Less than average rain in March adds to a dry year so far on the coast

It’s already a dry year and about to get drier for a while, apparently.

Rainfall measured for the first three months of 2026 by the Lincoln Chronicle’s weather watchers is running 21 percent to 37 percent behind rainfall at this time last year – when a drought was declared for Lincoln County in the spring but never materialized because summer rains eventually eased the threat.

But it’s not looking good so far this year.

Jim Adler, who has been measuring rainfall for 17 years three miles up the Yachats River, recorded 8.71 inches of rain in March and has 26.35 inches for the year. His average three-month total over the last 17 years is 35.57 inches – which means he’s recorded 25 percent less rainfall so far this year.

Bob Williams, who lives eight miles up the Yachats River, recorded 11.37 inches of rain in March for a three-month total of 32.31 inches. His March total was .65 inches less than his seven-year average.

Neal Myers records weather and rainfall data in Westwood Village neighborhood in Tidewater, 12 miles up the Alsea River. He measured 7.60 inches of rain in March and has 22.50 inches of rain for the first three months of the year. Myers’ total compares with 35.72 inches for the first three months of 2025 — a 37 percent decrease for this year.

Closer to the coast the results were little different.

Don Tucker, who lives two miles north of Yachats, measured 7.75 inches of rain in Marc and has 21.65 inches for the year – 21.5 percent below his three-month average the past 19 years.

Staff at the Yachats wastewater treatment plant recorded 5.84 inches of rain in March and have 15.76 inches for the year.

Adam Altson, who lives one block west of the plant, recorded 4.86 inches of rain in March and now has 17.11 inches for the year – both approximately 25 percent below his 12-year average.

Julie Bailey, who lives on Horizon Hill overlooking Yachats, recorded 6.74 inches of rain in March and has 21.53 inches so far this year – nine inches less than at this time last year.

Other weather notes

• Altson: 2022 with 14.14 inches is the only year-to-date total through March that is lower than 2026. And 2019 with 2.91 inches is the only March with less rainfall than this year. The average temperature for March was 49.34 degrees – one degree warmer than his March average going back to 2014.
• Bailey: March’s highest daytime temperature was 65.7 degrees and there were six days of temperatures over 60 degrees. Eight days of overnight lows in the 30s but still no freezing temperatures in Yachats this winter.
• Tucker: Recorded rain on 19 of March’s 31 days, tied with the drought years of 2020 and 2015 for the fewest days of measurable rain.