Is Bend REALLY that much sunnier than Portland?

[Whome?]

Originally Posted by Dory

We have been here for two years. These are the things a realtor will not tell newcomers: It is a high desert enviroment with long freezing winters where the temps plummet to the teens by 4 pm- no fun for walking 4 months out of the year. The summer heat soars to the 90's- no fun for walking during the day. Honestly, the weather is over rated for enjoying the scrubby outdoors here unless you are some middle aged person who needs sunny weather so you can drive around in your convertable status car trying to look cool while you accumulate skin cancer. You have to drive at least an hour to get into lush and beautiful (wildflowers, trickeling streams, ferns, etc.) areas to hike unless you like lava and juniper, lava and more juniper. River use is limited because navigating it for most people reqiuires more skills than weekenders with families have time to aquire plus you burn up. At least in Portland, summers are magnificent and the outdoors beautiful with quick access to a huge and varied range of outdoor activites. Winters are rainy but I'll take that over finger numbing freezing weather all day long!

Bend is Bend. If you like the desertscape with trees, a ski mountain nearby, golfing and a highly caucasian cultural environment than it will work for you. There are mountains around to explore for hiking and there are rivers, etc. Just know that it is a scrubby enviroment with long, black ice winters, very high costs of living and very limited cultural activities.

Winters in the teens? For four months?

Summers in the 90s?

Compared to the midwest, the weather here sounds like a dream.

Guess it's all relative, huh?

[cjaco]

I agree with PNW-type-gal... it has to do with not only % sunshine but also barometric pressure. Bend is at 3600 elevation and the sun is So much brighter than portland in the winter! Bend's 'sun breaks' are like a mini winter vacation. Also, the clouds are much higher in the atmosphere because all the low cloud crap gets dispersed by the cascades. So I don't pay attention to the 'annual days of sun' per year. To me, it's the strength of the sun that matters. Portland's sun is so filtered out by humid haze, I don't even consider a winter sunny day as counting.
Also, not sure if this matters, but Bend is over 2 degrees latitudes south of Portland. When I lived in Boise (3 more degrees south), this was a huge difference in sun strength too!
Hope this helps! I'm heading for Bend next month and getting out of this willamette valley

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by cjaco

Also, not sure if this matters, but Bend is over 2 degrees latitudes south of Portland. When I lived in Boise (3 more degrees south), this was a huge difference in sun strength too!
Hope this helps! I'm heading for Bend next month and getting out of this willamette valley

Boise is far enough east that is less affected by marine weather - it isn't so much that it is south of Portland rather than east. The Willamette Valley weather is pretty standard from Portland to Eugene (sure there are microclimates, but overall the weather is the same). Boise is much sunnier than Bend.

[cjaco]

Another source I like rather than accuweather, is tripcheck.com You can see webcams all over the state. Often when the weather report says cloudy, the cameras show sunny.

[Thom52]

Bend is terrible weather. Do not move there! 😏

I live way up north where partly sunny means maybe a lighter spot in the gray for a moment during the day.
To me, Bend is all about the sky. Actual texture to the sky rather than boring solid blue for months on end of CA or gray for months like western WA. I have a sister n Bend and bought a house that will be a rental until my wife and I retire there. Only reason I am not there now is no jobs. After 30 years of gray and very short winter daylight, I am ready for a change of pace.
I personally love up punching out of gray and rain as we crest Santiem pass heading to Bend with lots of partial sun to keep it interesting.
Everywhere has trade offs and everyone has priorities. You have to figure out what trade off you can live with.
Dust and instant cold nights is downside of Bend for sure. It is High Desert.