Document text
P/SUNNY Temp: 65 °F Wind: WNW at 10 mph Monday, June 23, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 19, 2003 Since You Asked Southwest it is, but barely I’m wondering which way the wind blows in Medford. Normally, when I look at the tall willows, the wind appears to blow southeast or at least south-somewhere. Last year during the big forest fires, it didn’t seem to blow at all. Can you tell me which way the wind blows? — Don T., Medford We don’t know which trees you’re looking at, Don, but by and large, the wind we have around Medford comes out of the southwest. Winds here are relatively light compared to places like Kansas. Murray Orr of the National Weather Service office in Medford says our local winds typically average about 4 to 5 mph — that’s just barely enough to rustle the leaves on the trees. Of course, wind speed and direction varies with the season and local topography. Phoenix and Talent, for example, get more than their share of wind when winter storms blow in over the Siskiyou Mountains and the air spills down into the valley. Those storms often generate gusts well above 30 mph. Advertisement You’re right about the stagnant air last summer, but the lack of wind had nothing to do with the fires. Orr says a big pool of high-pressure air settles over the Rogue Valley during the summer, and when it does, there’s often little wind. There’s a lot more to explaining local winds than what we’ve given you so far, but we’re going to stop right now before we get in over our heads and your eyes glaze over. Just remember that wind is a highly complex subject, but as Bob Dylan said, "You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search 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 A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley 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