Warmer and dryer still holds true

By on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON โ€“ July was warmer and dryer than average in July in the Columbia Basin. The Climate Prediction Center says itโ€™s probably going to stay that way for the next three months.

โ€œUnfortunately, weโ€™re looking at a 40 to 50 percent chance of above normal temperatures and a 33 to 40 percent chance of below normal precipitation,โ€ National Weather Service Meteorologist Camden Plunkett said.

For the month of July, while it was hotter than normal, no records were set in Pendleton. In Walla Walla, a record low of 52 was recorded on July 26. Hermiston set two records for heat. One was for 103 on July 15 and the other was 104 on July 20. A record low was recorded in Hermiston at 50 degrees on the 27th.

Plunkett points out that itโ€™s harder to set records in Pendleton, because statistics have been kept since 1892. Weather records have only been maintained at the Walla Walla Regional Airport since 1949; and at the Hermiston Municipal Airport since 1998.