Burnham
Woods walker
It is an interesting thing, the high variability. As I have noted, about 60 inches annually here at my house.
Portland, about 1500 feet lower in elevation and less than 50 miles west of here, gets about 40 inches. Located on the south to north flowing Willamette River.
The Clackamas River valley at similar elevation to here and just 5 to 20 miles south of us gets about 80 inches. Lots of much higher elevation peaks around it, and it is oriented mostly south to north.
The Bull Run River valley, about 1000-2000 feet higher than here and 10 miles NE of here, gets about 120 inches. Also surrounded by much higher peaks and is oriented east to west.
According to people who study such things, the proximity to higher ground and especially the orientation makes a big difference. East-west drainages capture more of the wet weather off the ocean for longer than the north-south drainages. The mountains also hold up the cloud's movements, and more rain falls in such an area.
Portland, about 1500 feet lower in elevation and less than 50 miles west of here, gets about 40 inches. Located on the south to north flowing Willamette River.
The Clackamas River valley at similar elevation to here and just 5 to 20 miles south of us gets about 80 inches. Lots of much higher elevation peaks around it, and it is oriented mostly south to north.
The Bull Run River valley, about 1000-2000 feet higher than here and 10 miles NE of here, gets about 120 inches. Also surrounded by much higher peaks and is oriented east to west.
According to people who study such things, the proximity to higher ground and especially the orientation makes a big difference. East-west drainages capture more of the wet weather off the ocean for longer than the north-south drainages. The mountains also hold up the cloud's movements, and more rain falls in such an area.
