The local climate is a very significant part of many people's decision to look for homes for sale in Vancouver Washington or elsewhere in the region. The climate -- milder and less rainy than that of our neighbors to the north and to the southeast -- adds to the wonderful livability of Vancouver and the surrounding Clark County Washington region. There is just enough change to enjoy the different pleasures that each season brings. And while you may have heard tales about how it "rains all the time" in the Portland Oregon - Vancouver Washington Metro Area, don't believe it. Area residents enjoy many delightful days of sunshine and warmth each year. Winds are usually relatively light to moderate, too (annual average wind speed: 7.9 m.p.h.). Sunshine
According to more than 50 years of data accumulated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Portland area weather, including in Vancouver and other nearby Clark County communities, the sun shines nearly 50% of the time in the region. Even on days when there is less sunshine due to high cloud layers, there may be no precipitation.
Especially during the summer months, June through September, there tend to be long stretches of days with skies that are clear or have big, tufted white clouds floating in a sea of blue. Especially in July and August, there may be little, if any, rain. Wonderful, sunny, even hot days followed by splendid, warm evenings --often with scarcely a whisp of wind -- are often the norm. And since at the peak of summer, the sun does not fully set until 9:00 p.m. to nearly 10:00 p.m., the outdoor pleasures of this beautiful season can be enjoyed late into the evening.
As the seasons change from spring into summer and summer to fall, there are more and more cloudy days. And because of the nearness of the ocean, Clark County and elsewhere in the Portland Oregon - Vancouver Washington Metro Area also can have a high layer of marine clouds that may or may not burn off as the day grows warmer. Visitors often wrongly perceive this marine layer as a sign of possible rain.
Precipitation
Locals love the gentle rain. It keeps the forests green, the gardens growing. And the myth of frequent rain seems to be one all Pacific Northwesterners take pride in, another proof, perhaps, of their unique and hearty character. They usually walk about in the rain without umbrellas or raincoats, showing slight amusement at visitors and newcomers who pop them out at the slightest drop of skyborn wetness.
In fact, however, the area's average annual precipitation -- 36.3 inches -- is less than such cities as New York, Boston, Miami, and Atlanta. This average precipitation is much less than the 58 to 67 inches per year in America's ten most rainy cities, all in the southeastern part of the US, and the first city in the Pacific Northwest to appear on this list is Olympia, WA, at #24! (Source: LiveScience.com, 2007). Further, when it does rain in the Clark County Washington area, it is often a mist rather than a big downpour.
More than 50% of the area's annual precipitation occurs during the winter months of November, December, January, and February, the same months when other parts of the country are being deluged by snow storms. A little more than 30% of the year's rainfall comes during the spring: in March, April, and May, as well as in October. Only about 5 inches of rain falls during the summer months of June, July, August, and September.
Yes, it sometimes snows in Vancouver Washington and the surrounding area, mostly at higher elevations (for example, above 500 feet) but not every year. Average snowfall in Clark County is 6.5 inches. When it does snow, it usually melts quickly. Occassional ice storms cause things to nearly shut down, usually for a day, maybe two. More commonly such ice events occur in the Columbia River Gorge. In many years residents of the region's larger cities and towns experience little, if any, colder weather, but history has shown that winter storms with more snowfall do at times occur, though rarely. Even so, these snowy, slippery events are generally not very long-lasting, providing a winter wonderland for a few weeks or so, perhaps longer at higher elevations.
Of course, even in years with no snow on the valley floor where Portland and Vancouver are located, there will nearly always be plenty in the nearby Cascade Mountains. Even in the summertime, there is often snow atop towering Mt. Hood, known for its year-round skiing opportunities, and local weather reports include mention of the "freezing level" even on hot summer days.
Temperatures
Summer temperatures are commonly in the mid 70s to mid 90s by day, and mid 50s and 60s by the wee hours of the morning. The hottest time of day is usually late afternoon. Very high humidity is not common, which adds to the comfortable climate conditions. Winter temps most commonly range in the 30s and 40s, perhaps low 50s, during the day, and 20s to 40s at night. While not common, summer temps in the high 90s, even 100 degrees, do occur, just as in the winter there may be high temperatures in the 20s with lows in the teens.
Summer winds are commonly in the 6 to 8 mph range. Areas on the east side of the Portland Oregon - Vancouver Washington Metro Area, such as at higher eleveations in Camas Washington or adjacent Washougal, tend to get more wind than other locations, especially in the winter when the wind tends to come from the east/southeast. Wind is most common in the Columbia River Gorge area, where it makes for some of the best wind-surfing in the world, as well as contributes to some of the region's worst winter weather. Occassional wind storms do occcur, primarily in the winter months, with winds perhaps as strong as 50-65 mph, and in rare instances even higher on the Pacific coast. The area has a couple of times (Jan 2007 and also in 1972) experience small "freak" tornados, extremely rare in the Pacific Northwest, that caused some damage, more so in 1972.
Carol Sundstrom, M.A., ABR, e-Pro, and Your Guide to Good Living in Clark County Washington! COLDWELL BANKER BARBARA SUE SEAL PROPERTIES Vancouver Square at The Mall (360) 449-4364 or (360) 513-5067 carolsundstrom@cbseal.com
