Oregon Weather (Portland, Eugene, Salem: tornado, earthquakes, camp)

[Sir Andrew]

What's the weather generally like in Oregon? Does it have extreme weather a lot (i.e. blizzards, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.)? Where's the best part to live in Oregon weather wise?

[backdrifter]

Good weather is very subjective, but Oregon generally does not get much extreme weather. Since it is a place on Earth, it is not immune to natural disasters, but it's definitely less prone to them than other areas.

[backdrifter]

Western Oregon (West of the Cascade Mountains) is very mild at low elevations with cold/rainy winters/falls and sunny/dry springs/summers. Eastern Oregon I am less familiar with, but it tends to be colder in the winter and cooler in the summer, and can get some snow.

Southern Oregon has the grey drizzly winters/falls of the rest of Western Oregon, but summers are hotter, drier, and start sooner. It's technically a Mediterranean climate similar to much of California, but with generally wetter winters.

That's a start for you.

[Candle]

Tornadoes can happen although very very rarely.

Blizzards are common in some areas east of the Cascades and in the Cascades themselves.

If I could choose anywhere to live in Oregon based solely on weather, it would be around Enterprise in NE Oregon. They have warm summers and are not as dry as the rest of eastern Oregon. Winters are moderately cold and reasonably snowy. There's not really anything going on there though besides farming.

Most areas in eastern Oregon have average highs in July and August around 85, some even in the low 90s.

Government Camp would also be interesting to live in for a few years for the weather. But again...not much going on besides business related to skiing.

[pw72]

Originally Posted by Candle

Tornadoes can happen although very very rarely.

Blizzards are common in some areas east of the Cascades and in the Cascades themselves.

If I could choose anywhere to live in Oregon based solely on weather, it would be around Enterprise in NE Oregon. They have warm summers and are not as dry as the rest of eastern Oregon. Winters are moderately cold and reasonably snowy. There's not really anything going on there though besides farming.

Most areas in eastern Oregon have average highs in July and August around 85, some even in the low 90s.

Government Camp would also be interesting to live in for a few years for the weather. But again...not much going on besides business related to skiing.

Really? Enterprise? I don't know if I would agree with that.

I think west/central Oregon is the best. Maybe even Medford. Eugene gets a lot of rain, but is usually somewhat warmer than Portland/Salem. Snowfall is rare, although one year I lived there we had a foot on New Year's Day...fortunately it all melted within two days.

Medford, as a poster mentioned, is more like Northern Cali. But winters can be chilly and dark. I will say that Medford has the warmest and sunniest weather west of the Cascades.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by Sir Andrew

What's the weather generally like in Oregon? Does it have extreme weather a lot (i.e. blizzards, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.)? Where's the best part to live in Oregon weather wise?

Oregon is a mild climate state.

As to the best weather, that's simply a matter of opinion. I love the foggy/rainy coast and the clear central Oregon skies. Other people like the valley weather...

[Candle]

I wouldn't say Oregon as a whole has a mild climate. Places east of the cascades like Meacham and Seneca have gotten below -40 pretty frequently.

The official record low temp in Oregon belongs to Seneca with -54 (1933). Although Paulina Crater had an unofficial reading at -60. (1962)


Seneca cold records by month-- also Rome, Pelton Dam, Brookings, and others' hotness records

Look at those hot records too.

[Oregonbeachlover]

We rarely have extreme weather, but there was a tornado watch recently in the Salem area. Crazy. As I have learned here, weather interpretation is subjective. I think a person has to experience it for themselves. I think the Willamette Valley weather is very temperate and mild. I also love the climate on the Oregon coast. Winters may be the hardest to get through for some, but fall is gorgeous (all the colors) and mild, spring is beautiful (all the flowers and blooms) and mild, and in my opinion, the summers are the best in the entire country.

[puerco]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Western Oregon (West of the Cascade Mountains) is very mild at low elevations with cold/rainy winters/falls and sunny/dry springs/summers. Eastern Oregon I am less familiar with, but it tends to be colder in the winter and cooler in the summer, and can get some snow.

Southern Oregon has the grey drizzly winters/falls of the rest of Western Oregon, but summers are hotter, drier, and start sooner. It's technically a Mediterranean climate similar to much of California, but with generally wetter winters.

That's a start for you.

Just a correction. Eastern Oregon summers are hot, not cooler than Western Oregon. Sounthern Oregon has the best weather. Mediterranean in Roseburg and Medford and extremely wet but subtropical in Brookings.

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by puerco

extremely wet but subtropical in Brookings.

Brookings is a far cry from "subtropical." Summer highs are typically in the upper 50's to lower 60's with considerable fog. Mornings and evenings are uncomfortably chilly even in July and August. On many days in July and August you can see smoke coming from the chimneys of people's wood stoves. Brookings' climate is quite similar to parts of Cornwall, England such as St. Austell except that summers here are very dry.