Weatherman

David R.

November 25, 2009 - 6:18 PM

The Pacific Northwest has always been know for its rainy climate. One thing I love about Eugene is being able to experience a distinct climate that is unique to one area of the country. Being from Colorado, I am used to the snow in the winter season, and the dry, arid heat in the summers. During the winter time, Eugene doesn't experience too much in the way of the snow, but it receives a great deal of rain. I have never disliked the rain, and it is a fun change to be constantly surrounded by it, as rain in the Rocky Mountain region isn't nearly as common. After arriving in Eugene it didn't take me too long to realize that the reason everything around there is so green is because of the excessive amounts of rain. This is something I miss out on in Colorado. In Eugene, all of the vegetation is lush, green, and full of moisture. In Colorado, because of the elevation the air is much dryer, and lacking moisture. Everything tends to be brown, and appears to be dead, because the lack of moisture leads to a very arid, water-deprived region.

I also love cold weather. This is why I love the fall and winter seasons. Because of Eugene's location geographically, the air tends to be consistently cold during this time of the year. This is partly because of Eugene's proximity to the ocean, and partly due to that fact that it is farther to the north than the consistently warmer cities in ares like southern California. I am on and intramural football team at the University of Oregon, and to me, there is nothing better than football in the cold. Our games are at night, when the temperature is significantly lower, and everyone's breath can be seen rising in to the air underneath the lights.

Thanksgiving is a nice break because I get to make a transition back to the climate that I have been raised in my entire life. The snow that Eugene is lacking is more than made up for in the Denver suburbs. The area in which I live at home tends to receive a decent amount of snowfall annually, due to its proximity to the Rocky Mountains. As stated in an earlier blog, one tradition of Thanksgiving for me is the Turkey Bowl, a football game at my high school. The field is usually covered in snow, and the ground is as hard as a rock. Some might find this to be miserable, but over the years I have come to love it, and I would be rather upset if I was to ever play a Turkey Bowl game on a dry field. 

As I write this from the cabin of a US Airways jet en route to Phoenix, Arizona, where I connect to return to Denver, I can't help but wonder what weather will be waiting for me. I am always fascinated with how different the weather is when I get off of a plane than it was when I got on it. I am one who appreciates nature, and going to school in Eugene allows me to experience two climates and weather systems that are significantly different from one another. Eugene, like Colorado, is very diverse in that the summer months are warm and sunny, while the winter is cold and full of moisture. If you enjoy being exposed to different weather from season to season, you'll love spending your college years in Eugene at the University of Oregon.