The best times to visit Columbia River Gorge for ideal weather are

April 30th to October 14th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Columbia River Gorge Travel Info

Weather in Columbia River Gorge

Temperature

Average temperatures in Columbia River Gorge vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 44th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Columbia River Gorge, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early August where highs are regularly around 93.9°F (34.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 62.2°F (16.8°C) at night.

Columbia River Gorge Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Columbia River Gorge Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Columbia River Gorge Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Columbia River Gorge Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Columbia River Gorge Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 44.1 36.5 30.6
Feb 50.9 40.7 32.9
Mar 58.5 46 35.8
Apr 65.3 51.9 40.4
May 75.3 60.6 47.8
Jun 81.4 67.4 55.2
Jul 91.7 75.4 60.8
Aug 90.6 74.4 60.2
Sep 83 66.5 52.1
Oct 67.8 54.4 43.5
Nov 52.3 42.7 35.1
Dec 43.2 35.6 29.6

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 6.7 2.5 -0.8
Feb 10.5 4.8 0.5
Mar 14.7 7.8 2.1
Apr 18.5 11.1 4.7
May 24.1 15.9 8.8
Jun 27.4 19.7 12.9
Jul 33.2 24.1 16
Aug 32.6 23.6 15.7
Sep 28.3 19.2 11.2
Oct 19.9 12.4 6.4
Nov 11.3 5.9 1.7
Dec 6.2 2 -1.3

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Columbia River Gorge are July, August, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid June. For example, on the week of June 11th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid December with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of December 17th.

When can you find snow in Columbia River Gorge? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Columbia River Gorge.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Columbia River Gorge (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 13% 0 2
Feb 15% 0 1.3
Mar 14% 0 1.3
Apr 8% 0 0.7
May 9% 0 0.9
Jun 6% 0 0.5
Jul 1% 0 0.2
Aug 3% 0 0.2
Sep 4% 0 0.3
Oct 10% 0 1.1
Nov 21% 0 1.8
Dec 27% 0 2.8

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 13 0 5.1
Feb 15 0 3.3
Mar 14 0 3.3
Apr 8 0 1.8
May 9 0 2.3
Jun 6 0 1.3
Jul 1 0 0.5
Aug 3 0 0.5
Sep 4 0 0.8
Oct 10 0 2.8
Nov 21 0 4.6
Dec 27 0 7.1

 

Humidity and Wind

Columbia River Gorge has some very humid months, and slightly dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is July (32.3% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (72.6%).

Wind in Columbia River Gorge is usually calm. The windiest month is July, followed by June and August. July’s average wind speed of around 10.7 knots (12.3 MPH or 19.8 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid June where average top sustained speeds reach 21.1 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Columbia River Gorge.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3.8 Barely noticeable 11 Significant breeze
Feb 4.2 Light breeze 11.9 Significant breeze
Mar 5.7 Light breeze 15.8 Significant breeze
Apr 8.1 Gentle breeze 17.9 Strong breeze
May 9.1 Gentle breeze 18.3 Significant breeze
Jun 10.6 Gentle breeze 19.5 Strong breeze
Jul 10.7 Gentle breeze 18.9 Significant breeze
Aug 9.5 Gentle breeze 18.2 Strong breeze
Sep 6.9 Light breeze 16 Significant breeze
Oct 4.5 Light breeze 12.6 Significant breeze
Nov 3.8 Barely noticeable 11.4 Significant breeze
Dec 3.5 Barely noticeable 10.7 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 71%
Feb 66%
Mar 56.8%
Apr 45.5%
May 40.1%
Jun 37.6%
Jul 32.3%
Aug 33.9%
Sep 38.9%
Oct 55.3%
Nov 68.3%
Dec 72.6%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Columbia River Gorge?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Columbia River Gorge, the United States is August, followed by July and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Columbia River Gorge in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 55.1 in December means 55.1% of the tourists vs. August.

 

 

Overall Columbia River Gorge Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 79.3°F (26.3°C) and 53.5°F (11.9°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 2 to 4 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the least precipitation with 0 to 2 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Columbia River Gorge, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 87.2°F (30.7°C) and 46.2°F (7.9°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 6 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Columbia River Gorge to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 54.1°F (12.3°C) and 41.7°F (5.4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 8 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

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