If you love a good snow storm, do not move to Portland Oregon:
Submitted by Bruce Hecht:
I personally hope each Winter for a good snow storm, but I usually don't get excited about a lowland valley snowfall when we're still dealing with onshore flow. That means the winds are coming in from the ocean, which has a warming influence on cold air masses from the north. That influence may only reach 500 feet or so above sea level, but usually, with onshore winds, it's enough to keep most of Portland Oregon from seeing widespread snowfall. Last time, after the first front passed, the air wasn't cold enough and the moisture wasn't solid enough to deliver a big snow storm. Sure, there were areas that received some, but more folks saw it above 500 ft and those below were mostly rain showers. The difference being that showers are smaller in coverage, and while they can produce intense precipitation: rain or snow with hail, they tend to be short-lived and don't impact the whole area.