Climate, Topography and Population
Bend and surrounding Central Oregon cities
With population estimated at 83,125, Bend is Oregon's seventh largest city, positioned between Beaverton and Medford. It is the largest of eight incorporated municipalities in the three Central Oregon counties and is the county seat of Deschutes County. The other cities range in size from Redmond, population 25,945, to Metolius, population 890.
Situated on Oregon's high desert, which begins on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, Bend and surrounding areas share the dry and tempeerate climate that makes the region attractive to real estate buyers and vacationers. Micro-climates and topographical variations within Central Oregon stand in the way of uniform statistics across the region. Generally speaking, lower elevations to the north produce less snow and higher average temperatures, which the opposite applies to higher elevations toward the southern edge of the region and the Cascade slopes to the west.
Temperature and precipitation averages tell an incomplete story, but are presented here for comparative purposes. Sunny days, cool nights, breezes and low humidity characterize the climate generally. Clear skies occur 158 days per yar on average and 105 more are described as mostly sunny. Away from the mountains, snow accumulations are light and disappear quickly most winters. Tables below contain data for incorporated cities in the three Central Oregon counties.
Deschutes County
Population 172,050
Bend
| Population | 83,125 | |
| Elevation | 3,460 ft | |
| Average Temperature | 46° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 63° | July |
| Coolest monthly average |
30° |
January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
82° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
21.2° | January |
| Average precipitation |
11.8 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
33.5 in |
Redmond
| Population | 25,945 | |
| Elevation | 3,080 ft | |
| Average temperature | 48° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 65° | July |
| Coolest monthly average | 31° | January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
84.7° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
21.6° | January |
| Average precipitation |
8.3 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
16.8 in |
Sisters
| Population | 1,935 | |
| Elevation | 3,168 ft | |
| Average temperature | 45° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 62° | July/Aug |
| Coolest monthly average | 30° | December |
| Highest monthly av. high | 83.9° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
20.7° | December |
| Average precipitation |
14.2 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
32.9 in |
La Pine
| Population | 1,635 | |
| Elevation | 4,235 ft | |
| Average temperature | 42° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 60° | July |
| Coolest monthly average | 25° | January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
82.3° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
14.8° | January |
| Average precipitation |
25 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
138.1 in |
Crook County
Population 27,280
Prineville
| Population | 10,370 | |
| Elevation | 3,250 ft | |
| Average temperature | 43° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 61° | July |
| Coolest monthly average | 24° | January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
81.9° | August |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
14.8° | January |
| Average precipitation |
17.3 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
53 in |
Jefferson County
Population 22,865
Madras
| Population | 6,650 | |
| Elevation | 2,437 ft | |
| Average temperature | 48° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 66° | July |
| Coolest monthly average | 31° | January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
87.5° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
21.5° | January |
| Average precipitation |
9.7 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
12.8 in |
Culver
| Population | 1,345 | |
| Elevation | 2,695 ft | |
| Average temperature | 45° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 62° | July |
| Coolest monthly average |
30° | January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
82° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
21.2° | January |
| Average precipitation |
13.6 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
31.3 in |
Metolius
| Population | 890 | |
| Elevation | 2,695 ft | |
| Average temperature | 47° | |
| Warmest monthly average | 64° | July |
| Coolest monthly average |
31° | January |
| Highest monthly av. high |
83.8° | July |
| Lowest monthly av. low |
22.4° | January |
| Average precipitation |
10.4 in |
|
| Average snowfall |
16.3 in |
Notes:
1. Temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sources (unless otherwise noted):
(a) Population: Portland State University Population Research Center, July 2010.
(b) Elevations: AirNav.com, taken at local airports.
(c) Temperature and precipitation data: Weatherbase.com
