Excessive Heat in Oregon, July 25 to 31, 2022

Name: Excessive Heat in Oregon, July 25 to 31, 2022
Start: 2022-07-25T12:00
End: 2022-07-31T21:10
Location: Oregon

July 25 to 31, 2022 · NWS MFR · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Strong persistent ridging over the Pacific Northwest supported a prolonged heat wave over inland portions of southwest and south central Oregon.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.

Strong persistent ridging over the Pacific Northwest supported a prolonged heat wave over inland portions of southwest and south central Oregon.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 25, 7:39 AM PST, 4 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 25, 7:39 AM PST, 4 hours 21 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
839 AM PDT Mon Jul 25 2022

.DISCUSSION...The latest visible satellite image shows haze and
patchy smoke aloft coming from the Oak Fire near Mariposa,
California in the vicinity of Yosemite. Other than some fine
timing of the sky cover today, the rest of the forecast today is
on track. The main challenge is to further refine the coverage
area for isolated thunderstorms and possibly the max temperatures
due to the coverage area of the elevated smoke. As previously
mentioned the smoke could add a wild card into the high
temperature forecast and also thunderstorm potential. Please see
previous discussion for more details on the forecast for the week.
-Petrucelli

&&

.AVIATION...25/12Z TAFs...IFR/LIFR ceilings continue over the coast,
the coastal waters, and the coastal valleys this morning. Low flight
conditions should retreat offshore late this morning or early this
afternoon, but are likely to return this evening and tonight. Gusty
north winds offshore will weaken throughout today.

Elsewhere, expect VFR for the entire TAF period. -Schaaf/BPN

&&

.MARINE...Updated 800 AM PDT Monday 24 July 2022...Gusty north winds
and steep wind driven seas will continue through today, but
conditions will gradually improve later today into tonight from
north to south as the thermal trough moves inland and expands north.
Much calmer conditions are likely Tuesday morning through the rest
of the week. -BPN/CC

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 600 AM PDT Mon Jul 25 2022/

DISCUSSION...Over the past few days, the forecast has been
characterized by the expectation of an unusually lengthy episode
of very hot temperatures, but also changes in the day-to-day location
and overall coverage of thunderstorms (beginning Tuesday
afternoon).

Besides the hot temperatures of yesterday becoming excessively
hot today, smoke aloft will arrive from the Oak Fire near
Mariposa, California in the vicinity of Yosemite. This introduces
a bit of a wild card into the forecast. At least through
Thursday, this smoke could be thick enough to shave up to a few
degrees off of forecast high temperatures, and could hinder the
development of thunderstorms.

Last evening, adjustments were made to the heat hazard products.
These changes, mainly expanding the coverage of the Excessive Heat
Warning into the Klamath Basin, and expanding the Heat Advisory
across the east side, were still supported by the 00Z suite of
data and will likely remain in or close to their current form
through the duration of this heat wave...through Saturday evening.

But, we are likely not done fine tuning the convective story as
new data arrives and the week progresses. Previous experience this
summer and close inspection of the expected changes in the
vertical profile of temperature, moisture, and wind during the
coming days supports the idea of balancing the more active
depiction advocated by the short range high resolution models,
against the modest development on the synoptic scale focused
suite of the GFS, NAM, and ECMWF. What that means is keeping
thunderstorm mentions in the slight chance category through the
week, with storms that do develop likely to be isolated in
coverage. Besides the usual peak in probability during the
afternoon and evening hours from Tuesday into early next week,
there is also a slight chance late Tuesday night into Wednesday
morning with a shortwave moving north across western Siskiyou
County into southwest Oregon between a trough offshore and the
ridge extending into our region from Nevada.

First, the highest probability of a thunderstorm on Tuesday
afternoon is in northwest Siskiyou County with light steering flow
and a higher cloud base than normal. Instability will be weak but
present again on Wednesday afternoon with steering flow again weak
and the highest probability for western Siskiyou County and the
southern Oregon Cascades into northern Klamath County. Southerly
winds at 700 mb become light westerly Thursday afternoon with the
06Z GFS favoring a few cells popping up over northwest Siskiyou
County and moving toward the Klamath Basin. Southwest to west flow
Friday and Saturday favors a similar scenario to Thursday with a
few thunderstorms each day moving from northern Siskiyou County
across southern portions of Klamath and Lake counties. Beyond this
week, into early next week, a majority of ensemble members keep
our area near or in the flow of mid-level monsoonal moisture.

The trend has been toward a weaker, more glancing influence of the
next Pacific trough moving toward the US/Canada border Friday
through Saturday. This will limit what should be the start of a
modest cooling trend, increase the pressure gradient/increase the
strength of gusty, breezy late day westerly winds...especially
east of the Cascades, and also may keep instability in our area
(with highest probability for the far east side/Warner Mountains).
On the bright side, it would also likely decrease the amount of
smoke arriving into our area.

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Heat Advisory from 2 PM Tuesday to 9 PM PDT Saturday for
     ORZ030-031.
     Excessive Heat Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT
     Saturday for ORZ024-026.
     Heat Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT Thursday for
     ORZ023.
     Excessive Heat Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT
     Thursday for ORZ025-027.
     Excessive Heat Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT
     Saturday for ORZ028-029.

CA...Heat Advisory from 2 PM Tuesday to 9 PM PDT Saturday for
     CAZ084-085.
     Excessive Heat Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT
     Saturday for CAZ080>083.

Pacific Coastal Waters...
     Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM PDT Tuesday for PZZ350-356.
     Small Craft Advisory until 11 AM PDT Tuesday for PZZ370-376.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Excessive Heat, Eastern Curry County & Josephine County

When: July 25, 12:00 PM PST to July 31, 9:10 PM PST
Where: Eastern Curry County & Josephine County forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.417, -123.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On 07/25/22, reported low temperatures in this zone ranged from 53 to 66 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 91 to 106 degrees. On 07/26/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 57 to 73 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 91 to 106 degrees. On 07/27/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 59 to 68 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 88 to 104 degrees. On 07/28/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 59 to 69 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 93 to 110 degrees. On 07/29/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 62 to 71 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 95 to 111 degrees. On 07/30/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 64 to 75 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 86 to 104 degrees. On 07/31/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 64 to 72 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 83 to 103 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Eastern Douglas County Foothills

When: July 25, 12:00 PM PST to July 31, 9:10 PM PST
Where: Eastern Douglas County Foothills forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 43.285, -123.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On 07/25/22, the only reported low temperature in this zone was 55 degrees. The only reported high temperatures was 99 degrees. On 07/26/22, the only reported low temperature was 56 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 100 degrees. On 07/27/22, the only reported low temperature was 62 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 99 degrees. On 07/28/22, the only reported low temperature was 60 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 102 degrees. On 07/29/22, the only reported low temperature was 60 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 102 degrees. On 07/30/22, the only reported low temperature was 63 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 96 degrees. On 07/31/22, the only reported low temperature was 63 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 97 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Jackson County

When: July 25, 12:00 PM PST to July 31, 9:10 PM PST
Where: Jackson County forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.432, -122.728 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On 07/25/22, reported low temperatures in this zone ranged from 49 to 64 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 102 to 107 degrees. On 07/26/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 51 to 69 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 102 to 107 degrees. On 07/27/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 53 to 73 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 101 to 105 degrees. On 07/28/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 60 to 70 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 106 to 111 degrees. On 07/29/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 60 to 72 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 105 to 114 degrees. On 07/30/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 60 to 77 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 96 to 107 degrees. On 07/31/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 59 to 73 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 94 to 106 degrees. Medfprd set record high temperatures of 107 degrees on the 25th, 111 degrees on the 28th, and 114 degrees on the 29th.

Excessive Heat, South Central Oregon Cascades

When: July 25, 12:00 PM PST to July 31, 9:10 PM PST
Where: South Central Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.801, -122.519 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On 07/25/22, reported low temperatures in this zone ranged from 52 to 58 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 83 to 91 degrees. On 07/26/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 53 to 59 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 84 to 93 degrees. On 07/27/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 56 to 59 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 83 to 83 degrees. On 07/28/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 59 to 59 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 85 to 98 degrees. On 07/29/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 60 to 60 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 86 to 97 degrees. On 07/30/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 60 to 61 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 86 to 99 degrees. On 07/31/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 57 to 61 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 84 to 94 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades

When: July 25, 12:00 PM PST to July 31, 9:10 PM PST
Where: Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.495, -122.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On 07/25/22, the only reported low temperature in this zone was 46 degrees. The only reported high temperatures was 95 degrees. On 07/26/22, the only reported low temperature was 51 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 95 degrees. On 07/27/22, the only reported low temperature was 55 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 96 degrees. On 07/28/22, the only reported low temperature was 56 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 96 degrees. On 07/29/22, the only reported low temperature was 56 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 99 degrees. On 07/30/22, the only reported low temperature was 58 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 97 degrees. On 07/31/22, the only reported low temperature was 55 degrees. The only reported high temperature was 93 degrees.

Excessive Heat, Klamath Basin

When: July 25, 12:00 PM PST to July 31, 9:10 PM PST
Where: Klamath Basin forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 42.686, -121.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On 07/25/22, reported low temperatures in this zone ranged from 46 to 63 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 94 to 99 degrees. On 07/26/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 47 to 57 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 97 to 100 degrees. On 07/27/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 55 to 62 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 99 to 102 degrees. On 07/28/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 48 to 59 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 99 to 104 degrees. On 07/29/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 52 to 69 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 99 to 103 degrees. On 07/30/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 62 to 71 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 100 to 102 degrees. On 07/31/22, reported low temperatures ranged from 58 to 61 degrees. Reported high temperatures ranged from 99 to 99 degrees. The Klamath Falls Airport recorded record high temperatures of 101 degrees on the 27th, 102 degrees on the 28th, 103 degrees on the 29th, 102 degrees on the 30th, and 99 degrees on the 31st.

What these are

Excessive Heat: Heat at or above the local excessive heat warning criteria, or heat that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oregon in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, July 2022

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1032204, 1032207, 1032208, 1032210, 1032215, 1032216.