December warmer, wetter than 'normal'

According to preliminary data received by NOAA's National Weather Service in Pendleton, temperatures at Sisters averaged slightly warmer than normal during the month of December.

The average temperature was 31.2 degrees, which was 1.2 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged 38.7 degrees, which was 0.2 degrees below normal. The highest was 53 degrees on December 11. Low temperatures averaged 23.7 degrees, which was 2.5 degrees above normal. The lowest was seven degrees, on December 29.

There were 24 days with the low temperature below 32 degrees. There were five days when the high temperature stayed below 32 degrees.

Precipitation totaled 3.59 inches during December, which was 1.62 inches above normal. Measurable precipitation - at least .01 inch - was received on six days with the heaviest, 1.03 inches, reported on the 3rd.

Snowfall totaled five inches with at least one inch of snow reported on one day. The heaviest snowfall was five inches reported on December 18. The greatest depth of snow on the ground was nine inches on

December 26.

The outlook for January from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center calls for below-normal temperatures and near-normal precipitation. Normal highs for Sisters during January are 40.6 degrees and normal lows are 22.8 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 1.89 inches.

The National Weather Service is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.