Larry O'Neill
@larryoneill.bsky.social
I specialize in air-sea interactions, observations of weather, ocean, and climate, and science outreach and engagement. Associate Professor at Oregon State Univ. State Climatologist of Oregon. Director, Oregon Climate Service. @occri.bsky.social
The Emigrant Fire in the central Oregon Cascades has burned over 6000 acres at this point in an area that has received record or near-record low precipitation since April 1st this year (based on 45 years of data), as shown by nearby SNOTEL stations.
August 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The Emigrant Fire in the central Oregon Cascades has burned over 6000 acres at this point in an area that has received record or near-record low precipitation since April 1st this year (based on 45 years of data), as shown by nearby SNOTEL stations.
The Emigrant Fire in the central Oregon Cascades is unfortunately growing rapidly and is now sprouting a broad pyrocumulus cloud, as seen from the Univ of Oregon Wildfire camera placed on Peak 2 of Willamette Pass ski resort.
August 26, 2025 at 12:47 AM
The Emigrant Fire in the central Oregon Cascades is unfortunately growing rapidly and is now sprouting a broad pyrocumulus cloud, as seen from the Univ of Oregon Wildfire camera placed on Peak 2 of Willamette Pass ski resort.
Just had a helicopter with a water bucket fly over my house in south Eugene (Oregon), very likely out to the new fire just east of Oakridge.
August 7, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Just had a helicopter with a water bucket fly over my house in south Eugene (Oregon), very likely out to the new fire just east of Oakridge.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
New report finds @oregonstate.edu has $3.5 billion in economic impact on Oregon's economy: beav.es/Nrm
$3.5 billion in Oregon State economic impact builds regional economy | Newsroom
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University research is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, providing $797.5 million in value and 3,300 jobs annually, according to an economic impact repor...
beav.es
June 4, 2025 at 6:35 PM
New report finds @oregonstate.edu has $3.5 billion in economic impact on Oregon's economy: beav.es/Nrm
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
The 2024 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is now available. Learn about variation in temperature, precipitation, and snowpack; and their effects on agriculture and other sectors; across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho during the past water year. www.drought.gov/documents/20...
Pacific Northwest Water Year 2024 Impacts Assessment
The purpose of the Pacific Northwest Water Year 2024 Impacts Assessment is to connect the water year conditions to sector-specific impacts to inform planning, response actions, and technical and scien...
www.drought.gov
March 31, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The 2024 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is now available. Learn about variation in temperature, precipitation, and snowpack; and their effects on agriculture and other sectors; across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho during the past water year. www.drought.gov/documents/20...
I launched a sonde earlier today from Corvallis, Oregon just before noon. The sounding indicated pretty good CAPE and a lot of shear. But it also showed the strong low-level cap that ended up limiting the convective potential.
March 27, 2025 at 3:59 AM
I launched a sonde earlier today from Corvallis, Oregon just before noon. The sounding indicated pretty good CAPE and a lot of shear. But it also showed the strong low-level cap that ended up limiting the convective potential.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
Oregon's bipartisan Legislative Water Caucus asked that members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service whose positions were terminated be rehired. The positions are essential to production of reliable, timely water supply forecasts. www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Oregon lawmakers urge rehiring of federal workers that track water supply, snowpack
Rural Republicans and urban Democrats urged federal officials to rehire members of the NRCS, which measures snowpack and water supply.
www.statesmanjournal.com
March 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Oregon's bipartisan Legislative Water Caucus asked that members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service whose positions were terminated be rehired. The positions are essential to production of reliable, timely water supply forecasts. www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
One of the agencies hit hard by the federal cuts was Oregon's NRCS — which measures snowpack and water supply across the PNW.
Now a group of OR lawmakers, including rural Republicans, are asking Dept of Ag secretary Brooke Rollins to rehire them: tinyurl.com/9udyup7k
Now a group of OR lawmakers, including rural Republicans, are asking Dept of Ag secretary Brooke Rollins to rehire them: tinyurl.com/9udyup7k
Oregon lawmakers urge rehiring of federal workers that track water supply, snowpack
Rural Republicans and urban Democrats urged federal officials to rehire members of the NRCS, which measures snowpack and water supply.
tinyurl.com
March 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
One of the agencies hit hard by the federal cuts was Oregon's NRCS — which measures snowpack and water supply across the PNW.
Now a group of OR lawmakers, including rural Republicans, are asking Dept of Ag secretary Brooke Rollins to rehire them: tinyurl.com/9udyup7k
Now a group of OR lawmakers, including rural Republicans, are asking Dept of Ag secretary Brooke Rollins to rehire them: tinyurl.com/9udyup7k
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
Thanks to KEZI for the opportunity to discuss how staff reductions at the National Weather Service may affect emergency preparedness and response in Oregon and beyond. @larryoneill.bsky.social explains how and why. www.kezi.com/news/local-c...
Local climatologists warn about effects weather service layoffs will have on Oregonians
With NOAA and the NWS seeing layoffs handed down from the Trump administration, local climatologists say Oregonians will be less able to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.
www.kezi.com
March 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Thanks to KEZI for the opportunity to discuss how staff reductions at the National Weather Service may affect emergency preparedness and response in Oregon and beyond. @larryoneill.bsky.social explains how and why. www.kezi.com/news/local-c...
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
In addition, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is based in Portland and measures snowpack and water supply across the Pacific Northwest, saw its staffing slashed 58% this month, from 12 to five employees.
February 28, 2025 at 2:01 AM
In addition, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is based in Portland and measures snowpack and water supply across the Pacific Northwest, saw its staffing slashed 58% this month, from 12 to five employees.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
“This will be really detrimental, and dangerous,” said Larry O’Neill, the Oregon State Climatologist, who works closely with both agencies. “This is a critical public service. It plays a huge role in public safety and the economy, and it’s incredibly cheap for the benefit we get.”
February 28, 2025 at 2:02 AM
“This will be really detrimental, and dangerous,” said Larry O’Neill, the Oregon State Climatologist, who works closely with both agencies. “This is a critical public service. It plays a huge role in public safety and the economy, and it’s incredibly cheap for the benefit we get.”
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
National Weather Service offices that forecast in Oregon are now short-staffed by 30-40%, following Thursday’s cuts, job freezes and buyouts. Those who've lost jobs, or positions that won't be rehired, include meteorologists, hydrologists and technicians.
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l...
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l...
National Weather Service staff cut 30-40% in Oregon, jeopardizing forecast, warnings
The agency that issues warnings for floods, ice storms and wildfire danger in Oregon is short-staffed by at least 30-40%.
www.statesmanjournal.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:01 AM
National Weather Service offices that forecast in Oregon are now short-staffed by 30-40%, following Thursday’s cuts, job freezes and buyouts. Those who've lost jobs, or positions that won't be rehired, include meteorologists, hydrologists and technicians.
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l...
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l...
Good news -- Larry the chicken at NWS Portland has not yet been relieved of their duties.
February 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Good news -- Larry the chicken at NWS Portland has not yet been relieved of their duties.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
The effects of climate change are expected to bring more freezing rain and severe ice storms to the Willamette Valley.
Severe ice storms to occur more often in Willamette Valley despite rising temps
The effects of climate change are expected to bring more freezing rain and severe ice storms to the Willamette Valley, the foothills of the Cascades and the Columbia River Gorge in the next 50 to 7…
www.koin.com
January 16, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The effects of climate change are expected to bring more freezing rain and severe ice storms to the Willamette Valley.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
Just learned where the name "Argo" is from and its relation with "Jason" in an article by Prof. Paola Malanotte-Rizzoli link.springer.com/article/10.1... A nice short reading for physical oceanographers.
December 10, 2024 at 11:31 PM
Just learned where the name "Argo" is from and its relation with "Jason" in an article by Prof. Paola Malanotte-Rizzoli link.springer.com/article/10.1... A nice short reading for physical oceanographers.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
It has been incredible learning about this beautifully complicated place the past two years. Rewilding the Klamath: Inside the world’s largest dam removal and salmon restoration project. beav.es/GAz
December 10, 2024 at 11:27 PM
It has been incredible learning about this beautifully complicated place the past two years. Rewilding the Klamath: Inside the world’s largest dam removal and salmon restoration project. beav.es/GAz
The Willamette Valley had a nice wave come through evident in the low stratus cloud field. It behaved a bit like a seiche would in a body of water, except in this case it acted on the cold air pooled into the valley! #orwx
December 4, 2024 at 9:56 PM
The Willamette Valley had a nice wave come through evident in the low stratus cloud field. It behaved a bit like a seiche would in a body of water, except in this case it acted on the cold air pooled into the valley! #orwx
As a denizen of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, I wholeheartedly oppose this movement.
One of the best bumper stickers in town (and that's saying something here):
December 3, 2024 at 11:01 PM
As a denizen of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, I wholeheartedly oppose this movement.
Reposted by Larry O'Neill
I have a new story out on the American West's declining ability to recover from drought. The story reviews a fantastic study by @climate-guy.bsky.social and others and includes comments from @larryoneill.bsky.social. Thank you both for the interviews. #climatechange #drought
Human activity is making it difficult to retain adequate water supplies - Columbia Insight
A new study also says climate change is making it harder to escape drought even as winters bring lots of precipitation
Can't get enough: Rylee Buckley, 17, fills a water container with a neighbor's h...
columbiainsight.org
November 27, 2024 at 8:01 PM
I have a new story out on the American West's declining ability to recover from drought. The story reviews a fantastic study by @climate-guy.bsky.social and others and includes comments from @larryoneill.bsky.social. Thank you both for the interviews. #climatechange #drought
While access to historical weather and climate observations from the US may eventually be in danger, the most immediate and pressing issue by far is the dismantling of public US contributions to the global weather and climate observing system.
There is a concerted effort underway to download and preserve as many federal geoscience data sets as possible.
The fact that this has to happen at all is a blistering warning of the massive threat posed to #science by the GOP and Trump.
The fact that this has to happen at all is a blistering warning of the massive threat posed to #science by the GOP and Trump.
November 23, 2024 at 9:51 PM
While access to historical weather and climate observations from the US may eventually be in danger, the most immediate and pressing issue by far is the dismantling of public US contributions to the global weather and climate observing system.
Something else unusual about this PacNW storm that is emerging is the amount of lightning associated with it. This is not remotely typical of November weather in the Pacific Northwest.
November 20, 2024 at 5:19 AM
Something else unusual about this PacNW storm that is emerging is the amount of lightning associated with it. This is not remotely typical of November weather in the Pacific Northwest.
Just a heads up for those that want to be informed here, there are some weather-adjacent accounts that are claiming the PacNW storm to be equivalent to a cat 3 hurricane. They are mis-reporting wind speed in km/h as mph.
November 20, 2024 at 3:14 AM
Just a heads up for those that want to be informed here, there are some weather-adjacent accounts that are claiming the PacNW storm to be equivalent to a cat 3 hurricane. They are mis-reporting wind speed in km/h as mph.
Some perspective on this PacNW storm. The analog is that of the Columbus Day storm of 1962. During that storm, the surface pressure reached an estimated 948mb, while today's storm reached 945mb. The impact difference: today's storm stalled 200 miles off the coast, while the 1962 storm breached it.
November 20, 2024 at 2:14 AM
Some perspective on this PacNW storm. The analog is that of the Columbus Day storm of 1962. During that storm, the surface pressure reached an estimated 948mb, while today's storm reached 945mb. The impact difference: today's storm stalled 200 miles off the coast, while the 1962 storm breached it.