(Wines&Vines) - While this vintage’s weather is unfolding largely as anticipated by Southern Oregon University weather watcher Greg Jones, who offered a forecast during remarks to the Oregon Wine Industry Symposium earlier this year, the high pressure system that’s been scorching the west for the past few days has accelerated vine growth by one to three weeks.

The accumulation of growing degree days (GDD) in Washington state is trending above the long-term average, with Washington State University reporting 913 GDD through June 30 versus the average of 833.

Similarly, in Oregon, data collated by Jones indicates an accumulation of 1,044 GDD at stations in both Roseburg and Milton-Freewater through June 30. McMinnville is on par with previous years at 744 GDD, but still slightly above the long-term average of 620.

“Summer’s here,” Jones remarked.

The tally of growing degree days has been boosted by bursts of good weather in April and May, and the heat wave of the past few days has felled temperature records in many locales.