Would you say Oregon has a cold climate? (Portland, Salem: live, versus)

[iPwn]

Sure, the winters are VERY mild for the latitude (especially in the valleys), but summer is short and relatively cool, and most of the state gets quite a bit of snow. Oregon's average temperature is around 50-55F year-round.

I would say Oregon has quite a cold climate, and without the oceanic influence, I would think Oregon would be as cold as Montana.

[puerco]

Yes, but Oregon DOES have the moderating influence of the Pacific that keeps it from getting as cold as Montana. If you're familiar with the USDA's climate zones you will see that Brookings is rated as zone 10- winter lows between 30F-40F. It's the farthest north you'll find zone 10 & you will find many plants that grow hundreds of miles south in California growing in Brookings. I've been in Montana in January & it was the first time I'd ever experienced below 0 temps. (I was born & raised in Portland) In fact it was -30F. I think you'd probably have to go to the top of Mt Hood to find those temps in Oregon. Even the East side of Oregon is milder than that.

[PNW-type-gal]

I would say that "Oregon" can't be held to have a single climate, where you can just average the year's temperatures or rainfall or anything else. Break apart the regions,as the climate is very different.

[delta07]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

I would say that "Oregon" can't be held to have a single climate, where you can just average the year's temperatures or rainfall or anything else. Break apart the regions,as the climate is very different.

This is absolutely true! It's definitely one of the most diverse states in terms of climate and weather.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

I would say that "Oregon" can't be held to have a single climate, where you can just average the year's temperatures or rainfall or anything else. Break apart the regions,as the climate is very different.

I agree. Generally I think that there's a gradient from west to east, maritime to continental. As you move east, the maritime influence loses out to the continental influence until there's virtually no maritime influence by the time you get to the ID border. I think Hwy 97 is the front line in the battle between these two climate regimes. Bend can see pretty big winter temperature fluctuations, and may be relatively warm in the winter based on which regime is winning the battle. On the other hand, Newport is rarely below freezing in the winter and Ontario is rarely very warm in the winter.

Then you throw in all the elevation differences and you get regional climates that vary considerably.

[PNW-type-gal]

Over on the dry side of the Cascades we've still got a maritime influence, simply because ocean-born storms give us our winter snow and provide the Cascade snow pack we need for water. It's not so much a gradient (which implies a gradual shift) in temps as it is a sharp divide provided by the Cascades, especially in high desert Central and Southern Oregon versus the land at the same latitudes on the other side of the Cascades. Although Medford temps and precip are closer to Klamath Falls temps than Salem temps and precips are to Bend's.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

Over on the dry side of the Cascades we've still got a maritime influence, simply because ocean-born storms give us our winter snow and provide the Cascade snow pack we need for water. It's not so much a gradient (which implies a gradual shift) in temps as it is a sharp divide provided by the Cascades, especially in high desert Central and Southern Oregon versus the land at the same latitudes on the other side of the Cascades. Although Medford temps and precip are closer to Klamath Falls temps than Salem temps and precips are to Bend's.

It's definitely complicated, and I didn't mean to imply that it's a consistent gradation from west to east. Just more of a general trend--as you move east the maritime influence decreases. I'm no climatologist, so forgive the imprecision in my terminology.

You're right that there's also a north to south differential, then you throw those crazy Siskiyous in there and it blows up any attempt to generalize climate patterns statewide, which I think was your original point.

[Silverfall]

By most people's standards in the mid-west and east coast we are not a cold state. Go hang out in Chicago in winter with the wind off Lake Michigan freezing your face off and then we're talking cold climate. Compared to the Caribbean we are cold so it depends on what you are asking. Are we cold on a global scale or would most American's consider Oregon cold?

[MisterCobalt]

Summer? Cool? Yeah right. Anything above 80 is too hot.

[imiss24]

It is not cold, I have never worn a jacket in OR and I've lived here for 3 years (unfortunately). The summers can get a little hot but it's not bad cuz there is not much humidity if at all...fall, winter, spring are rainy and just below warm.

I; however, am from MN so I laugh at the people bundled up in 50 degree weather. My reply probably didn't help at all but i'm bored.