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SUNNY Temp: 60 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, August 28, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection 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 Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 6, 2003 From left, Kaytlynn Longan, 5, Olivia Young, 5, and Colette Beard, 5, all from Medford, shivered with the relative cool weather at Medford�s Hawthorne Pool on Tuesday. Mail Tribune / Satsuki Doi In the summertime, when the weather is ... what??? Cool spell may bring shivers, but it’s not farfrom the norm By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Without warning, the blistering heat of July has given way to cool, cloudy mornings and sunny afternoons. But are the cooler days simply the result of a passing weather system, or is autumn making an early appearance? According to the experts at the National Weather Service office in Medford, don’t pack away those swimsuits, sandals and sunscreen lotion just yet. "This doesn’t mean that summer’s on the way out," said meteorologist Mike O’Brien. "I suspect it’s going to get a little hotter." Advertisement Just how hot is hotter? According to O’Brien, the normal daily temperature for August is 91 degrees. During the next five days, residents should expect slightly cooler temperatures with highs in the mid- to upper 80s, and an increased chance of precipitation. O’Brien said a low-pressure system has replaced the high pressure system that typically hovers near Southern Oregon, resulting in the cooler temps and the possibility of thunderstorms. On Monday, the weather service recorded 12 lightning strikes in Jackson County in areas north and south of Prospect. Precipitation for the month through Monday measured .23 of an inch following a bone-dry July. Although the next five days will be slightly cooler than normal, O’Brien noted there’s nothing unusual about the current weather pattern. He also pointed to Monday, when the mercury rose to 92 degrees — a very typical day for this time of year. "The day-to-day temperature readings are jagged," he noted. Cooler days aside, Medford is still in the grip of the dog days of summer — a sultry period roughly between July 3 and Aug. 11, when the "dog star" Sirius rises and sets with the sun. Data collected by the weather service shows that typically, July is slightly cooler than August. The recent drop in temperature has been a welcome break for many Rogue Valley residents who sweated through the blistering, record-breaking month of July. According to the weather service, the average daily temperature (the high and the low divided by 2) last month was 94.6 degrees — several degrees warmer than the usual average of 90 for the month. Also in July, thermometers on two days soared to 108 and 107, shattering two records from 1992 for the hottest days. Another 105 degree day in July tied the record. During the sweltering month, temperatures broke into the triple digits on seven days, with lows ranging from 52 to 69 degrees throughout the month. On seven days in the last half of the month, the average daily temperature exceeded the "normal" average for those days. Reliable, seasonal relief will come in September, when average daily highs begin dipping slightly at weekly intervals, added O’Brien. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] 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