In Gold Hill, June through September is the driest stretch of the year for staining a deck. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Medford airport show less than an inch of rain in each of those four months, against more than two and a half inches in each month from November through January.
The numbers here come from NOAA's weather station at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, up the valley from Gold Hill, which publishes official 30-year climate normals. They are averages, so any one year runs wetter or drier, and the forecast for the week still decides the day.
How wet and cold does Gold Hill get through the year?
Gold Hill sits in a valley with a dry summer and a wet winter. The table gives NOAA's monthly normals: the average high and low in degrees Fahrenheit, the average rainfall, and the average number of days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average rain | Days with 0.10 in. or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48.2 | 32.5 | 2.72 in. | 7.3 |
| February | 54.2 | 33.9 | 1.96 in. | 5.2 |
| March | 59.4 | 37.2 | 1.81 in. | 5.6 |
| April | 64.6 | 41.0 | 1.51 in. | 5.3 |
| May | 73.9 | 46.9 | 1.34 in. | 4.0 |
| June | 81.5 | 52.3 | 0.68 in. | 2.2 |
| July | 91.6 | 58.6 | 0.24 in. | 0.8 |
| August | 91.1 | 57.9 | 0.33 in. | 0.8 |
| September | 84.3 | 51.2 | 0.48 in. | 1.4 |
| October | 70.1 | 42.1 | 1.22 in. | 3.4 |
| November | 54.0 | 36.4 | 2.61 in. | 7.0 |
| December | 46.1 | 32.6 | 3.53 in. | 8.0 |
From June through September, a day with a tenth of an inch of rain or more comes fewer than three times a month on average, and the station records no nights below freezing. From November through February, nights below freezing come 9 to 16 times a month on average.
Which months are best for staining a deck in Gold Hill?
June and September are the gentlest months for deck stain in Gold Hill. Both are dry, averaging 2.2 and 1.4 rainy days, with average highs of 81.5 and 84.3 degrees. July and August are drier still, but their average highs run above 91 degrees, and a deck in full afternoon sun gets hotter than the air around it, so mornings are the easier time to stain in those two months.
May and October are the shoulder months. Each averages 3 to 4 rainy days, and October nights average 42 degrees, with about two nights below freezing. In those months the forecast matters more than the calendar.
Whatever the month, read the label on the stain you choose for its lowest application temperature and how long it needs to dry before rain or dew. The boards need to be dry as well, which means waiting after a rain or a pressure wash.
How does wildfire smoke affect deck work around Gold Hill?
Wildfire smoke is the summer variable. Oregon DEQ's smoke trends report counts the days when Medford's air quality index reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse because of wildfire smoke: 22 days from 2000 to 2012, an average of 1.7 a year, and 143 days from 2013 to 2025, an average of 11.0 a year. In 2025, Medford had one such day.
The same report says southern Oregon had some of the most persistent smoke in the state from July through October 2025. DEQ's Air Quality Today map and its OregonAir phone app show current readings from more than 37 stations around Oregon, so check them on a smoky week before planning a day of outdoor work.
We repair and refinish decks and porches in Gold Hill and across Jackson County, with damaged boards repaired before the stain or paint goes on. See our deck repair and refinishing service. John York looks at every deck before he gives a price. Request your free estimate or call or text (541) 299-5331.
