Coast’s rain was normal in February, but still below average for year

Rainfall in February was very much average for most of the central Oregon coast, but a very dry January is still keeping the two-month totals far below average, according to Lincoln Chronicle weather watchers.

Jim Adler, who lives three miles up the Yachats River Valley, recorded 10.25 inches of rain in February – right at his 17-year average for the month. Still, he has just 17.64 inches of rain for the year.

Bob Williams, who lives eight miles up the Yachats River valley, measured 12.05 inches of rain in February – two inches less than his seven-year average for the month. His two-month rain total is 20.94 inches.

To again illustrate the difference between rainfall amounts on the coast and eight miles inland, staff at the Yachats wastewater plant measured 6.41 inches of rain in February for a two-month total of 9.92 inches – half of what Williams recorded.

Adam Altson, who lives just west of the treatment plant, recorded 7.90 inches of rain in February and has 12.25 inches for the year “well below average thanks to January having so little rainfall.”

Julie Bailey, who lives on Horizon Hill in Yachats, recorded 9.65 inches of rain in February and has 14.79 inches for the year.

Don Tucker, who lives two miles north of Yachats, recorded 8.31 inches of rain in February – just at his monthly average in 19 years of recordings. He has 13.90 inches for the year – five inches below his 19-year average.

Neal Myers, who has a weather station in the Tidewater area along the Alsea River, recorded 9.53 inches of rain in February and has 16.46 inches for the year.

In an effort to provide more countywide weather data, the Chronicle is also tapping into the national Community Collaborative Rain, Snow & Hail Network, which has local volunteers providing data from their weather stations.

A network station in Toledo recorded 8.97 inches of rain in February and has 14.65 inches for the year – one-half of NOAA’s average for that area. A network station in Depoe Bay measured 9.12 inches of rain in February and has 18.04 inches for the year – 54 percent of normal, according to NOAA.

Weather notes

• Altson: What was noteworthy was how little wind we had. By just about every measure, it was the least windy February I’ve recorded in 13 years. The peak gust was only 42 mph and only the fourth February that I haven’t measured a gust of 50 mph or higher. The average wind speed for the month was only 5.3 mph, well below my previous low for February of 5.8 mph in 2016 and 2018.
• Bailey: Four days with over an inch of rain including 1.72 inches on Feb. 23.
• Williams: Received 2-3 inches of snow on Feb. 18, followed by an inch Feb. 19.