Portland is the largest city in
Oregon, in the United States. Population-wise, Portland is the most populated city in the state of Oregon, and one of the most populated cities of the entire United States. The city was established around the late 1830s, and today, Oregon serves as the official seat of the county of Multnomah.
As the major port within the Willamette Valley, Portland has a convenient location where the Willamette River and the Columbia River meet, in the Pacific Northwest region. The city has also been ranked as one of the most environment-conscious cities in the world, as well as the city with a high quality of life within the United States.
Dubbed 'City of Roses,' Portland's climate is so favorable for growing rose flowers that it has been growing the beautiful flowers for almost a century today. The city is also home to vast lands of natural public parks and hiking trails for all forms of physical activity from picnicking, hiking, and cycling, among many others.
Apart from the parks, Portland has stunning bridges and walk paths that can get as busy as the roads as people bike and walk through them. The scenic surroundings of the city, on top of its eco-friendliness, are at the forefront in attracting visitors from across the globe.
Portland has a vibrant music scene, and even better, a thriving art and theatre scene, providing entertainment and education to its people. Concerts and festivals are held in the Governor Tom McCall Park, set in the beautiful waterfront promenade.
The city of Portland experiences a dry-summer temperate climate, which is classified as Csb under the Köppen climatic classification. The general weather is characterized by winters that are heavily clouded, rainy, and mildly cool, and summers that are warm, moderately dry, and sunny. Portland experiences moderately higher sunshine hours and scantier precipitation, though, as compared to the surrounding areas of the same elevation. Extreme winter and summer weather is rare in Portland, and there are minimal weather hazards.
Summer temperature ranges extend between 73.6°F (23.1°C) and 81.7°F (27.6°C) on the warmest days and 52.3°F (11.3°C) and 59.4°F (15.2°C) on the coldest days. The average precipitation barely goes above 1.2" (30.5mm) per month.
Winter is mildly cold and tolerable. The temperature remains in highs of 48.7°F (9.3°C) and lows of 35.8°F (2.1°C). Occasional snowfall can measure up to 3.3cm at most, and the average precipitation remains 4.8" (121.9mm) per winter month.
Both spring and autumn are short and generally exhibit varying weather.
The peak of the travel period to Portland is during summer, from
May through
August, when the days are warm and pleasant, and moderately dry. Minimal weather-related hazards and interruptions make it an excellent time to tour Portland even late into the night. The period also sees Portland hold most of its festivals and significant events.
The Portland Rose Festival is a popular event in the city, running across weeks between May and
June. Colorful rose decorations, floral parades, and costumes crown the festival, culminating in stunning carnival rides, water sports, and eventually beautiful firework displays. The Oregon Brewers Festival held in June, too, is another major event that has numerous local beer companies display beer samples for tasting, alongside public demonstrations and live music for the public to enjoy.