Corvallis (townhomes, safe area, living)

[Dcurrie]

We are considering a move from Colorado Springs which offers almost daily sunshine to Corvallis and are concerned about lack of sunshine. Can anyone give an idea of the level of sunshine? Thanks

[jjpop]

Dcurrie, you will absolutely not have daily sunshine in Corvallis from about late October to June. You will have beautiful days here and there, and probably about 4 periods of a week or two during those 6 months when it will be absolutely gorgeous. But the rest of the time--socked in. Clouds. All day rain.

In exchange you will get perhaps the best summer you have ever experienced. Temps in the 80s and 90s and bone dry (maybe 20-30% humidity), but still all the greenery. And when the mercury hits 100 it's only a 45 minute drive to the coast where it will take only an hour of walking on the beach to cool your core, since it may only be 60 degrees.

Hope this helps.

[skytrekker]

I spent some time in Corvallis
the climate is mild temperate oceanic- with sunny, warm very pleasant summers, that are enchanting. This weather lasts roughly from May to October. The great Pacific storms begin to arrive by November- with about 1-2 days in 10 having sunshine till April. although not nearly as cold as Colorado, the drizzle, and rain and constant overcast can at times become depressive.

The weather is basically the same as in the British Isles- warm pleasant summers and cloudy rainy mild winters.

[Deserter]

Western Oregon summer weather is much better than Britain's. Unless you're talking about actually on the coast of OR. That would be a lot like British summer weather. Although Britain has been having some freakishly good weather in recent summers. Oregon's summers are much drier, though, warm weather in Britain tends to be muggy.

I've been planning my move to Oregon by thinking it's like English weather except with an actual summer.

[skytrekker]

Just to clarify Deserter

but according to The Koppen and updated Trewartha climate zones- western Oregon. which includes the coast and Willamette Valley; these areas have a Type 'DO' climate known as temperate Oceanic- meaning a climate that gets the vast majority of its weather systems off an ocean. The British Isles have the same climatic designation. Also in the summer western Oregon may be slightly warmer then London. London is nonetheless rated a USDA zone 8-9, while Corvallis is also zone 8-9.

Also the British Isles do not get 'humid' in the summer like the southeastern USA or even the northeast. The east coast of the USA (humid continental to humid subtropical further south) is a totally different kinds of climate then that of the British Isles . I will agree that western Oregon and the British Isles are 'damp' for 6 months out of the year.

You are correct in saying that eastern Oregon is a dry northern arid area. The Cascades separate Oregon from the so called 'wet' zone west of that range, from the 'northern desert' in the east.

[Marko3]

Most of the questions I've noticed about Oregon are about the rain and the weather, so you're in good company wondering about it. Let me just say that it doesn't rain nonstop for months on end, but it is overcast and drizzly, and there are sometimes weeks at a time where you won't see the sun in the winter time. Towards the end of winter, around March, you'll get the occasional sunny day, and everyone gets excited and talks about the weather and how nice it is, because when it's sunny in Oregon, it's absolutely beautiful. After a long overcast winter, most of us Oregonians are looking forward to the summer. As I look outside today it's sunny, yesterday it was raining and sunny at the same time, rainbows out all over the place. Tomorrow its supposed to rain in the morning, and then be sunny in the afternoon. So you can see the slow transformation from cloudy and overcast all the time, to lots of sun in the summer months. For me, I think it makes me appriciate the sunny days and warm summer months more. Between late April through late September, it's going to be sunny most of the time. Weather moves through fast due to the Pacific winds and jet stream, so even in the summer you may have an overcast sky in the morning, or some fog that burns off by 10AM and then it's sunny and hot after that. It's a trade off, the rain gives us the beautiful green hills and waterfalls that Oregon is famous for. So the most accurate level of sunshine that I can give you after years of living here would be this.
Jan: Sunshine very rare, cool to cold temps, mountain snow, and occasional valley snow down to 500ft-100ft elevation that doesn't last very long. Wettest month
Feb: Similar to January, overcast and rainy
March: Mostly cloudy with occasional partly cloudy days and some rain.
April: Unpredictable weather, sun and rain on same day, starting to get warmer and more sunny
May: Typically lots of sun and temps in the valleys between 50-80
June: Lots of sun, occasional rain for an hour or a day. Highs 65-85 in the valleys
July: Can get hot, last year over 100 degree temps in July
August: Still very hot and sunny most days Temp 80-100
Sept: Cooling off, still many sunny days, leaves start changing color, starts to get foggy in the morning and burns off by afternoon. Temp 50-70
Oct: Welcome back the rain, overcast sky, lots of grey, few sunny days
Nov: Sun is rare, rain or overcast sky is common. Temp. 40's
Dec: Very wet, lots of clouds, fog, possible snow. Can be windy too.

It doesn't downpour most of the time. Mostly its light rain. I hope this helps a bit.

[Stonecoldharbours]

Thanks for your description of Oregan, are you a native of this state, just curious here?!

[Marko3]

Originally Posted by PghPaNative

Thanks for your description of Oregan, are you a native of this state, just curious here?!

Not a native, I was actually born in Montana, and have lived in Utah, and Texas, but Oregon is where I have lived most of my life, and where I will always consider home.

[Stonecoldharbours]

I thought you were not a native, just had a feeling from your post, for the most part, natives seem to have a more dismil take on things from what I had experienced on here, maybe I am wrong too, but that is something I beginning to see, I could be wrong too! Thanks again!!!

Oh is there a place to stay away from in Corvallis? I seen some pretty homes and townhomes in my price range, but I wonder if they are in safe areas, do not want to make that same mistake twice!

Thank you!!!

[Marko3]

It seems every town no matter how small has its "bad" areas. I'm not to certain of what is perceived as the "bad" areas in Corvallis. Have you checked out the website for their local paper? http://www.gazettetimes.com
They may have police logs and current event stories related to what's going on lately that may be helpful.