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Old 05-12-2008, 11:01 PM
 
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I was in Chicago last year for Christmas visiting some friends....very cold. I am curious as to how Portland winters compare to those in the midwest.
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Old 05-13-2008, 06:06 AM
 
Location: Tolland County- Northeastern CT
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Portland's winters will on average be milder then the upper Midwest- Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Detroit, Des Moines; yet slightly colder then Columbus, and Indianapolis, and considerably colder then St. Louis or Kansas City.

Portland is rated a zone 6- about the same as Chicago. Portland's coastal location allows the ocean to moderate some winter cold and summer heat, compared to areas further inland. Portland may receive more snow on average (though in recent years this may vary) due to the proximity to the Atlantic with coastal winter storms and 'nor' easters', which can bring large amounts of snow.

Portland's climate however on average is milder then 30 years ago.

Southern New England- Connecticut, Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts-especially coastal locations will be milder then Chicago. South coastal New England is rated a zone 7-about the same as New York City, Washington DC, Louisville KY and the upper border states of the mid south.

Last edited by skytrekker; 05-13-2008 at 07:01 AM..
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Old 05-13-2008, 09:17 AM
 
Location: Maryland's 6th District.
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Portland will average about 20F warmer in the winter, but receives 2x-3x the amount of snow. You won't have to worry about a standing air temp. of -15F or a windchill of -25F to -30F for days in a row.

Where in the MidWest the winter-time daily high hovers around 0F, out here it usually stays in the 20'sF.
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Old 05-13-2008, 11:22 AM
 
Location: Gorham, Maine
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Be careful, Portland's climate is more temperate than the northern part of the state. I can't tell you how many folks see the national weather map and the Caribou temperature and think that is an accurate temperature for the rest of the state - it can vary by 20-30 degrees. My wife works in Bridgton (we live in Gorham) and the Fryeburg temperature can be 15 degrees colder than Gorham/Portland even though it only 40 miles away.
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Old 05-13-2008, 12:33 PM
 
Location: Laguna Woods, CA
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Portland is most definitely more moderate than inland communities. The biggest problem with Portland during the winter months especially in downtown and in the peninsula area is the accumulation of snow on the streets. It builds up along the sides and creates really narrow passages.

Last edited by L-88; 05-13-2008 at 01:24 PM..
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Old 05-17-2008, 08:50 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L-88 View Post
Portland is most definitely more moderate than inland communities. The biggest problem with Portland during the winter months especially in downtown and in the peninsula area is the accumulation of snow on the streets. It builds up along the sides and creates really narrow passages.

Do they plow regularly in Portland? Are the main streets kept relatively plowed in the winter, or is snow allowed to accumulate (as indicated above)?
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Old 05-17-2008, 10:13 PM
 
Location: 43.55N 69.58W
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They plow/ treat the the roads before, during and after the intitial storm has blown through. The streets may be narrow due to accumulation, but you can always get through. They have to allow for emergency vehicles. Unless you ride a Huffy, you'll get through.
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Old 05-19-2008, 08:53 AM
 
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The streets are always plowed. If they are narrow, its usually due to vehicles parked on the sides.
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Old 05-19-2008, 07:20 PM
 
Location: Gorham, Maine
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The difficulty Portland has in keeping it's streets clear is due to the amount of cars that are left on the street and not moved. Sometimes they are towed, but not every storm has a parking ban and sometimes the small storms ice over and become a problem from December on. You mainly see this downtown and in the Old Port, it's not an issue off the peninsula.
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Old 05-19-2008, 11:47 PM
 
Location: Maryland's 6th District.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WhoFanMe View Post
The difficulty Portland has in keeping it's streets clear is due to the amount of cars that are left on the street and not moved. Sometimes they are towed, but not every storm has a parking ban and sometimes the small storms ice over and become a problem from December on. You mainly see this downtown and in the Old Port, it's not an issue off the peninsula.
Cars got towed during every parking ban in my neighborhood (Park Side) over this winter.

Yeah, all of the 'little' snow storms would have the snow pile up and pile up and pile up while the streets got narrower and narrower.
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