is a meager .31 inches, which often comes during the course of one thunderstorm. If a thunderstorm fails to materialize, Medford is likely to be rainless for the month, which has happened 31 times since 1912, when the National Weather Service started collecting data. Rain was typically scarce in July 2005. There was just .07 inches, which fell during July 8 and 9, the last time a front from the Pacific Ocean came far enough inland to bring rain. Despite all the heat, there were no record-high temperatures. That’s because daily records in July typically range around 105 to 108 degrees. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail While setting no records, July was typically hot ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s