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Local Weather

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Welcome to Monmouth, Oregon, where the sun shines bright and the rain shines brighter. All right, so there's a lot of rain in the Willamette Valley, location of the Western Oregon University, but the Oregon climate cannot be so easily simplified. Weather varies from day to day and mile to mile.
Oregon's weather is strongly influenced by two major factors -- the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountain range. The Willamette Valley, sandwiched between the ocean and the mountains, sits smack dab in the middle of a temperate climate zone. In other words, the weather is mild and rarely veers into hot or cold extremes. Dangerous weather occurrences, such as tornadoes, hurricanes or hailstorms, are very uncommon. Rain, on the other hand, isn't. This is because the westerly winds coming off the Pacific Ocean typically pick up moisture, and a lot of this moisture falls over the campus. Winters are typically damp, rather than icy and cold. Most rainfall occurs from November through March, leaving the summers dry, warm and wonderful. Although temperatures in the 90s are not uncommon, the average summer temperature is in the pleasant range of high 70s to low 80s.
Perhaps the best part of living in the Willamette Valley is the diversity of climates within an easy drive from the campus. Feel like a day of surf and shopping? Drive west for 45 minutes and you will arrive at some of the most spectacular coastline in the word. Or perhaps you are in the mood for snow and skiing. Mt. Hood, two hours to the northeast, will land you in an area for skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. A longer drive to the east will bring you to Bend, Oregon, at the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Bend is a beautiful, energetic city noted for its scenic setting, year-round recreational activities and incredible climate. And that is just the start of what to see in Oregon. Craving the big city life? Portland is 2 hours away and features fantastic restaurants, shopping, alternative culture, and microbrews! If you are over 21, and like the wine scene, the Willamette Valley wineries produce world class Pinot Noir (it's the climate) and a day of wine touring is close at hand.


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