dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

My travel buddy and I have settled on visiting Oregon for next year's autumn photo trip. Although I have been to Oregon several times, I have only been to the Bend area in the autumn and the coast in the spring. Since we want to spend the majority of our time on the Coast, I am wondering what the last few years' weather trend has produced in terms of fog, rainfall, or storms in either Sept. or Oct. Also, how long do the leaves typically last along the coast?

In other words, can anyone shed some light on the pros or cons of either month for best photo ops? Thanks in advance for taking time to offer your sugestions.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

My wife and I tried that same trip 5-September to 19-September this year, never made it due to smoke/fires. Many roads including PCH and main interstates closed especially to non residents. Weather was nice in the western states but we had to change plans. Wildfires are common out west Aug. thru Oct.
Best of luck, I know we will try again someday.

jeweler53

I live in the great PNW, near Olympia. Sept. can be a fairly dry month, and could offer good opportunities. Fog and storms are uncommon then for the most part. October can be pretty drab and dreary. Our storms can produce nice waves and winds. It will likely be pretty wet from mid Nov. to mid March. Do you have a destination in mind?

lrjames Loc: Lacey Washington

I took this at Cannon Beach on the north Oregon coast. It was the third week in September. It was 71 degrees on the beach at midnight. To be honest, being from the Northwest myself, it is a total "Crap Shoot".
Larry James

(Download)

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Check Weather Underground for % of days with or without fog.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

The Oregon Coast covers 350 Miles so it helps to narrow down where you will visit. Here are precip numbers for September.

The https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Oregon/precipitation-september.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Oregon/precipitation-september.phphttps://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Oregon/precipitation-september.php

cwstratn

I live about a block from the ocean on the Oregon Central Coast between Lincoln City and Newport. The weather here is extremely variable from day to day and even from hour to hour. It's very difficult to give you a specific recommendation. A friend and I went driving around looking for fall colors on October 24, 2017. We drove inland from the ocean about 20 miles and found a covered bridge. There wasn't much "fall" color in the background. I've attached 2 photos. The first is a "straight" shot. In the second shot I used a 4x6 Formatt Hitech Autumn Grad 1 HE (Hard Edge) filter in an attempt to give it a little more fall color. I'm not really happy with either shot. The problem here on the Oregon Coast is that our trees only turn brown or yellow in the fall. They mostly turn an ugly brown color that makes them look dead or dying. We don't have the kind of trees that turn that beautiful rich red like the trees back east. (Maple, I believe) As far as timing, it's hit or miss, but October would probably be a better bet than September for fall colors. Whenever you come here, be prepared for anything and be willing to switch gears and photograph almost any subject you can imagine. We have beautiful lighthouses, whales in October, a working fishing fleet whose boats at the Newport harbor make a beautiful subject to explore with your camera, lots of sea lions, crashing waves on the rocks, and I could go on and on. This area offers great subject matter at any time of the year, but the weather is always unpredictable. Good luck to you, and as they used to say to their photographers at Life magazine: "Shoot, shoot, shoot".

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

We were in the Pacific NorthWET from October 16 to October 22 this year. Saw Seattle in the rain for 2 1/2 days and then picked up a car. Mt Rainer was socked in so we didn’t bother going there. Drove to Portland and enjoyed? More rain. On to Crater Lake, see picture attached. Then the Oregon Coast. Stopped a few times to enjoy the driving rain and gale force winds. Making plans to return in August of 2019. BTW - we were told that the weather wa amazing the week before our trip and the weather report for the week after our trip was sunny and warm.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

That's what I was afraid of. Fires were an issue for us around Bend back in 2009. Didn't realize there were such extensive road closings this fall, though. That would definitely throw a monkey wrench in any plans if the trend continues next year. Thanks for your feedback, Bruce.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Our destination is still in flux. I have been all along the PNW from Vancouver Island down to Jedediah Smith Redwoods in CA, but always in the spring months. I haven't explored the WA peninsula beyond Hurricane Ridge, though. If foliage is drab by October, that's helpful to know. My photo buddy hasn't explored the PNW at all, so any part of it would be new to him, and there is beauty all along the length of the coast. Sounds like September may be best. Brief storms would be an asset if we manage to dodge endless days of fog and rain. Thanks for the input, jeweler.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Which year is this photo from, Larry? I know the weather trend these last few years has been extraordinary. Is your image a composite with a full moon and dark enough skies for the Milky Way to be seen simultaneously? Beautiful capture! I love seeing that the Milky Way core is still visible late in September. I understand about the 'crap shoot'...I've had days of gorgeous weather on the coast in May and smoke inland in September, so it is indeed hard to plan dates a year in advance from here on the east coast. Thanks for sharing, Larry.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I had checked WU but wasn't finding that info, just precip. These past few years have been outside the normal trends, so far as I can tell, and next year may not be a good time to plan anything on the coast. Just waiting until all the feedback can be weighed.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thanks for the link, Allen. I have been leaning towards the southern end because of the lower chance of rain and fog, but the recent change in weather makes me think the upper coast into WA may have good potential. So, until I learn more about the current trend, the specific destination is up in the air. The length of the coast has much to offer so it's just a matter of playing the odds. Also, I have always allowed myself the option of moving across the Cascades in the past when the coast was socked in, so there's that to consider too. However, recent fires may take away that option as well.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I think you have nailed down the color issue for me by confirming the trees basically brown out in October. My goal isn't to capture autumn colors, but to still have green on the foliage, so September looks better from that standpoint. But who needs colorful trees when you have a bright red covered bridge as your subject?! Thanks for sharing, cwstratn.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

LOL--been there, done that! Wish I had a crystal ball when planning air travel 10 months in advance. We just barely dodged the bullets this September when we were in Grand Teton and Yellowstone--arrived during the tail end of rain and snow showers, then left during the beginning of more rain and snow showers. Thank goodness for the eight days in between with mostly dry weather.