Oregon’s weather was hotter and slightly wetter than normal in 2024.

“It was quite warm, it turned out, for the whole state. This was tied for our seventh warmest year since 1895,” said Larry O’Neill, state climatologist.

The high temperatures fit into a warming trend for Oregon, which can lead to increased wildfire and drought risks, public health problems and other issues.

Oregon had its 35th wettest year, with an average of 35.1 inches, about 110% of normal.

The extra precipitation in 2024 helped with recovering from drought conditions and filling reservoirs. A strong snowpack also dampened fires in the Cascade Range, O’Neill said.

High temperatures

The 2024 average temperature of 49.1 degrees was a 2.4 degree departure from the average during the period of record.

The year started cooler than average with a cold snap in January, but the summer was warm.

“In July, we had that heat wave that was abnormally long lasting,” O’Neill said.

November and December also were warmer than typical, and nighttime temperatures were higher throughout the year.

Portland had its second hottest year on record, while 2024 was the third warmest for Salem and Astoria, fourth for Medford, fifth for Bend-Redmond, sixth for Eugene and eighth for Pendleton.

O’Neill said he was most surprised by new daily record temperatures.

Portland, Salem and Bend-Redmond each had 11 new daily record highs, while Eugene and Astoria had 10 and Medford eight.

The combined daily record lows from those cities was one, from Bend-Redmond.

Warming trend

The 2000s used to be the hottest decade on record in Oregon, then were surpassed by the 2010s.

“We’re well on our way for the 2020s being the warmest decade,” O’Neill said.

There’s also a growing disconnect between precipitation and anticipating drought and wildfire risk, he said.

“It’s starting to matter less what happens during the winter,” O’Neill added.

Even if reservoirs fill, residents might not be able to fulfill water needs in excessively dry conditions. The Deschutes Basin in Central Oregon, for example, had much more irrigation demand due to the warm summer months.

Heat waves also can dry out landscapes quickly.

“The thing that worries me the most is the wildfire risk, for obvious reasons. The state is full of trees and sagebrush that are very flammable right now,” O’Neill said.

OSU report

The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University released its annual Oregon Climate Assessment Jan. 8.

The report, which O’Neill contributed to, details climate change and how people and businesses are adapting to a warming planet.

Oregon has the third highest number of B Corporations in the U.S.

These companies are certified as upholding high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

The state also has more B Corporation-certified wineries than any other state or country.

The state’s annual average temperature increased by 2.2 degrees over the past century and is likely to become as much as 5 degrees warmer by 2074.

Oregon’s precipitation also was below average for 18 of the past 24 water years and snowfall is projected to decrease by as much as 50% by 2100.

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Oregon was warmer, drier than normal in 2023