Temperatures in John Day were colder than normal during the month of December, according to the National Weather Service.

According to preliminary data received by the National Weather Service in Pendleton, temperatures in John Day averaged colder than normal during December.

The average temperature was 27.2 degrees, which was 4.8 degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged 37.1 degrees, which was 4.6 degrees below normal. The highest was 53 degrees on Dec. 30. Low temperatures averaged 17.3 degrees, which was 5.1 degrees below normal. The lowest was 2 degrees, on Dec. 24.

There were 31 days with the low temperature below 32 degrees. There were seven days when the high temperature stayed below 32 degrees.

Precipitation totaled 0.40 inches during December, which was 0.84 inches below normal. Measurable precipitation was received on four days with the heaviest, 0.21 inches reported on Dec. 16.

Precipitation in 2017 totaled 11.34 inches, which is 1.83 inches below normal. Since October, the water year precipitation at John Day has been 3 inches, which is 0.58 inches below normal.

Snowfall totaled 7.2 inches with at least 1 inch of snow reported on three days. The heaviest snowfall was 4 inches reported on Dec. 23. The greatest depth of snow on the ground was 4 inches on Dec. 23.

The highest wind gust was 43 mph, which occurred on Dec. 19.

The outlook for January from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center calls for near-normal temperatures and near-normal precipitation. Normal highs for John Day during January are 42.5 degrees, and normal lows are 23.5 degrees. The 30-year normal precipitation is 0.98 inches.