OREGON FARMER 67 



part falling at night, so that disastrous floods are practically unknown. 

 The weather records show but one severe wind, and few injurious 

 hail-storms, which were of a local character. The state is free from 

 tornadoes, earthquakes and electric storms. 



The yearly average number of thunder storms is 8 for Eastern Oregon 

 and 3 for Western Oregon. They usually consist of but two or three 

 flashes and are observed in mountainous districts. Data in the 

 accompanying table is arranged to show the average and range of 

 climatic conditions for the 6 chief sections of the state (page 66). 



The Coast Region. 



The Coast Range has an average altitude of 2,000 feet and parallels 

 the sea at a distance of 30 to 40 miles separating the humid coast 

 region from the semi-humid valleys to the east. The agricultural 

 districts of the coastal plain vary in elevation from near sea level to 

 1,500-2,000 feet. The annual rainfall averages some 77 inches and 

 varies with altitude. 



It reaches a maximum at Glenora of 132 inches and a secondary 

 maximum of 83 inches in the southwest coast hills. There is a high 

 relative humidity and fogs are frequent and the grass is green through- 

 out the year. The chief characteristics of the climate is the strikingly 

 uniform temperature which permits a remarkably long growing 

 season, averaging 265 days, or about 8 months. The season is longest 

 near the shore and decreases with altitude. The temperature along 

 the coast has never h>een higher than 97 degrees or lower than 10 

 degrees above zero. The mean July temperature, 65 degrees, is 

 about the same as at Duluth, Toronto and Montpelier. The mean 

 January temperature, 40 degrees, is the same as that of Vicksburg and 

 Montgomery. There is no snow except on the hills and that goes off 

 in a day or two except on the highest peaks. 



The Willamette Valley. 



Between the Coast and Cascade Ranges lies the great valley of 

 the Willamette which flows north emptying into the Columbia near 

 Portland and has a drainage area of 12,000 square miles. The mean 

 elevation of the floor of this valley is about 200 feet, ranging from 57 

 feet at Portland to 450 feet at Eugene. Rainfall averages about 42 

 inches, similar to that of Springfield, Missouri, and Indianapolis, 

 Indiana. Rainfall decreases slightly as we go up the floor of the 

 valley and increases rapidly going up the mountain slopes to the east. 

 The winter rain is of sufficient abundance to more than saturate the 

 deep soil. There is a few inches of snow some winters but it melts 

 away in a day or two. The growing season is remarkably long, 

 averaging 210 days. The minimum January temperature is similar 

 to that of Chattanooga, Tenn., Lynchburg, Va., or New Haven, Conn. 

 The absolute range of mean temperatue for July is 8 degrees, while for 

 Iowa this is 13 degrees. The average annual number of days above 

 90 degrees is 8 and below 32 degrees is 15. There is about the same 

 percentage of sunshine as in New York state. The climate is moist 



