Why Portland gets so many different kinds of rain
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
It doesn't just rain in Portland — it mists, drizzles, pours and, sometimes, it ices, sleets or delivers moisture via a bomb cyclone.
Why it matters: With rain back in the forecast this weekend, understanding the nuances of our precipitation patterns helps explain why we despise umbrellas, why our yards are so lush and green and why our weather is so dynamic.
Between the lines: Portland gets so many distinct types of precipitation because of the unique geography of our region, according to Rebecca Muessle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland.
- During the winter, we get near-constant moisture coming in off the Pacific.
- Those systems get broken apart, scattered or intensified as they move over the Coast Range, spread over the Willamette Valley and butt up against the Cascades.
- Then there's the Columbia River Gorge, which pulls in cold air and strong winds from the high desert to the east.
The big picture: Given all that, Muessle said her office has no fewer than a dozen different ways to talk about precipitation.
- There's mist, not to be confused with its slightly more robust cousin, sprinkles, both near ubiquitous presences at the coast in the winter.
- Then there's rain — which comes in light, moderate, heavy, downpour and, as Muessle describes its most intense form: "Ok, I guess I actually need to grab an umbrella."
- Lastly, there's the frozen stuff including snow — from showers to blizzards — sleet, graupel and, everyone's least favorite, freezing rain.
The intrigue: Muessle said forecasting for Portland can be equal parts interesting and frustrating, as weather models often fail to pick up on subtle changes and microclimates that can drastically impact the weather.
- "We always need to be able to change our perspective, especially in winter," she told Axios. "We very seldom get bored here."
What they're saying: They say variety is the spice of life and Muessle said the constantly changing forecasts in our region keep things spicy, unlike the Midwest where "you can see the weather coming from a thousand miles away."
- And despite the Pacific Northwest's reputation for gloomy, dark winters, Muessle said the National Weather Service's office here has a decidedly different take on our weather.
- "The only good weather is bad weather," she said. "We call rain liquid sunshine."