Sand Spring Campground, Oregon Weather
Recreation Area • Central Oregon
Sand Spring is a small, primitive Forest Service campground and wildlife-viewing site in the Fort Rock area of the Deschutes National Forest, southeast of Pine Mountain. An unseen spring feeds a fenced pond ringed by sagebrush and dry pine forest, and it draws wildlife from miles around.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Sand Spring Campground weather today and through the year
It's 37°F at Sand Spring Campground right now (feels like 29°F), with 10 mph wind and a comfort score of 33. Today's forecast high at Sand Spring Campground is 51°F, 6°F above the mid November normal of 45°F. The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 38°F with a 13 mph wind (comfort 36).
July is the warmest month at Sand Spring Campground, with an average high of 82°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 19°F. December is the wettest month (1.9 in.), out of about 13.2 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Sand Spring Campground are August, September, and June. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 1 PM to 4 PM in September, and 1 PM to 4 PM in June.
Sand Spring sits at about 4,940 feet where the open pine forest of the Fort Rock Ranger District thins into sagebrush. Pine Mountain lies to the northwest and the Fort Rock Basin to the south. The site is deep in the Cascade rain shadow, the dry zone east of the mountains, and gets little precipitation. That is exactly why the spring-fed pond matters so much to wildlife here, and the Forest Service notes it is a long way to the next drink.
Forecast updated November 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM PST. Climate figures come from NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hourly patterns come from NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from May 2016 to May 2026.
What to expect at Sand Spring Campground in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Best time to go
The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 38°F with a 13 mph wind (comfort 36).
Hiking conditions
No daylight hour in the next week is forecast to be dry, 45 to 80°F, and under 18 mph wind at Sand Spring Campground.
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Monday looks best for Sand Spring Campground, with a 41°F high and midday comfort near 40. Thursday looks weakest (24).
This weekend
This weekend: Saturday 41°F/32°F with a 10% chance of rain, Sunday 41°F/35°F with a 48% chance of rain.
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (79%, about 0.12 in.).
Snow
Snow is in the forecast: about 1.4 in. over the next week, starting Wednesday.
Freezing nights
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast to reach freezing or colder.
Live weather map
Weather around Sand Spring Campground right now
Light rain and 37° at Sand Spring Campground right now.
About the live weather map for Sand Spring Campground
The map centers on Sand Spring Campground and stacks wildfire smoke, satellite clouds, and precipitation radar on one view. Clouds come from the GOES-West satellite and rain from NOAA radar, and both show current conditions.
Dots mark nearby places with their current temperature, colored by comfort score. Use the layer buttons to turn any layer off, or open the full map for every destination in the region.
Nearby Temperature Comparison
Conditions at nearby Central Oregon destinations
Tip: Central Oregon temperatures can change by 20 to 30°F over a short distance because of microclimates.
Sand Spring Campground vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Sand Spring Campground, from the same NOAA HRRR hourly record. The list shows the closest places, then nearby places whose climate differs the most.
| Place | Distance | Summer afternoons | Morning fog | Afternoon wind | Compared with Sand Spring Campground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Mountain Observatory | 7.4 mi | -5°F | 1% | 10 mph | about 5°F cooler on summer afternoons and 1,349 ft higher |
| China Hat | 9.5 mi | -2°F | 1% | 8 mph | 1,622 ft higher |
| East Fort Rock OHV Area | 10.6 mi | same | 0% | 9 mph | a very similar climate |
| East Lake | 17.8 mi | -11°F | 3% | 8 mph | about 4 times as much precipitation a year and about 11°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Newberry National Volcanic Monument | 19.3 mi | -10°F | 3% | 9 mph | about 3 times as much precipitation a year and about 10°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Paulina Lake | 21.6 mi | -11°F | 4% | 9 mph | about 3 times as much precipitation a year and about 11°F cooler on summer afternoons |
Places with a climate like Sand Spring Campground's
- Derrick Cave (13 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Brothers (14 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Gilchrist (45 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Sand Spring Campground climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Sand Spring Campground with the available local baseline. Temperature and year-to-date rainfall use long-term normals when available. Fog, sunshine, wind, and comfort use the matching recent or modeled baseline identified on each card.
Positive and negative differences describe how Sand Spring Campground departs from its own usual pattern. They should not be read as a direct comparison with another city or as a forecast beyond the period shown.
Sand Spring Campground weather by month
July is the warmest month at Sand Spring Campground, with an average high of 82°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 19°F. December is the wettest month (1.9 in.), out of about 13.2 in. a year. July has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 2% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Sand Spring Campground are August, September, and June. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 1 PM to 4 PM in September, and 1 PM to 4 PM in June.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precip | Wet days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 20°F | 1.5 in | 7 | 12% | 14% | 9 mph | 9.3 h | 43 |
| Feb | 41°F | 21°F | 1.1 in | 6 | 10% | 18% | 10 mph | 10.4 h | 40 |
| Mar | 47°F | 24°F | 1.4 in | 7 | 7% | 18% | 11 mph | 11.8 h | 36 |
| Apr | 52°F | 27°F | 1.0 in | 6 | 3% | 15% | 11 mph | 13.4 h | 50 |
| May | 62°F | 33°F | 1.5 in | 7 | 2% | 14% | 11 mph | 14.7 h | 61 |
| Jun | 70°F | 38°F | 0.8 in | 5 | 0% | 7% | 10 mph | 15.4 h | 79 |
| Jul | 82°F | 44°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 0% | 2% | 9 mph | 15.1 h | 77 |
| Aug | 81°F | 44°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 0% | 2% | 9 mph | 13.9 h | 80 |
| Sep | 73°F | 37°F | 0.5 in | 4 | 2% | 5% | 9 mph | 12.4 h | 80 |
| Oct | 59°F | 30°F | 1.0 in | 6 | 4% | 10% | 10 mph | 10.9 h | 58 |
| Nov | 45°F | 24°F | 1.4 in | 7 | 7% | 12% | 9 mph | 9.6 h | 41 |
| Dec | 37°F | 19°F | 1.9 in | 8 | 13% | 13% | 9 mph | 8.9 h | 44 |
Morning fog is the share of hours from 6 to 10 AM with fog or low cloud. Midday cloud is the average from 11 AM to 3 PM, and afternoon wind is the average from 1 to 5 PM. The highlighted rows are the most comfortable months.
What makes Sand Spring Campground's weather different
Among the 17 Central Oregon recreation areas we track, Sand Spring Campground has the 3rd-coldest winter nights.
- #3of 17
coldest winter nightsamong Central Oregon recreation areas
When the wind picks up
noonwhen afternoon wind builds, year-round
Year-round, wind at Sand Spring Campground typically builds after noon. In July it peaks around 7 PM, averaging 13 mph with 17% of those hours windy, while mornings average 4 mph.
Freezing hours
18 hbelow freezing on a typical December night
In December, the average stays at or below freezing for 18 hours of the night and morning.
Elevation
−5°Fsummer afternoons at Pine Mountain Observatory, 1,349 ft up
Pine Mountain Observatory sits 1,349 ft higher, 7.4 miles away. Its summer highs average 5°F cooler and its winter lows 1°F milder than Sand Spring Campground.
Daylight
8.9–15.4 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Sand Spring Campground range from about 8.9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:45 PM, and in mid-December around 4:30 PM.
Wildfire smoke
18 daysof smoky air per fire season (about AQI 75+)
NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model gives the area around Sand Spring Campground an average of 18 smoky days a fire season from 2021 to 2025. On each of those days, smoke held the air quality index at about 75 or higher for at least three hours. About 27 more days a season had lighter smoke.
Snow
32 inof snow per winter (HRRR estimate)
NOAA's HRRR model puts Sand Spring Campground at about 32 inches of snow a winter, falling on about 23 days. That is the average of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 winters.
Seasons at Sand Spring Campground
- Warm seasonJun 26 – Sep 23 · highs 72°F+
The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jun 26 to Sep 23, when the average high is 72°F or warmer. Highs peak around Jul 8 at about 82°F.
- Cool seasonNov 27 – Feb 25 · highs 43°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 27 to Feb 25, when the average high is 43°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 19°F.
- Freezing nightsOct 4 – May 5 · lows 32°F or colder
Average lows at Sand Spring Campground are at or below freezing from Oct 4 to May 5.
- Wet seasonOct 16 – Jun 3 · 80% of the year's precipitation
The wet season runs from Oct 16 to Jun 3, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable precipitation. That stretch brings 80% of the year's precipitation.
The dark line marks today. Season dates come from the smoothed daily NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Counting from Oct. 1, a typical year has its first inch of precipitation by Oct 30 and half of its annual total by Feb 19.
Days per year and extremes (Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026)
This record runs from Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026. Over this record, Sand Spring Campground averaged 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights a year at or below freezing. It averaged 3 days a year with at least half an inch of precipitation and 11 afternoons with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 22 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Aug 7, 2026 (94°F) and the coldest night was Feb 12, 2025 (-5°F). The wettest day was Mar 16, 2025 (2.01 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 53 mph on Dec 18, 2025.
- 6days at 90°F or hotter
- 173nights at or below freezing
- 3days with ½ in. of precipitation or more
- 11afternoons with 20+ mph wind
- 22mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day94°FAug 7, 2026
- Coldest night-5°FFeb 12, 2025
- Wettest day2.01 inMar 16, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust53 mphDec 18, 2025
What shapes Sand Spring Campground's weather
The Sand Spring pond lies in an open, shrubby clearing rather than under trees. Open ground like this loses heat quickly on clear nights, and cold air settles into it. The campground can be noticeably colder at dawn than the surrounding forest, with frost possible from early fall to late spring. Days warm quickly under the dry, clear sky, giving large swings between day and night temperatures.
Afternoon wind builds through the warm months and peaks in the early evening. The scattered pines around the clearing soften it, compared with the bare sage flats around Brothers to the northeast. Winter brings modest snow that can make the long cinder and gravel roads impassable for days after a storm.
Late-summer thunderstorms are common over the high desert and bring lightning to this dry forest. Smoke from regional fires can settle in the low ground on calm mornings.
Tips for visiting Sand Spring Campground
Drive slowly on washboard
The cinder-surfaced roads in are often washboard-rippled and force slow speeds. Allow plenty of time.
Bring all your water
The campground has no water, and the pond water isn't safe to drink.
Follow the Forest Service route
From Millican, drive 2.6 miles east on Highway 20, 7.2 miles south on gravel Fox Butte Road, then 6.1 miles southwest on Forest Road 2312 (Moffitt Road).
Give the wildlife room
There is little cover around the pond, so keep your distance from the water and control pets to avoid scaring animals away.
Pack for cold nights
Even in summer, the open clearing cools fast after sunset. Bring warm layers and a warm sleeping bag.
Sand Spring Campground through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring brings cold nights and muddy or snowy roads early in the season. Wildlife activity picks up around the pond as the desert greens.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer has warm, dry days and cool nights. Dawn and dusk are best for watching animals come to water, while afternoons bring wind and sometimes thunderstorms.
- Fall (September–November)
- Fall brings crisp days and hard frosts. The pond stays a draw for wildlife as the desert dries.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter is cold, and snow can block the gravel and cinder roads. Few visitors come in winter.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Wildlife watching: Water is scarce for miles, so the pond draws a steady stream of wildlife. Calm early mornings and evenings are the best times to watch from a distance.
- Primitive camping: Sand Spring is a quiet, remote place to camp, with no water on site. Expect cold nights and afternoon wind in the warm months.
- Exploring the Fort Rock area forest roads: Dry roads in late spring and fall are easiest. Summer brings dust and fire risk, and winter can close the roads.
Official sources and current conditions
- Forest Service: Sand Spring
- Forest Service: Deschutes NF Fort Rock Area sites
- Central Oregon Fire Information
Numbers on this page come from NOAA data. The text draws on the official sources linked above.
Historical Climate Data
Long-term weather patterns and climate data
Data sources: Recent temperature, precipitation, fog, cloud, wind, humidity, and sunshine come from NOAA HRRR, and long-term baselines from NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
Climate Overview
Based on NOAA 30-year temperature/rain normals (1991-2020) with recent fog/sun baseline
🌟 Best Months to Visit
⚠️ Challenging Months
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Comfort | High/Low | ☀️ Sun | 🌫️ Fog | 💧 Rain | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | 55 | 41° / 26.6° | 5.5h | 1d | 1.31" | 3 |
| December 2024 | 50 | 39.1° / 24.5° | 4.8h | 2d | 4.01" | 0 |
| January 2025 | 55 | 36.6° / 19.5° | 5.9h | 2d | 0.77" | 0 |
| February 2025 | 53 | 35.6° / 19.1° | 5.6h | 4d | 1.71" | 2 |
| March 2025 | 63 | 44° / 27.6° | 7.6h | 2d | 2.52" | 7 |
| April 2025 | 86 | 56.4° / 30.3° | 10.4h | 0d | 0.11" | 25 |
| May 2025 | 90 | 64.5° / 36.4° | 11.9h | 0d | 0.15" | 29 |
| June 2025 | 95 | 74.2° / 43.7° | 12.5h | 0d | 0" | 29 |
| July 2025 | 93 | 81.6° / 50.8° | 12.4h | 0d | 0.23" | 30 |
| August 2025 | 94 | 80.3° / 50.5° | 11.1h | 0d | 0.11" | 30 |
| September 2025 | 92 | 74.4° / 44.7° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.1" | 29 |
| October 2025 | 79 | 55.4° / 31.9° | 7.4h | 0d | 0.37" | 20 |
| November 2025 | 70 | 49.6° / 30.6° | 6.1h | 4d | 0.33" | 9 |
| December 2025 | 56 | 44.4° / 29.1° | 4.8h | 2d | 1.98" | 5 |
| January 2026 | 62 | 43° / 24.8° | 6.5h | 6d | 0.22" | 4 |
| February 2026 | 64 | 45.1° / 25.4° | 6.6h | 3d | 0.96" | 6 |
| March 2026 | 79 | 54.8° / 31.8° | 8.9h | 2d | 0.14" | 19 |
| April 2026 | 82 | 55.6° / 29.4° | 9.9h | 0d | 0.21" | 21 |
| May 2026 | 90 | 67.2° / 37.6° | 11.6h | 0d | 0.33" | 29 |
| June 2026 | 91 | 72.4° / 42.3° | 12.1h | 0d | 0.19" | 29 |
| July 2026 | 89 | 83.9° / 50.6° | 12.3h | 0d | 0.06" | 30 |
| August 2026 | 91 | 82.4° / 49.1° | 11.6h | 0d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2026 | 90 | 66.3° / 40° | 9.6h | 1d | 0.77" | 26 |
| October 2026 | 83 | 61.1° / 34.1° | 8.2h | 0d | 0.07" | 19 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Sand Spring Campground climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Sand Spring Campground, showing both the seasonal cycle and the typical day-to-night range. The comfort chart summarizes how often the combined weather pattern is favorable rather than judging temperature alone.
Precipitation shows the total recorded or modeled rainfall for each month at Sand Spring Campground. Sunshine compares average bright-sky hours with the daylight available, while fog shows the average number of morning fog or low-cloud hours per day. Switch between the chart tabs to compare the same months across each measure.
Snow Depth by Season
0″ on the ground as of Nov 13, compared with an average of 0.8″ on that date.
Now
0″
Typical peak
11″
Deepest
43″
2016–17
About this chart and each season's peak
Each gray line is one winter at Sand Springs Campground (4,941 ft), from August through July. The dashed line is the average for each date, and the blue line is this season. Depths come from NOAA's daily SNODAS snow analysis, adjusted for the elevation of this spot, and are updated through Nov 13, 2026.
| Season | Peak depth | Peak date | Days with 1″+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | 2.3″ | Dec 24 | 6 |
| 2024–25 | 18″ | Feb 7 | 96 |
| 2023–24 | 13″ | Jan 14 | 48 |
| 2022–23 | 9.2″ | Dec 31 | 92 |
| 2021–22 | 15″ | Jan 5 | 58 |
| 2020–21 | 8.1″ | Mar 24 | 47 |
| 2019–20 | 11″ | Apr 3 | 62 |
| 2018–19 | 23″ | Feb 27 | 106 |
| 2017–18 | 10″ | Mar 4 | 84 |
| 2016–17 | 43″ | Jan 11 | 98 |
| 2015–16 | 24″ | Jan 20 | 85 |
| 2014–15 | 5.9″ | Dec 17 | 38 |
| 2013–14 | 11″ | Feb 9 | 28 |
| 2012–13 | 27″ | Feb 24 | 122 |
| 2011–12 | 8.3″ | Jan 25 | 67 |
| 2010–11 | 14″ | Jan 14 | 102 |
| 2009–10 | 8.8″ | Feb 8 | 96 |
| 2008–09 | 26″ | Feb 16 | 110 |
| 2007–08 | 23″ | Feb 4 | 92 |
| 2006–07 | 5″ | Nov 29 | 27 |
| 2005–06 | 8.2″ | Dec 19 | 82 |
| 2004–05 | 7.9″ | Dec 9 | 27 |
| 2003–04 | 9.2″ | Jan 8 | 53 |
Hourly Temperature, Wind, and Cloud Cover Patterns
Average local hour by month from 2016-05-01 to 2026-05-01
- Temperature: At Sand Spring Campground, the warmest typical hour is 4 PM in July (83°F). The coldest is 7 AM in February (23°F).
- Wind: Year-round, wind at Sand Spring Campground typically builds after noon. In July it peaks around 7 PM, averaging 13 mph with 17% of those hours windy, while mornings average 4 mph.
- Cloud Cover: July middays are the clearest at Sand Spring Campground (2% average cloud cover), and March middays are the cloudiest (18%).
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Sand Spring Campground
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Sand Spring Campground changes by hour and month. Read left to right for the seasons and top to bottom for the time of day. Warmer colors mark the usual afternoon peaks, and cooler colors show overnight and winter lows.
This heatmap shows the typical hourly wind pattern at Sand Spring Campground through the year. It makes recurring afternoon wind, calmer overnight periods, and seasonal changes easier to compare than a single daily wind value.
This heatmap shows average cloud cover at Sand Spring Campground for every month and hour. Use it to see whether cloudiness is mainly an overnight and morning pattern or commonly persists during the part of the day you plan to visit.
Each cell combines one month with one local hour. Hover over or focus on a cell for its value and sample coverage. The red marker shows the current month and hour.
How recent months compared at Sand Spring Campground
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Sand Spring Campground averaged a high of 61°F, 6°F warmer than October 2025 (55°F).
Location Details
Sand Spring Campground weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Sand Spring Campground
What is the weather like at Sand Spring Campground today?
It's 37°F at Sand Spring Campground right now, with a comfort score of 33 (poor). Today's forecast high at Sand Spring Campground is 51°F, 6°F above the mid November normal of 45°F. The best window tomorrow is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 38°F with a 13 mph wind (comfort 36).
What is the best month to visit Sand Spring Campground?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and precipitation odds, the most comfortable months at Sand Spring Campground are August, September, and June. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in August, 1 PM to 4 PM in September, and 1 PM to 4 PM in June. The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jun 26 to Sep 23, when the average high is 72°F or warmer. Highs peak around Jul 8 at about 82°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Sand Spring Campground?
July is the warmest month at Sand Spring Campground, with an average high of 82°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 19°F. Average lows at Sand Spring Campground are at or below freezing from Oct 4 to May 5.
When is it windiest at Sand Spring Campground?
Year-round, wind at Sand Spring Campground typically builds after noon. In July it peaks around 7 PM, averaging 13 mph with 17% of those hours windy, while mornings average 4 mph.
Does it snow at Sand Spring Campground?
Yes, in most winters. NOAA's HRRR model puts Sand Spring Campground at about 32 inches of snow a winter, falling on about 23 days. That is the average of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 winters.
How much rain and snow does Sand Spring Campground get?
December is the wettest month (1.9 in.), out of about 13.2 in. a year. The wet season runs from Oct 16 to Jun 3, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable precipitation. That stretch brings 80% of the year's precipitation.
How does Sand Spring Campground weather compare with Pine Mountain Observatory?
Pine Mountain Observatory sits 1,349 ft higher, 7.4 miles away. Its summer highs average 5°F cooler and its winter lows 1°F milder than Sand Spring Campground.
How smoky does Sand Spring Campground get in fire season?
NOAA's HRRR-Smoke model gives the area around Sand Spring Campground an average of 18 smoky days a fire season from 2021 to 2025. On each of those days, smoke held the air quality index at about 75 or higher for at least three hours. About 27 more days a season had lighter smoke.
What kind of place is Sand Spring Campground?
Sand Spring is a small, primitive Forest Service campground and wildlife-viewing site in the Fort Rock area of the Deschutes National Forest, southeast of Pine Mountain. An unseen spring feeds a fenced pond ringed by sagebrush and dry pine forest, and it draws wildlife from miles around.
What is Sand Spring Campground weather like in November?
November at Sand Spring Campground averages a high of 45°F and a low of 24°F, with 1.4 in. of precipitation over about 7 wet days. Afternoon wind averages 9 mph.
More about Sand Spring Campground weather
Guides that explain the weather here and nearby
Data sources and methods
- Monthly temperatures and precipitation: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
- Fog, cloud, wind, sun, and comfort by hour and month: NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from May 2016 to May 2026.
- Daily records and recent months: NOAA HRRR analyses, including its hourly precipitation.
- Nearby comparisons and regional rankings use the same hourly HRRR summaries for every destination in the region.
- Alerts: National Weather Service.
- All statements on this page are computed from these datasets, apart from the “What shapes the weather” guide, which cites its sources inline.
- USDA Forest Service, Sand Spring (accessed 2026-10-29)
- USDA Forest Service, Deschutes NF - Fort Rock Area (accessed 2026-10-29)
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