Is oregon really depressing weather wise? (Portland, Medford: school, live in, price)

[downunda]

Me and my wife are looking at moving from Oz and we want to move to an easy goin place with beautifull scenery... is it really that wet and overcast for months in Oregon?

[Larry Caldwell]

I heard my first "Does it ever quit raining around here?" of the season just yesterday. If we have a wet spring, the refrain will go on for the next 3 months. As long as you are willing to go outside and get rained on, the rain is not a problem. If you are like the Wicked Witch of the West and melt if you get wet, it will be a problem.

[mamh]

I agree with Larry the weather is real easy to take..You just have rain coats for warmer rainy days and colder rainy days and learn to layer.
I garden in winter and yes get a bit damp but its still easy to take..
come and enjoy and play in the rain with us.

[PNW-type-gal]

If you are from the school of thought that says mostly cloudy or overcast skies and frequent drizzle in the late fall, winter and early spring are depressing then: yes. Because it does cloud over and drizzle (rarely torrential tropical-style rain) through much of the winter, sometimes for weeks. So if you are starting from the assumption that that style of weather is depressing, yes it will be.

If your ideal weather is sunny, dry, warm and cloudless, then no part of Oregon will give you the weather you want, and you need to head to Southern California or Arizona or Nevada, which will be closest to that.

[Silverfall]

Yes it is wet and overcast for months. As others have stated, it really is a psychological thing for most people. You have to embrace the rain. If you don't, you will probably get depressed in Oregon.

Beautiful scenery comes with a price. Lakes and rivers don't fill up by themselves

[FVWinters]

We do have a wet season. Generally the rain starts in mid-late September and is brief. The spells of bad weather then don't last long. Starting in late October or early November, the extended spells of rainy weather truly set in, sometimes lasting for weeks at a time. And it can be very depressing. Attitude control is very important; the rainy season can last clear 'til mid April or even May but such an extended period of yuck is fairly rare.

So what we get in exchange for clouds and drip fit to make even Job lose his temper is:
1. A riot of green that carries until August. Our scenery is as beautiful as it is because of the slop we endure for as much as five to six months at a stretch.
2. A summer season to die for. I have seen 75 consecutive days with not only no rain but no clouds. If that went on all year we'd be as dry as the Simpson Desert.
3. An agricultural powerhouse that is second only to California for row crops and fruit trees.

You get used to it and with proper clothing - which is readily available in any decent outdoor store - can enjoy many outdoor activities.

[Hawk J]

No, yesterday was sunny, about 70, no wind. It was a reel nice day.
Here at 2000', i get at least partial sunny days fairly often.

Our forests & waterways need the rain, snow to flourish. It helps with Forest Fire Danger.
Sometimes the fishin' is good ona rainy day.

The anadromous fish need the rain, to spawn.

[Zombiestare]

I don't understand whats depressing about clouds and rain.

You know what is depressing? Constant sun and heat. In Phoenix, no one cares what the weather men have to say. You wake up every morning knowing its going to be 100 and sunny. Every morning! Ug. I'm getting depressed just thinking about it.

Its been cloudy / raining for weeks here in Corvallis. But the weather every day is different. Cold / Warm / Drizzy / Cloudy but dry / Random sun break-through / Rainshowers....

This morning the sun broke and we went out and sun bathed. Felt wonderful. IMO, the weather here is great, makes me appreciate the sun more, and is rather uplifting.

So, in conclusion, your mileage may vary, depending on how traumatized your local climate has made you.

[OregonCoast2011]

Actually, not all of Oregon is so wet and rainy. It depends on where you live in Oregon. As I lived throughout all of Oregon my whole life I can tell you that if you want a climate for the most part that is dry, warm summers and lots of sun then choose Southern Oregon. Medford, Ashland Grants pass area...Rogue Valley. While Portland gets annual rainfall of 40-60 inches a year, Southern Oregon gets only 20 inches!

[1208]

It can be. 6 months of constant overcast days and frequent rain definitely takes its toll on some people. Others it doesn't bother, but it seems to me like the collective mood seems to improve drastically when spring finally rolls around and the sun is out and shining. Like everyone seems to wake up a little and become more lively and happy.