Windy City? (Vancouver, Camas, Washougal: house, living, airports)

[hybridbn]

We are moving to Portland/Vancouver area soon. For my job it would be best to live out as far East as possible but I am afraid of the windy weather. It is quite windy in S FL where we currently live but a warm breeze is one thing; a cold blast is another. Also, I hear that same East wind can bring hot weather in the summer.
How frequent are these winds? I am not worried about storms so much. An infrequent event is one thing. I am asking about general windy weather or the venturi effect of the gorge.
What areas can I live in to reduce this? Thanks for any info you can give me.

Hybridbn

[hml1976]

It gets windy here in the winter once in a while, its a cold wind, but I actually kind of like the blustery days. There isn't any hot weather here compared to what you are used to (not even close) and there isn't ANY kind of storm like what you would be used to, you only get a thunderstorm maybe twice a year and it only qualifies barely even as that, blizzards are rare. We moved here from Tennessee nearly two years ago, the rain takes some getting used to but the wind to me isn't that big a deal unless you're planning on living way out on the gorge, like Hood River. Vancouver/Camas/Washougal aren't super windy all of the time, just every once in a while.

[PNW-type-gal]

That's not entirely true - but let's say that the wind storms are usually several decades apart. In 1962 we had the Columbus Day Storm which had peak winds around 110 miles an hour. That was all across the northwest, though, and not related to the Columbia River Gorge. Then in 1995 we had another huge wind storm across the entire area. At my house the wind peaked at 70 mph - it was ugly, though, because it also coincided with a very high water event, there was flooding everywhere and the ground was so wet that many trees fell over.

That's 2 big wind storms 30+ years apart, so not high on the panic-o-meter.

East Vancouver, around Cascade Park, can get some very blustery cold winds out of the Gorge in the winter. Not all winter long, but they do happen. The further away from the Columbia River you live (and out of the hills around Camas) the less wind there is.

[StealthRabbit]

There are sheltered areas between 1-2 miles north of the River to stay out of 'THE BLAST'. (which is significantly dispersed by I-205). I live in the narrowest part of the vortex (Cape Horn / Crown Pt). I wouldn't say there is any significant summer heat from the wind, but usually a nice breeze. There are a few days in Vancouver that will have chilly wind in Winter. That translates to several weeks of wind 30 miles east of I-205.

For most sheltered area, draw a line from LaCamas Lake to intersection of HWY 500 and I-205; and stay north of there (but there are some exceptions within the southerly zone). The cold blast is the miserable element usually ~ a week sometime between Dec 10 and Feb 10. I first lived near I-205 & SR 14 and had occasional freezing rain in that area. (and frozen pipes). Next was just on the east side of Hazel Dell Park (NE 27th AVE and 68th st) THAT was a banana Belt (as I worked at 164th Ave and SE 34th St., now Fisher Landing area, Burr...no more commuting via Motorcycle, as I had done all year-round in Colorado)

There are some annual wind maps that will help you (usually associated with airports). Also check with county extension service (farmer help) for annual temp maps of the region. I prefer a hill and the wind to a cold low spot. (but I'm a prairie kid / WYO / Colorado). Most of Clark county is pretty moderate, the 'cold' wind is focused near the gorge, but, as mentioned, there can be some southerly gales that the coast range can't hold back. + 'pineapple express', warm, wet winter winds from California

[hybridbn]

for your terrific info. I feel much better about Gresham or Vancouver. Anyone need to know anything about S Florida? I am glad to be moving away! Mountain hiking here I come!