This year meteorologists are reporting that April showers were the most in 82 years in Portland. The record was sealed as of late Saturday morning when an additional .44 inches of rain fell since late Friday. This allowed for experts to state that Portland set the record for the wettest April in the region since 1940. Last year was the opposite. The driest April record for Portland from 2021.
April showers bring may flowers as one riddle to to start. In Portland April is historically the 7th wettest month of the year. December is usually the wettest with July being the driest. Experts stated that the area has seen 24 days of measurable rain in Portland. The number is just one under the 25 day record set in 2010.
Scientists have been keeping records at various locations around downtown Portland since the 1870s. In one location, records show that it has been the wettest since 1937 (over 6″), and only 1883 was wetter with almost 8″ of rain.
Other cities close by are even wetter than Portland. Salem and Eugene both have seen 7″ of rain. Exterts are saying that they have seen lots of westerly flow in the lower part of the atmosphere and the Cascades block much of that moisture. Researchers stated that the far eastern 1/3 of the state has done well saying that there were only 6 dry days, but only 3 were really wet with more than 1/2″ rain. Lots of showery days.
Cool temperatures on the other hand hasn’t been record-breaking. There is only 3 degrees below normal and the coldest in 11 years. Experts say that this April is similar temperature-wise to 2003, 2008, & 2011.
Light/moderate rain combined with some heavy cells in east metro led to some big rain numbers. Researchers stated that Gresham and Corbett areas picked up 1.00 ″to almost 2.00″. To end off the month, the showers were winding down when meteorologists reported that a weak tornado (or landspout) touched down at Cook Park in Tigard.
