There's A Weather Machine In Portland, Oregon, And It's Been Reporting The Forecast For Decades
By Sarah McCosham|Published February 04, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Portland is one weird, quirky little city. And that’s just the way we like it. We have bold murals proclaiming this sentiment, and an abundance of places and attractions that are testament to our city’s oddball personality. But none are quite as weird as the weather machine that stands in the middle of Pioneer Square, a contraption that’s been forecasting the weather for decades. The next time you’re wondering about the day’s forecast, skip the apps and local news channels, and simply consult the trusty old weather machine in Portland, Oregon.
Portland, Oregon is known for keepin' it weird. That's just the way it is.
Designed and constructed by Omen Design Group Inc., the Weather Machine is a lumino kinetic bronze sculpture and columnar machine that serves as a weather beacon for Portlanders.
Every day at noon, something magical happens. The weather machine comes to life: a fanfare plays, lights flash, and a totem appears, signifying the forecast for the following 24-hour period.
It's not all witchcraft and sorcery, either; weather predictions are made based on information obtained by employees of Pioneer Courthouse Square from the National Weather Service and the Department of Environmental Quality. So this is one very informed weather machine!
Have you visited the weather machine in Portland, Oregon, before? Did it accurately predict the weather? This is a unique little spot that really speaks to the wonderfully weird nature of the Beaver State!