Early morning rain ends Salem's 57-day dry spell

The last time it rained hard enough in Salem for the National Weather Service to measure it, the Oregon Legislature was still in session.

That was June 16.

But in the early morning hours Sunday, rain returned. It ended a 57-day streak without measurable precipitation, according to the weather service.

That's a tie for the 17th longest streak of days without measurable rain since 1892, meteorologist Colby Neuman said. It sprinkled lightly on Aug. 11, but not enough to measure.

Usually, for the area to get rain during this time of year, winds need to come from either the Northwest or Southeast, he said.

The area needs a storm system to come either from the Gulf of Alaska or moisture that comes from the desert Southwest and Great Basin, he said.

"For basically the last two months we haven't had that," Neuman said.

Only after a storm dropped southeastward from the Gulf of Alaska and a front came in last night did it rain, he said.

The weather service started measuring rain at McNary Field between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday.

As for the Aug. 21 eclipse — which is next Monday — the weather service is waiting to release an official forecast.

"It's just too early to tell," Neuman said.

Send questions, comments or news tips to jbach@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6714. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanMBach.

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