Arctic air in Eugene? (Portland: how much, live, retirement)

[tpmrjd]

I have been thinking of Eugene as my retirement town - I have been there several times now and like it. But I thought winters were chilly and cloudy - as in high temps about 45 and lows about 35. But I have seen frigid temperatures (12 degrees!!) for over a week there now. Is this typical every winter or was this something really unusual? I guess I am wondering how much of this type of weather hits Eugene each winter. Thanks.

[puerco]

This is one of those notorious 'Arctic Blasts' that only strikes every 10-20 years. This is the coldest it's been since 1998, I believe. And still not as bad as the one that hit the entire West Coast in Dec. '90. That blast extended all the way to S. California. Most winters you'll get the drizzly days with lows in the mid-30's - 40's & highs about 10 degrees higher.

[haggardhouseelf]

It's warm and sunny today! The temps in the teens is not typical. ^^ What puerco said.

[tpmrjd]

Thanks to both or you. I knew it was not typical but wondered if this might be a once, twice or 3 times a year occurrence. Good to know that it is more like a once in 10 years occurrence!

[Zachj7]

This last event should have not lasted as long as it did. The cold air just got stuck in the valley, especially at the bottom of the valley. That is why we dipped down to the single digits while Portland stayed in the balmy warm teens at night. I have only been here since last winter... but Eugene's climate is moderated by the pacific. Yes there is a mountain range between the pacific and the Willamette valley, but it is still close enough to the ocean. Last year was also a fluke with all that snow, but it mainly stayed up near Portland because of the arctic outflow from the Columbia river gorge. In the winter its mainly in the upper 30's near 40 at night with highs in the mid upper 40's (rain) clear nights which are rare, you may see upper 20's low 30's at night and in the day it may get near 50...

[Fiddlehead]

I would agree that arctic blasts are by no means the norm, but I have been through several "blue frosts" in my 11 years in W. Oregon. In my experience, such events occur every 2-4 years, last less than a week, and the temp will stay between 10-32 degrees. That is enough to freeze things solid,and to get a bit of snow, but not to be bitter. I actually like them. It is nice to see sunny days and starry nights in winter. The typical winter storms do not allow it.

The averages you quote are pretty right on, but that does not mean cold weather does not occasionally roll through. It does, but it is infrequent and short-lived.