January in Portland: expect compromises
Hardest · 2/10At 4°C (39°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 241 mm: only almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.
That is 2/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Portland — 8 points higher on the same scale.
February in Portland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3/10Expect 4°C (39°F) in February. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
148 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 3/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Portland — 7 points higher on the same scale.
March in Portland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.8/10March averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 155 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 6 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? August scores 6.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April in Portland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.7/10Expect 8°C (46°F) in April. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
167 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 4.7/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Portland — 5.3 points higher on the same scale.
May holds up well in Portland — 5th best month
Good · 7/10May averages 12°C (54°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 110 mm — wet for this destination — but about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? August scores 3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
June holds up well in Portland — 4th best month
Good · 8.2/10Temperatures hover around 15°C (59°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 78 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.5 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 8.2/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Portland — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.
July ranks 2nd of 12 for Portland — one of the best windows
Best window · 9.9/10At 20°C (68°F) this is comfortable city weather in July, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
At just 8 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.2 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Portland at 9.9/10 (2nd of 12), just behind August at 10/10.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
August in Portland — the year's strongest window
Best window · 10/10August averages 21°C (70°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Expect 18 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.9 daylight hours.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Portland at 10/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.
September is one of the strongest months in Portland (3rd)
Best window · 9.1/10September averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Expect 37 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.3 daylight hours.
A 9.1/10 puts this among the year's best months in Portland (3rd of 12); only August scores higher, at 10/10.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
October in Portland: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.8/10Temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
114 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 4 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 5.8/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Portland — 4.2 points higher on the same scale.
November in Portland — off-season conditions
Hardest · 2.4/10Expect 5°C (42°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 238 mm: only almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.
That is 2.4/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 10/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Portland — 7.6 points higher on the same scale.
December in Portland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2/10December averages 5°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
287 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 10/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? August scores 8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
