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Admittedly, though I’m not a fan of cloudy, cool, temperate oceanic climates - it’s worth repeating that Portland has a better of a climate that points north (Seattle, Vancouver…etc). There is actually at least some semblance of a summer with warm temps in Portland, and I think summers are quite nice as sunshine is abundant in Portland in summer.
Winters on the other had are not so nice. The low sun hrs, cold temps, heavy pecip and many periods of changeable and disturbed weather in the cold season (Nov – March) in Portland. The local forecast for the Portland area for the next 7 days are typical of why I would struggle in this city:
To me there is only one place to be from November to March – in subtropical climates. Compare the next 7 day forecast in a subtropical climate (a city data favorate - lol):
Portland is actually fairly decent for its latitude. It's not on the coast and so doesn't get the full moderating effect of the sea which means warmer summers and slightly cooler winters.
I'd rather be in Portland than Fargo, ND from November to March
Portland is actually fairly decent for its latitude. It's not on the coast and so doesn't get the full moderating effect of the sea which means warmer summers and slightly cooler winters.
I'd rather be in Portland than Fargo, ND from November to March
Or anywhere in Northern New England. Montreal is at about the same latitude and gets less sunshine. For its latitude and being non-arid, Portland does quite well in both summer temps and year around sunshine.
I'd much prefer Portland over the northern Oregon Coast anytime of the year. The Oregon Coast, especially the northern part, has rather unpleasant weather.
I'd give Portland Oregon a solid A in the weather and climate category! Ah... what a refreshing feeling one gets after all that rain. The rain cleans up the air, benefits the plants and the soil. Summers are nice because they usually don't get too hot. A solid 4 season city is what this place is. One of the best climates in the entire world!! A.
C+. Summer looks nice, although a little drier than I would prefer. Winter drags the climate down. A lot colder and gloomier than I'm used to. My memories of Portland in winter were of grey skies, but not as bad as Seattle.
You must be spoiled by your mild winter temps. I think highs from 45F to 50F in winter are pretty decent, especially combined with lowish std deviation in winter temps of around 6F. You can pretty much depend on temps to be in the 40's in January.
Just checked Wellington, NZ on the bottom of the S. Island and their July high temps are in the low 50's, not a heck of a lot warmer than January high temps in Portland at 46F.
Portland has some amazing natural beauty in the area like Mt. Hood about 50 miles to the east.
You must be spoiled by your mild winter temps. I think highs from 45F to 50F in winter are pretty decent, especially combined with lowish std deviation in winter temps of around 6F. You can pretty much depend on temps to be in the 40's in January.
Just checked Wellington, NZ on the bottom of the S. Island and their July high temps are in the low 50's, not a heck of a lot warmer than January high temps in Portland at 46F.
Portland has some amazing natural beauty in the area like Mt. Hood about 50 miles to the east.
It's all relative. I understand that it has mild winters by your standards, but by NZ standards it is a cold winter. 7.4C/46F is about the lowest maximum we get for a winter and Portland gets 2 months of it as an average. Combined with 65 hours of sun for Dec- less than half what we get in June, and you get a winter that could never be matched here. Very different cloud as well, and it doesn't really rain properly either.
I had a about 3 weeks in Portland in Jan 1982 (Seattle a few years later) and it was a very different winter experience to what I was used to. Not mild in the way that it is here. I really enjoyed it though. It was beautiful, but days like the one in the pic weren't common. The mountains are a lot closer here.
It's all relative. I understand that it has mild winters by your standards, but by NZ standards it is a cold winter. 7.4C/46F is about the lowest maximum we get for a winter and Portland gets 2 months of it as an average. Combined with 65 hours of sun for Dec- less than half what we get in June, and you get a winter that could never be matched here. Very different cloud as well, and it doesn't really rain properly either.
I had a about 3 weeks in Portland in Jan 1982 (Seattle a few years later) and it was a very different winter experience to what I was used to. Not mild in the way that it is here. I really enjoyed it though. It was beautiful, but days like the one in the pic weren't common. The mountains are a lot closer here.
Looks like Portland is the same or warmer than Motueka in all seasons on average except for winter days... even winter nights are the same.
I see it differently. Portland clearly has a warmer summer and first month of fall. Motueka is warmer in every other month. 5C/10F warmer days is a big difference during winter
Motueka, Nelson and other northern towns there are also much sunnier than Portland.
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