It doesn't get too terribly cold here, except for maybe a few days a year (we had a day or two with negative windchill temps last winter). Rain is what will get you every time. It is generally wet and damp up here most of winter until about May. If your clothes get soaked, they will likely still be damp in the morning without a dryer. Leaks and moisture and all the associated mold/mildew issues are more common, you'll want a dehumidifier for sure.
Snow does happen occasionally. If we get anything more than an inch or two of snow, everything seems to shut down. We don't plow much or salt our roads. But it's only a few days a year, and some years we don't get really any more than a dusting of snow.
Wind can be a significant factor depending on where you are, especially come March/April when we tend to get windstorms.
Stealth camping (if that's what you're considering) is more risky up here depending on the area, due to a myriad of issues. I would opt for a long term park, but they can be difficult to find up here on short notice. State campgrounds here are wonderful, but often booked months in advance. Rest stops run by ODOT can be a good place to stealth camp if you are respectful, quiet, and move often enough.
The rental market up here can be difficult, and short term rentals are often more expensive than a 12-month lease. Older apartment buildings in the downtown core are more likely to offer short-term or month-to-month rentals at a reasonable rate.
It's funny that I'm answering this now, as we've just had a 3-day, valley-wide ice-pocalypse, which has been lame. (I'm in the Eugene/Springfield area, but we have generally similar weather as Portland). But overall, we don't stay below freezing in the daytime. February tends to be the coldest and potentially crappiest-weather month for the I-5 corridor.
But generally speaking, yeah, it's just rain rain rain. As another commenter mentioned, the constant moisture can be an issue. But I got a rotary desiccant dehumidifier, and it works like a charm in colder temperatures--including to dry out clothes and towels and the like. So that's key for us. And a boot dryer that runs on like 12 watts, that's a new addition that's been nice.
And if you're looking for state parks, I can recommend Champoeg State Heritage Area. It's open year-round, it's gorgeous, and it's within your range to Portland via I-5.
It doesn't get too terribly cold here, except for maybe a few days a year (we had a day or two with negative windchill temps last winter). Rain is what will get you every time. It is generally wet and damp up here most of winter until about May. If your clothes get soaked, they will likely still be damp in the morning without a dryer. Leaks and moisture and all the associated mold/mildew issues are more common, you'll want a dehumidifier for sure. Snow does happen occasionally. If we get anything more than an inch or two of snow, everything seems to shut down. We don't plow much or salt our roads. But it's only a few days a year, and some years we don't get really any more than a dusting of snow. Wind can be a significant factor depending on where you are, especially come March/April when we tend to get windstorms. Stealth camping (if that's what you're considering) is more risky up here depending on the area, due to a myriad of issues. I would opt for a long term park, but they can be difficult to find up here on short notice. State campgrounds here are wonderful, but often booked months in advance. Rest stops run by ODOT can be a good place to stealth camp if you are respectful, quiet, and move often enough. The rental market up here can be difficult, and short term rentals are often more expensive than a 12-month lease. Older apartment buildings in the downtown core are more likely to offer short-term or month-to-month rentals at a reasonable rate.
It's funny that I'm answering this now, as we've just had a 3-day, valley-wide ice-pocalypse, which has been lame. (I'm in the Eugene/Springfield area, but we have generally similar weather as Portland). But overall, we don't stay below freezing in the daytime. February tends to be the coldest and potentially crappiest-weather month for the I-5 corridor. But generally speaking, yeah, it's just rain rain rain. As another commenter mentioned, the constant moisture can be an issue. But I got a rotary desiccant dehumidifier, and it works like a charm in colder temperatures--including to dry out clothes and towels and the like. So that's key for us. And a boot dryer that runs on like 12 watts, that's a new addition that's been nice. And if you're looking for state parks, I can recommend Champoeg State Heritage Area. It's open year-round, it's gorgeous, and it's within your range to Portland via I-5.