What to Know About Winters in Newberg

Unless you live outside of the the Pacific Northwest, you’ve likely heard of the Willamette Valley wine region. It‘s our little slice of heaven here in northwest Oregon and home to more than 700 wineries.

Newberg and Dundee, adjacent communities in the heart of this beautiful wine country, are close enough to Portland for an easy trip to the city, but not so close as to be swept up in the metropolitan culture. Our location is ideal, and our growing population is in that sweet spot of having much to offer while maintaining that small-town feel.

If you are considering a move to this area, we welcome you. We know you will love it here!

So, what about the weather?

If your move would bring you from outside the Pacific Northwest, you may have wondered about the weather here - especially the winter weather. If so, then this article is for you!

For starters, the temperatures do occasionally dip down into the teens, and on rare occasions the single digits. But as seen in the graph below, average monthly temperatures are above freezing year round.

About 40 days out of the year, again on average, the temperature will dip below freezing. Most of those days occur in December and January.

Is there a lot of rain?

Typically, leading up to those cold months in December and January is a rainy November. Though December and January each have, on average, about 6 inches of rain, the average for the month of November approaches 7 inches.

Rain can be heavy here, and at times rivals what I grew up with in the midwest. One thing you’ll notice is many here in the PNW, rather than bothering with an umbrella, just accept the fact they might get wet.

Some might call me crazy, but I actually like the rain. My take is there’s no such thing as bad weather - just bad gear and/or bad planning. And I actually miss the good old fashioned thunderstorms like what I grew up with in Missouri. Though a common occurrence in the midwest, out here genuine thunderstorms are extremely rare. I understand for many (OK, for most) that is a good thing.

As for snow…

We do get snow, but not very much. In the lower elevations, there are usually only 1 or 2 ‘real’ snows per year. And some years there’s barely a dusting. Snow that does come might last a day or two, but is often quickly washed away by rain.

And as one would expect, the higher elevations (i.e., the Dundee Hills) do get more snow than the lower elevations. But more often than not, Newberg finds itself in a bubble of 34 degrees and rain while it snows all around us.

All of that could be good or bad depending on your perspective. I happen to love snow and often head to Mt. Hood for more of it. I very much enjoy getting out to snowshoe or do some cross country skiing.

So, if snow is not your thing, you have little to worry about here.

‘Dark and dreary’…

That’s how some describe the winter months in Newberg. I would say that is half right. It does get dark early in the winter. But hey, we’re north of the 45th parallel, so that’s what happens. It’s the trade-off with having longer days in the summer.

But dreary? I don’t think so. Back to the part of planning and having the right gear, a headlamp or flashlight goes a long way.

Granted, Newberg winters are not for everyone, but the beautiful Newberg Springs, Summers, and Falls make it all worth it!

For more information on Winters in Newberg, including some ways to actually enjoy winter, see our recent video below.

And if you are interested in moving to this area and want to see how our team can help, click here.

We’d love to help you make the transition here!