Climate activists keep telling us that Southern Oregon is warming, that the snowpack is dwindling, and that water shortages and droughts are likely to become more commonplace. Meanwhile, others tell us there’s nothing happening and we don’t need to worry or take action. So, what do the data tell us? Who is correct?
Fortunately, through its U.S. Weather Service, NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) keeps records of what is happening around the country. Our local Medford weather office is a font of data that can help us see what is happening. They have data going back 100 years to tell us the actual trends for temperature, frost- and freeze-free days, for precipitation (including snowpack) and drought and much more.
Through its Climate Data Center, the scientists of NOAA are also among the leading researchers compiling data on climate trends nationally and on suggesting what these mean for the future.
Area residents paying attention to our local climate might suspect a little weirding is going on. But is it real, or just an illusion? Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) will try to answer these questions at the April monthly General Meeting.
At its next General Meeting, Tuesday April 24th at the Medford Public Library from 6:00 – 7:30 pm Southern Oregon Climate Action Now will present Ryan Sandler, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the NOAA U.S. Weather Service. Ryan will bring data from our national weather service and provide the actual historic record and show what the trends have been nationally, statewide and locally over the last century. He will also offer some glimpses into the future. Armed with this information, we will better know if we should be taking steps to address the problem or can rest comfortably in the knowledge that there’s really nothing serious happening.