Camas winds are making me crazy!

[PhoenixSomeday]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

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As a newbie to the area initially, it turned out I was overly concerned with the wind and over estimating their daily affects. That was a pleasant surprise. After living in CO and also along the coast where winds could be very strong, we generally have milder winds here year round. So, I guess all things are relative to what you're used to.

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Have you spent any time in southern California? How would you say they stack up to the Santa Ana winds? There were times I almost found it hard to even walk against the wind with the big jacket I had on. It even blows trees over.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by PhoenixSomeday

Have you spent any time in southern California? How would you say they stack up to the Santa Ana winds? There were times I almost found it hard to even walk against the wind with the big jacket I had on. It even blows trees over.

Yes, I grew up in SoCal on the coast where we got the wind right off the ocean. Santa Anas were fun growing up because it meant the wind was 'offshore' and warmer which also made the waves better. Though they could cause fires to grow faster in the hills due to dry/drought conditions. Stronger winds typically occurred during winter with the big fronts moving in off the ocean especially during El Nino years.

How does it compare? I think most are under the false impression that anywhere along the Columbia river is super windy because of the reputation Hood River has for windsurfing and high winds. But those winds diminish greatly as one heads further west toward Vancouver and Portland. We don't typically see winds that are too strong to walk down the street or that blow trees over. Those type of wind events are rare and only a few times a year depending on the year. Its not really that different than other places down south in that regard. Bad winds and windstorms come, sure. But they're certain not every day nor even every month. Just don't overblow (no pun intended ) it in your mind thinking your going to be battling wind all of the time. That's simply a false impression of daily life here. Its more rare than a regular thing.

Derek

[trailtramp]

My stepmom lives in 5 Corners area and has also said same as you stated that the winds are not a constant and the farther west the lesser they are. Here in NM it is windy for half the year during all seasons, and the winds are frequently 15-30mph and sometimes higher. With the high desert dust always in the air we're just hoping for less wind. Also grew up in SoCal and the Santa Ana winds were strong but a short time frame so mostly tolerable.

[texasdiver]

Honestly this winter the winds have been relatively mild compared to previous years. I only remember one bad windstorm this winter when our metal park bench got blown off our porch. In past winters I had to drag it inside.

Rule of thumb. When shopping for homes in Camas if you have a 'view' you are going to get wind. ESPECIALLY if you have a view of Mount Hood or the Columbia. If you want shelter from the wind, find a home nestled down under a hillside not on top of it. And you'll save a ton of money too.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by trailtramp

My stepmom lives in 5 Corners area and has also said same as you stated that the winds are not a constant and the farther west the lesser they are. Here in NM it is windy for half the year during all seasons, and the winds are frequently 15-30mph and sometimes higher. With the high desert dust always in the air we're just hoping for less wind. Also grew up in SoCal and the Santa Ana winds were strong but a short time frame so mostly tolerable.

Haha, yeah, when we first moved to the high desert in CO, little did we known we were in for rude awakening. Within the first couple of days moving there, we put out all our moving boxes out between the recycling and trash cans for pickup. They were nicely stacked all together. Within a few hours later that night, we discovered we had decorated our entire neighborhood with these boxes which the wind strewn down the street and into our neighbors yards everywhere! So, we were out there in the dark trying to pick them up while it was like 15 degrees and super windy out. Welcome to Colorado you bunch of Californians! BTW, it gets windy here. Oh, and that's nothing compared to the lighting and thunderstorms that shake your house along with the hailstorms that cracks your windshields!! That's just life in the high desert living a mile high+ on the continental divide.

This Vancouver area is sissy stuff by comparison.











A recent post from our friends in CO reminding us what 'real winter' is like.





Derek