Climate - Burns (Oregon)

The climate of Burns is arid continental, with very cold winters and hot, sunny summers, and with strong temperature variations between night and day.
The town is located in the central-eastern part of Oregon, 1,250 meters (4,100 feet) above sea level, in the Harney Basin, a part of the largest Great Basin, the arid area occupied by highlands of western United States.
In winter, cold waves are possible, during which the temperature can drop to -30 °C (-22 °F). In February 1990, it dropped to -33 °C (-27.5 °F). Snowfalls are quite frequent. On average, 86 cm (34 in) of snow fall per year.
In summer, there are strong temperature variations between night and day. At night, it can get cold even in the height of summer. However, on the hottest days of the year, the temperature can reach 38/39 °C (100/102° F).
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of -3.4 °C (25.9 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 265 millimeters (10.4 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 40 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.

Best Time

To visit Burns, you can choose the months of May and September. It is true that it rains a little more often than in summer (especially in May), and that it gets colder at night, but in this way, you can avoid the heat that can occur in summer. September is probably the best month.

Back to the climate of Oregon.

Burns - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Burns is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -3.1 °C (27 °F), with a minimum of -8.7 °C (16.3 °F) and a maximum of 2.6 °C (36.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20.5 °C (-4.5 °F). However, it dropped to -31.7 °C (-25.1 °F) in January 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it reached 14 °C (57.2 °F) in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In February, the weather in Burns is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.6 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -6.6 °C (20.2 °F) and a maximum of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16.5 °C (2 °F). However, it dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it reached 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In March, the weather in Burns is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 3.7 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of -3.2 °C (26.3 °F) and a maximum of 10.6 °C (51.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -25.6 °C (-14.1 °F) in March 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Burns is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.6 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (17.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.2 °C (10 °F) in April 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Burns is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.6 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 3 °C (37.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -10 °C (14 °F) in May 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Burns is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.4 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) and a maximum of 24.8 °C (76.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in June 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Burns is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.4 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In August, the weather in Burns is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 7.7 °C (45.8 °F) and a maximum of 30.7 °C (87.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -4.4 °C (24.1 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 33%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In September, the weather in Burns is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.3 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 3 °C (37.4 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -8.3 °C (17.1 °F) in September 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In October, the weather in Burns is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of -2.2 °C (28 °F) and a maximum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C (12.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21.7 °C (-7.1 °F) in October 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 32.8 °C (91 °F) in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Burns is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 1.5 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) and a maximum of 8.5 °C (47.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16.5 °C (2 °F). However, it dropped to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) in November 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Burns is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -3.4 °C (26 °F), with a minimum of -9.2 °C (15.5 °F) and a maximum of 2.4 °C (36.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21 °C (-5.5 °F). However, it dropped to -31.7 °C (-25.1 °F) in December 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 17.2 °C (63 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).