Ahhhh Fall...football, cooler temps and beginning of rainy season...

Ahhh, fall, for me it has always signaled the beginning of many things that I love: college football, cooler temperatures, sweaters and boots.  Upon moving to the PNW two years ago, we arrived in August, and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.  I honestly could not believe that this was the same place that everyone was always nicknaming as one of the rainiest places in the US. From around July 4th to September the weather in the PNW is fantastic...think Southern California.  It is nothing but blue skies, little humidity and sunshine until 11PM.  But BOY was I in for a shock around mid/end September, when the weather makes a drastic change, almost over night.

The rain out here is different, you may ask how can rain be different, and I can tell you it is VERY different than a rainstorm in the south.  Rainy season lasts from around Mid/end september until somewhere around March/April/June (depending on the year).  Now, you may say to yourself, HOLY SMOKES, how could anyone live in an environment like that....and I will tell you, it is NOT easy.  Having grown up in the south my entire life, I was used to the wonderful array of weather that mother nature can provide: from tornados to ice storms, most southerns have just about seen it all...and sometimes in the same day!  But I will say that the rain is different here...its a light misting type or rain, that is not quite worthy of an umbrella, but you defiantly need a rain coat (I will do an entire post on this later).  The joke around town is you are not a true Oregonian until you walk about in the rain without an umbrella.  When we first moved here, I couldn't imagine ever walking out in the rain without an umbrella/jacket and rain boots...but I can tell you, I have done it now!  Since the rain out here is different, AND since it rains practically 24/7 for 6 months, you get tired of hauling around an umbrella with you.  You can call me a true oregonian now, for 6 months of the year I wear my rain jacket pretty much every day, accompanied with my Hunter Rainboots (y'all these are amazing, you HAVE to get you a pair).

Now some have asked me, does it rain EVERY day for 6 months, the answer is NO. But it does rain about 95% of the time.  There are some days that it is sunny and beautiful (much like the south), but it typically does not last all that long, maybe a day or two. Then it is right back to the rainy, misty,cloudy and cold.  The temperatures are fairly mild, typically in the 50's most days. But its a VERY different 50 degrees... Its a damp and cold, almost chilling to the bone type of cold.  Now I am sure you are all thinking how on EARTH has this southern girl survived in this weather for two years...simple, even though the weather is crappy in the fall/winter...it does not stop the world as we know it from going on here in Oregon.  Everyone still rides their bikes, goes for runs, goes wine tasting. The weather does not inhibit them from living their lives....which is nice and refreshing.  AND it doesn't hurt either that they have some of the MOST amazing clam chowder and dark beer that I have ever tasted. Those two alone can make any cold/damp/rainy day seem brighter!

I would recommend to anyone visit the PNW during the rainy season, it gives you a WHOLE new appreciation for sunshine and warm weather.....

Our first rainy season in Oregon 2012

Until next time y'all,

Emily