Living in Portland

Portland has four distinct seasons but none of them are extreme. Summer temperatures average around 80 degrees but do go over a 100 for one or two days a year. Overnight temperatures average around 60 degrees. Summer really starts in July and ends in September. This is a 90 day period that typically has very little (and sometimes none) rain fall. October is usually a very nice month with mild temperatures and sunny days.

Winter starts in November and lasts until March. Temperatures are usually in the low 40s. It will get below freezing several times and often into the 20s for a day or two. It rains a lot during these four months (good time for a quick vacation South). Let’s talk snow. Yes it does happen but not every Winter. In the last 14 years we have had one really good snow storm (over New Year’s 2004). More common would be a light covering of 1-2 inches that melts off by mid morning. Schools always close at the hint of snow, giving everyone else a good excuse to sleep in as well. We do get icy roads 4-5 times a Winter which are actually more dangerous than snow. February usually has one warm spell where it gets over 60 degrees just to remind us that Spring will come. We always have daffodils in bloom before Easter. Official rain fall is 37 inches per year which means wet days at home but snow in the mountains (and only 1 hour away).

Spring is a beautiful time of year because we have more flowers blooming in May than any other time of year. Temperatures are between 50 and 60 degrees with the rain continuing but more like showers instead of downpours. We also get a few weeks of unseasonably warm weather in the Spring. When people ask me if it rains all the time? This is what I say: No it doesn’t rain all the time but it’s more accurate to say the sun doesn’t shine all the time. We have a lot of cloudy days that contain no rain (and no sun). We often have days that start out raining and end up with blue sky’s and sunshine. Rain in Portland is usually not a torrential downpour, but rather a steady flow of water that is enough to get you wet on the way to the car.