Limited weather observation capability has been available at the Klamath Experiment Station for over 20 years. In 1996, NOAA closed the Kingsley Field station and designated the KES station as the offical NOAA station for Klamath Falls. Observations at these sites are quite representative of the main agricultural portion of the Klamath Basin, which ranges from about 4,100 to 4,300 feet elevation. Air and soil temperature, precipitation, and other data are summarized for 1998 and long term averages in our 1998 Annual Report . The area experiences moderate air temperatures which seldom exceed 90 degrees F for highs or 0 degrees F for lows.
Frosts can and do occur during any month.
Minimum average air temperatures above freezing are limited to May through September. However, frosts are frequent in May and September, and occured in each month as recently as 1996. The difference between daily high and low air temperatures is often over 40 degrees F, and occassionally over 50 degrees F in the summer. Total annual precipitation averages approximately 13 inches, but is quite variable from year to year. The period from 1995 through 1999 has experienced the lightest precipitation since records began in the late 1880's.