Brookings, Oregon - what areas get less fog and what areas are warmer? (Astoria: theater)

[natalien]

Hi,

Can someone tell me which areas in Brookings get less fog? Also, do some areas in Brookings tend to have warmer temperatures that the others?

Thanks,
Natalie.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

There is a direct correlation between proximity to the ocean and temperature:

1. Close to the ocean: least amount of diurnal and annual variation -- coolest days, warmest winter nights, most fog, virtually seasonless.

2. More than two miles from ocean: increasing degree of both diurnal and annual variation -- warmer summers days with less fog, colder winter nights with more frost; some amount of seasonal definition.

So the warmest winter nights are close to the ocean while the warmest summer days will be farther away...outside the so-called "banana belt" -- up on Gardner Ridge, and "upriver" in the Chetco and Winchuck River Valleys. The Chetco River Valley also gets the most heat boost from the Chetco Effect, but that is not a common enough phenomenon to be a deciding factor.

[natalien]

Thank you for your most helpful response, Brenda. May I ask you where is the approx. border of the "banana belt" north of Brookings on the hwy 101?

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by natalien

Thank you for your most helpful response, Brenda. May I ask you where is the approx. border of the "banana belt" north of Brookings on the hwy 101?

Ah...this is a question of some contention among local gardeners. There is a long general "banana belt" that extends on the ocean side of Hwy. 101 as far north as Gold Beach, but most of the really tender plants don't grow throughout that strip. The best of the best, the nearly frost-free section of Brookings -- Sunset Zone 17 -- is created by an outflow of the Chetco River that is barricaded on the north end by Chetco Point. That puts the northern end of the REAL banana belt around Center St. in the middle of town. Many locals cite either the Redwood Theater or the Post Office as the northern end of the banana belt. The old part of town down around the library probably has the area's best mesoclimate in terms of frost protection. As you head north of Chetco Point, the coast (and Hwy. 101) quickly veer from a southerly exposure to a more southwesterly-to-westerly one, which provides less protection from the ocean winds. On the south side of the river in Harbor, you'd be getting out of the banana belt once you get south of Pedrioli Drive or so.

[onlyonejudy]

wow - brenda-by-the-sea really knows Brookings.......

[JGC97]

If I could, I would move to Brookings. I was there in 2007 and 2008. I love that area and the entire little town. It is exactly what I imagine a seaside town should be. I don't know what the winters are like but Summers are beautiful.

[Mr.SmithW]

The answer is none.. I lived on the Oregon coast for 4 years.. It is hit or miss. It just depends which way the wind blows. I was living on Cape Perpetua and there was a great deal of foggy days, as well as periods where there was perfect sunny weather.

If you hate fog, may I suggest moving to Baja California or the East Coast? Sadly, the Pacific Coast of the USA is plagued with fog from Washington all the way to Central California. The ORegon coast gets a good deal more than many places.

If you want less fog move inland a bit. Maybe Astoria would be a better option, as it is situated on a bay and not directly on the ocean. Also, Astoria is a sizable town. You really may get cabin fever being all the way out in some of those small Oregon coastal towns. Just ask me, I lived outside of Yachats for 4 years.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by Mr.SmithW

Just ask me, I lived outside of Yachats for 4 years.

Which provides a very poor point of comparison with Brookings. The climate in Brookings is much more akin to Mendocino or Pacifica than it is to Yachats.

[natalien]

Thanks to all for your comments. And a special "thank you" to Brenda. I hope you don't mind a few more questions about the Brookings' climate. How cold does it get in a winter up on the Gardner Ridge, Harbor Hills, and other hills/mountains there? Does it snow a lot on the mountain range? Or is the climate there only slightly different compared to the "banana belt" area?