Weather Data

Collecting and storing accurate weather data is crucial for many reasons beyond just predicting the next snow day! This information is vital for water supply, engineering, and infrastructure planning.

City of Bend overhead looking west during a rainstorm.

Historical rainfall data is especially useful in various engineering related analyses. By using precise historical precipitation data over a suitable period, the City can plan and design infrastructure more effectively. Here are some examples:

  • Right-sizing stormwater facilities can save millions of dollars.
  • Creating better designs to prevent localized flooding.
  • Estimating future demands for long-term water supply forecasting.

Data Collection

Accurately collecting and reviewing weather data regularly is no simple task. The City of Bend partners with weather experts who follow federal weather data standards, making the data even more valuable for analysis and forecasting.

Below are links to local weather stations with summaries of the data they collect. You can find more information on each station’s website. Please note that additional information may be available from paid weather services, which are not listed here.

Bend, Oregon AgriMet Weather Station (bewo)

  • Location: Bend, Oregon
  • Agency: Bureau of Reclamation, Agrimet Program
  • Precipitation Type: Heated tipping bucket
  • Frequency of Data Collection: Cumulative inches of water
  • Other Data Recorded:
    15-minute average temperature (°F), 15-minute average maximum temperature (°F), 15-minute minimum temperature (°F), Incremental global solar radiation (Langleys per hour), Cumulative global solar radiation (Langleys), Average dew point temperature (°F), 15-minute average relative humidity (%), 15-minute maximum relative humidity (%), 15-minute minimum relative humidity (%), Average actual vapor pressure (kPa), Cumulative wind run (miles), Wind direction (degrees), Peak wind gusts (MPH), Average wind speed (MPH)
  • Comment: The Bureau of Reclamation weather stations are calibrated annually and maintained to a very high standard, ensuring extremely reliable data.
  • Cost: The Bend Water Services Division funded the original installation and continues to pay an annual maintenance fee to the Reclamation Agrimet Program. (Other Agrimet Stations are funded by different sources.)

Powell Butte, Oregon AgriMet Weather Station (pobo)

  • Location: Powell Butte, Oregon
  • Agency: Bureau of Reclamation, Agrimet Program
  • Precipitation Type: 12” Belfort
  • Frequency of Data Collection: Cumulative inches of water
  • Other Data Recorded:
    15-minute average temperature (°F), 15-minute average maximum temperature (°F), 15-minute minimum temperature (°F), Incremental global solar radiation (Langleys per hour), Cumulative global solar radiation (Langleys), Soil temperature at 8-inch depth (°F), Soil temperature at 4-inch depth (°F), Soil temperature at 2-inch depth (°F), Average dew point (°F), 15-minute average relative humidity (%), 15-minute maximum relative humidity (%), 15-minute minimum relative humidity (%), Average actual vapor pressure (kPa), Cumulative wind run (miles), Wind direction (degrees), Peak wind gust (MPH), Average wind speed (MPH)
  • Comment: The Bureau of Reclamation weather stations are monitored and maintained to a very high standard, ensuring extremely reliable data.

Madras, Oregon AgriMet Weather Station (mrso)

  • Location: Madras, Oregon
  • Agency: Bureau of Reclamation, Agrimet Program
  • Precipitation Type: 25” load cell storage gage
  • Frequency of Data Collection: Cumulative inches of water
  • Other Data Recorded:
    15-minute average temperature (°F), 15-minute maximum temperature (°F), 15-minute minimum temperature (°F), incremental global solar radiation (Langleys per hour), incremental diffuse solar radiation (Langleys per hour), cumulative global solar radiation (Langleys), cumulative diffuse solar radiation (Langleys), soil temperature at 8” depth (°F), soil temperature at 4” depth (°F), average dew point temperature (°F), 15-minute average relative humidity (%), 15-minute maximum relative humidity (%), 15-minute minimum relative humidity (%), average actual vapor pressure (kPa), cumulative wind run (miles), wind direction (degrees), peak wind gust (MPH), average wind speed (MPH)
  • Comment: The Bureau of Reclamation weather stations are monitored and maintained to a very high standard, ensuring extremely reliable data.

Bend Water Shed Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS)

  • Location: City of Bend Watershed
  • Coordinates: Latitude: 44.0308, Longitude: -121.5814
  • Precipitation Type: Tipping Bucket
  • Frequency of Data Collection: Cumulative inches of water
  • Other Data Recorded:
    Maximum temperature (°F hourly), minimum temperature (°F hourly), relative humidity (% hourly), wind speed (MPH hourly), wind gust (MPH hourly), wind direction (N, E, S, W, etc.), solar radiation (W/m²), fuel temperature (°F), 10-hour fuel moisture (gm).
  • Comment: This RAWS weather station is located at an elevation of 5,330 ft.
  • Cost: The City of Bend funded the installation of the station by the USFS and maintains it with an annual payment contract under the Watershed agreement.

Bend Airport AWOS Weather Station

  • Precipitation Type: Unknown
  • Frequency of Data Collection: Unknown
  • Comments: This station offers general weather information tailored for aviation. It does not provide cumulative precipitation data.

Contacts