How Has The Winter Climate Been Lately? (Portland, Eugene: live, vs.)

[FloatOn]

I have been looking at the weather forecasts for locations around Oregon a bit this past winter - mostly checking out the weather for Portland and the coast. I have often seen stretches of a few days that were supposed to be sunny or partly cloudy and pretty mild temperatures. This seems far nicer than what you typically think of for a PNW winter. How has it actually been this winter and in recent winters? I know the summers are getting hotter and dryer, for the worse. Are winters also getting sunnier, and maybe nicer?

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by FloatOn

I have been looking at the weather forecasts for locations around Oregon a bit this past winter - mostly checking out the weather for Portland and the coast. I have often seen stretches of a few days that were supposed to be sunny or partly cloudy and pretty mild temperatures. This seems far nicer than what you typically think of for a PNW winter. How has it actually been this winter and in recent winters? I know the summers are getting hotter and dryer, for the worse. Are winters also getting sunnier, and maybe nicer?

In my opinion, we are getting more sun during the winters than we used to.

[Metlakatla]

I agree with Sivlerfall, but by the same token, there are always some stretches of sunny and warmish weather during winter. Usually have a week or so of false spring in February. But most of the stage is in some stage of drought, so...

[Cloudy Dayz]

I don't know, it's been pretty cloudy on the coast, not that that is anything unusual. We have only had a few sunny days recently. Sunday was pretty stormy and we got a half inch of rain.

Still though, we are showing as in moderate drought.

[jjpop]

Mild temperatures are pretty much the norm in the winter, particularly compared to MN. Most of the time we are above freezing, but we do get periods of days in a row with lows below freezing (highs rising above freezing), and then every few winters a string of days with highs below freezing.

To me, it's not the temps but the overcast that is the hallmark of PNW weather and that doesn't seem much different this winter than it ever has in the past. We have many more dark, cloudy days in the winter vs. bright, sunny ones. Even if the number of sunny days has increased incrementally over time, I'd still classify our weather as gloomy.

[Silverfall]

It is important to note that Oregon has micro-climates all over the place. So Portland is more gloomy than Salem. I lived up there 20 years ago and immediately saw more sun in Salem than up there. The same is true for the coast. Some cities will get more sun than a neighboring city. because of topography. Portland had so much more morning fog than Salem and some cities on the coast have that as well.

[Hawk J]

Here in southwest Oregon, we had about 3 weeks of winter & about 8" of snow. Snowed only 1 time this winter, except a light dusting.
Now it has been acting like Spring. Some days sunny, some cloudy, small amount of rain.
We need much more rain & some snow. We are in a drought, have been for several years.
Most of the days lately have been in the 50's-60's...nights about 30's-40's.

[Thom52]

Here in Central Oregon I have noticed a lot more intensely windy days, as Climate Chaos ping-pongs back and forth. Many are saying it is the worst ski year they can remember due to bouncing from a blizzard, to mush, then refreezing into an ice pack, rinse and repeat. Many more injuries and deaths due to ice (even with helmets being a thing). And snow pack, other than that claimed by Bachelor (that must be measured at the summit) has been sparse, except for a day after blizzards before it becomes ice or slush.

In the flatlands of Central Oregon it is just plain dry, with official drought conditions going on. Already all the signs of Spring in early March. Reservoirs are not filling up, wells are running dry. Storms are predicted, then they fade into a cloudy or sunny dry day when the day actually arrives.

It is going to be a terrible Summer of dust and fires.

[JackieLovesSun]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

It is important to note that Oregon has micro-climates all over the place. So Portland is more gloomy than Salem. I lived up there 20 years ago and immediately saw more sun in Salem than up there. The same is true for the coast. Some cities will get more sun than a neighboring city. because of topography. Portland had so much more morning fog than Salem and some cities on the coast have that as well.

I googled this to see if I could find a good map, especially of the Willamette Valley. I'm still reading, but feel free to share your favorite!

Originally Posted by Thom52

It is going to be a terrible Summer of dust and fires.

I hope not.

[Those Who Squirm]

In Eugene at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, this winter has been pretty much normal temperature wise. We had about 8" of snow in late December, which usually only happens every few years.

But the rain deficit since the new year is very disturbing. In January we chalked up about 70% of our normally expected amount, and last month less than 20%. For this month so far we are at about normal.

I thought I left this sort of thing behind when I left SoCal.