How Oregon counties have seen rising temperatures in the last 100 years

Stacker

2 years ago

A man runs up a hill on a small road in Frankfurt, Germany as the sun rises on Friday, June 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

(STACKER) — Hitting 116 degrees F in normally temperate Portland, Oregon. 105 degrees in Reno in September, just as summer is meant to be waning. And in California’s Death Valley National Park, temperatures hit almost 130 degrees in the aptly named Furnace Creek, marking a world record for the hottest September day in history.

2021 and 2022 saw some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, as across the country extreme heat waves wreaked havoc on communities accustomed to more moderate weather. For many regions, the consequences were grave: in the 2021 Western heatwave, hundreds lost their lives, largely due to a lack of air conditioning, and wildfires ravaged the area.

While not every county in the nation has experienced such extreme heat, climate change has dramatically changed the heat landscape in nearly every state. Coastal regions and the Southern U.S. are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures, and are also frequently targets of extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.

Just as all states are not impacted equally by rising temperatures, regions within states have also seen widely different temperature changes over the last decades. Factors such as proximity to urban areas, bodies of water, and mountains can dramatically change the climate of a region. Stacker cited data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information to identify the counties in Oregon with the greatest departure from average temperatures during the period December 2021 to November 2022 compared to the 1901-2000 average. Average temperature over the past year served as a tiebreaker. Additional data on recent average high and low temperatures for each county is also included.

36. Wallowa County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 43.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1 F above 1901-2000 average)
#36 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 32.6 F (0.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 54.7 F (1.3 F above century average)

35. Lincoln County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#19 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 43.2 F (0.5 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.9 F (1.9 F above century average)

34. Benton County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#20 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 42.5 F (0.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 63 F (1.8 F above century average)

33. Linn County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
#20 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 40.5 F (1.4 F above century average)
Recent average high: 59.4 F (1.6 F above century average)

32. Tillamook County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
#19 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 42.1 F (1.4 F above century average)
Recent average high: 58.4 F (1.7 F above century average)

31. Lane County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
#17 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 41.1 F (1.2 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.1 F (1.8 F above century average)

30. Washington County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
#21 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 42.2 F (1.2 F above century average)
Recent average high: 61.1 F (1.9 F above century average)

29. Yamhill County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
#17 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 43 F (1.4 F above century average)
Recent average high: 62 F (1.7 F above century average)

28. Union County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
#21 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 34.1 F (1.3 F above century average)
Recent average high: 55.9 F (1.9 F above century average)

27. Baker County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
#23 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 34.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 57.3 F (1.5 F above century average)

26. Malheur County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
#22 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 35.6 F (1.1 F above century average)
Recent average high: 61.8 F (2.2 F above century average)

25. Clatsop County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
#19 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 41.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 59.1 F (1.6 F above century average)

24. Marion County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
#17 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 40.9 F (1.3 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.3 F (2 F above century average)

23. Multnomah County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 F above 1901-2000 average)
#21 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 43.3 F (1.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 61 F (1.6 F above century average)

22. Columbia County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
#19 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 41.9 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.7 F (1.6 F above century average)

21. Polk County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
#16 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 42.4 F (0.9 F above century average)
Recent average high: 62.8 F (2.4 F above century average)

20. Grant County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
#16 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 32.8 F (1.3 F above century average)
Recent average high: 57.4 F (2.2 F above century average)

19. Coos County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 F above 1901-2000 average)
#17 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 43.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 62.5 F (2.1 F above century average)

18. Clackamas County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
#14 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 40.6 F (1.9 F above century average)
Recent average high: 58.4 F (2 F above century average)

17. Sherman County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.9 F above 1901-2000 average)
#18 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 39 F (0.9 F above century average)
Recent average high: 62.9 F (3 F above century average)

16. Wasco County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#14 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 38.5 F (1.8 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.4 F (2.3 F above century average)

15. Umatilla County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#17 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 38.2 F (1.8 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.7 F (2.2 F above century average)

14. Morrow County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 50.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#18 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 39.1 F (1.8 F above century average)
Recent average high: 61.9 F (2.1 F above century average)

13. Gilliam County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#18 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 39.2 F (1.3 F above century average)
Recent average high: 63 F (2.6 F above century average)

12. Douglas County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#14 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 41.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 61.8 F (2.2 F above century average)

11. Curry County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 53.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#13 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 43.7 F (1.3 F above century average)
Recent average high: 63.3 F (2.6 F above century average)

10. Deschutes County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
#9 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 32.6 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 58.3 F (2.5 F above century average)

9. Hood River County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
#11 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 38.3 F (2.2 F above century average)
Recent average high: 55.1 F (2 F above century average)

8. Wheeler County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.1 F above 1901-2000 average)
#10 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 36.3 F (1.4 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.4 F (2.8 F above century average)

7. Crook County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#10 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 33.6 F (1.4 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.4 F (3.1 F above century average)

6. Jackson County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 51.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 F above 1901-2000 average)
#11 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 39.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 63.1 F (2.7 F above century average)

5. Jefferson County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 F above 1901-2000 average)
#9 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 36.4 F (1.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 61 F (2.9 F above century average)

4. Lake County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
#11 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 32.7 F (1.6 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.1 F (3.2 F above century average)

3. Harney County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 47.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 F above 1901-2000 average)
#14 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 33.7 F (1.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 60.6 F (3.1 F above century average)

2. Josephine County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 52.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 F above 1901-2000 average)
#7 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 41.5 F (1.7 F above century average)
Recent average high: 63.1 F (3.3 F above century average)

1. Klamath County

Average temperature, Dec. 2021-Nov. 2022: 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2.7 F above 1901-2000 average)
#8 warmest year since 1895
Recent average low: 32.6 F (2.2 F above century average)
Recent average high: 59.4 F (3.2 F above century average)