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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Well, it looks like the Grasshopper Fire in Oregon went through one of my weather stations in the last hour or so. But by some stroke of luck, it is still alive and reporting data for now!

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OCCRI @occri.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Preparation for heat and smoke is becoming more critical to human health across Oregon and the Northwest, emphasizes recent New York Times article featuring Oregon's State Climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/w...

nytimes.com

Wildfire Smoke Degrades Air Quality Across Washington and Oregon (Gift Article)

Air quality levels reached unhealthy levels across Oregon and Washington this week.

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Multnomah County, OR @multco.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

☀️ Portland summers are getting hotter! Those at high risk include older adults (especially men over 50 living alone), outdoor workers, pregnant people, and those without AC, to name a few. Make a plan to stay cool! Find cooling spaces near you at: link.multco.us/interactive-map-cool-spaces

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National Drought Mitigation Center @droughtcenter.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

After a very early snowmelt, #drought conditions have been ramping up in #Oregon. Gov. Kotek has declared a drought emergency for 19 of the 36 counties in the state. Last week, state regulators curtailed junior water rights between Bend and Redmond due to water shortages from the Deschutes River.

USDM Hot Topic June 25, 2026, Oregon. This week, abnormal dryness through extreme drought increased in Oregon: from 95.79% to 97.29% for abnormal dryness; from 86.19% to 86.63% for moderate drought; from 44.16% to 54.79% for severe drought; and from 9.24% to 16.4% for extreme drought. The Drought Severity and Coverage Index rose from 235 to 255 of 500.

The graphic includes the current Drought Monitor map for Oregon and the Drought Monitor time series for January 4, 2011, through June 25, 2026. For more statistics, please refer to the US Drought Monitor website: droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

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Washington State Department of Ecology @ecology.wa.gov · 15/06/2026

We issued a statewide drought declaration back in April and we get it — it can feel a little weird to talk about drought after a rainy winter. So, we’re answering your most-asked questions about drought, snowpack, and reservoirs 💬 let’s get into it!

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

For those folks following the OOI drama, a bipartisan group of senators have taken an important stance to protect it. For those who haven't, the administration recently provided an order to dismantle much of our coastal ocean observing system. www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-murk...

merkley.senate.gov

Merkley, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Push to Protect U.S. Ocean Monitoring Systems - Merkley

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a bipartisan group of Senators to demand the National Science Foundation (NSF) halt its plans to dismantle the...

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OCCRI @occri.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Our excellent colleagues at Columbia Land Trust (www.columbialandtrust.org) seek a new executive director. Apply by 6 July. Details at potrerogroup.com/clt.

columbialandtrust.org

Land Conservation in Washington & Oregon | Columbia Land Trust

Columbia Land Trust protects and cares for for the land and waters of Oregon & Washington through conservation and restoration.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Well, learning that the May 25 update to the Zotero Connector for google docs is a piece of crap right before a large multi-institutional proposal is due is a piece of crap.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

In addition to Oregon having a historically low snowpack, it has also had one of the driest 12 month periods on its record. Since last April, Oregon has recorded its 5th lowest amount of precipitation received since 1895.

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Washington State Climate Office @wastateclimate.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

‼️The 2025 PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment is here Last year, a warm and dry spring led to rapid snowmelt and low summer streamflows prompting drought emergencies in ID, OR, and WA. Explore regional impacts on water resources, agriculture, forests, and more. 🔗 www.drought.gov/documents/pa...

A photograph of pivot irrigation on dry, drown field near Wyatt, ID.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Willamette Pass in Oregon is still very warm and nearly snow-free. The snowpack is typically holding the most water this time of year. This will be an important year to assess how human and natural systems cope given that this situation will occur much more frequently in the coming decades.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

The Willamette Pass in Oregon, at about 5100ft, is usually under about 10 feet of snow this time of year. Today, it is virtually snow free with a temperature of 61°F.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Eugene, Oregon, is at 77°F as of about 2pm. Its record March high temperature of 78°F (tied this past Monday in fact) seems likely to fall over the next 2 hours.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Very much not typical for March: for the second straight day, La Pine, Oregon, experienced temperatures into the mid-70's, relative humidities near 10%, and gusts into the 20's. This winter has also been mildly dry in the region. They'll get a couple more days of this. #orwx

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Update: As of about 5pm, Eugene, Oregon has tied its all-time March temperature record of 78°F. Up the hill at Willamette Pass (at 5000ft elevation), it's 62°F.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Eugene, OR, broke its daily record temperature today! Currently 77°F and within 1° of its March record of 78°F. Forecast for today was just 71°F.

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Shawn Milrad @shawnmilrad.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

LMFAOOOOOO I just choked on my covfefe

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

This is a great example of how climatology is no longer as useful of a guide for evaluating forecasts in a non-stationary climate. 20 years ago, this forecast would have been dismissed.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

This winter, Oregon tied 1934 as its warmest winter on record based on preliminary data. With this being a La Nina winter, this was not expected to occur. #orwx

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Averaged for the state of Oregon, the snowpack is off to it worst start since at least 1981. For those thinking 1977 was worse than this year, turns out it wasn't (based on monthly snow course observations). Seems bad.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Oregon has never had such a small amount of snow, on this date, as it has now statewide. But that could change in a big way beginning this coming weekend, as a forecasted pattern shift brings cooler and wetter conditions: tinyurl.com/4y5bc36v

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I was invited to review a manuscript at about 1:30am last night and 3 minutes later received a second email saying I had taken too long to respond and that the invitation was cancelled. 🤷

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Heads up Eugene, Oregon: I was just down on Amazon Creek near west 11th and it's getting fairly close to topping its banks. I have never seen it so high since about 2012. This image was near west 11th and City View. Moderate rain is expected to continue for the next 4-6 hours or so.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

The Willamette Valley in Oregon may be on the verge of a significant flood event as the atmospheric river has stalled over northwest Oregon. Salem already has 2.10" today and is likely to challenge its top 10 daily precipitation total all time.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Already 61F in Eugene Oregon at noon. This is tied for 40th warmest Dec day since 1938. Today's record is 64F and the all-time December record is 68F. This follows from November being the warmest Nov on record for Oregon since records began in 1895.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

The Emigrant Fire in the central Oregon Cascades has burned over 6000 acres at this point in an area that has received record or near-record low precipitation since April 1st this year (based on 45 years of data), as shown by nearby SNOTEL stations.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

The Emigrant Fire in the central Oregon Cascades is unfortunately growing rapidly and is now sprouting a broad pyrocumulus cloud, as seen from the Univ of Oregon Wildfire camera placed on Peak 2 of Willamette Pass ski resort.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Just had a helicopter with a water bucket fly over my house in south Eugene (Oregon), very likely out to the new fire just east of Oakridge.

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OCCRI @occri.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

The 2024 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is now available. Learn about variation in temperature, precipitation, and snowpack; and their effects on agriculture and other sectors; across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho during the past water year. www.drought.gov/documents/20...

drought.gov

Pacific Northwest Water Year 2024 Impacts Assessment

The purpose of the Pacific Northwest Water Year 2024 Impacts Assessment is to connect the water year conditions to sector-specific impacts to inform planning, response actions, and technical and scien...

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

I launched a sonde earlier today from Corvallis, Oregon just before noon. The sounding indicated pretty good CAPE and a lot of shear. But it also showed the strong low-level cap that ended up limiting the convective potential.

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OCCRI @occri.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Oregon's bipartisan Legislative Water Caucus asked that members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service whose positions were terminated be rehired. The positions are essential to production of reliable, timely water supply forecasts. www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

statesmanjournal.com

Oregon lawmakers urge rehiring of federal workers that track water supply, snowpack

Rural Republicans and urban Democrats urged federal officials to rehire members of the NRCS, which measures snowpack and water supply.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

One of the agencies hit hard by the federal cuts was Oregon's NRCS — which measures snowpack and water supply across the PNW. Now a group of OR lawmakers, including rural Republicans, are asking Dept of Ag secretary Brooke Rollins to rehire them: tinyurl.com/9udyup7k

tinyurl.com

Oregon lawmakers urge rehiring of federal workers that track water supply, snowpack

Rural Republicans and urban Democrats urged federal officials to rehire members of the NRCS, which measures snowpack and water supply.

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OCCRI @occri.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Thanks to KEZI for the opportunity to discuss how staff reductions at the National Weather Service may affect emergency preparedness and response in Oregon and beyond. @larryoneill.bsky.social explains how and why. www.kezi.com/news/local-c...

kezi.com

Local climatologists warn about effects weather service layoffs will have on Oregonians

With NOAA and the NWS seeing layoffs handed down from the Trump administration, local climatologists say Oregonians will be less able to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

In addition, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is based in Portland and measures snowpack and water supply across the Pacific Northwest, saw its staffing slashed 58% this month, from 12 to five employees.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

“This will be really detrimental, and dangerous,” said Larry O’Neill, the Oregon State Climatologist, who works closely with both agencies. “This is a critical public service. It plays a huge role in public safety and the economy, and it’s incredibly cheap for the benefit we get.”

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

National Weather Service offices that forecast in Oregon are now short-staffed by 30-40%, following Thursday’s cuts, job freezes and buyouts. Those who've lost jobs, or positions that won't be rehired, include meteorologists, hydrologists and technicians. www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l...

statesmanjournal.com

National Weather Service staff cut 30-40% in Oregon, jeopardizing forecast, warnings

The agency that issues warnings for floods, ice storms and wildfire danger in Oregon is short-staffed by at least 30-40%.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Good news -- Larry the chicken at NWS Portland has not yet been relieved of their duties.

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Xinfeng Liang @poguy.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Just learned where the name "Argo" is from and its relation with "Jason" in an article by Prof. Paola Malanotte-Rizzoli link.springer.com/article/10.1... A nice short reading for physical oceanographers.

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Sean Nealon @seannealon.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

It has been incredible learning about this beautifully complicated place the past two years. Rewilding the Klamath: Inside the world’s largest dam removal and salmon restoration project. beav.es/GAz

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

The Willamette Valley had a nice wave come through evident in the low stratus cloud field. It behaved a bit like a seiche would in a body of water, except in this case it acted on the cold air pooled into the valley! #orwx

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

As a denizen of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, I wholeheartedly oppose this movement.

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Larry O'Neill @larryoneill.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

While access to historical weather and climate observations from the US may eventually be in danger, the most immediate and pressing issue by far is the dismantling of public US contributions to the global weather and climate observing system.

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