Seattle Weather/Climate Thread (Tacoma: palm trees, creek, diversity)

[PersonA]

I have lived in Seattle for 3 years. Prior to that I lived in many other cities, including Chicago and Cleveland, two cities that are supposed to have bad weather.

Seattle weather is the worst I have ever seen in my life. Others have posted the empirical evidence, so I won't repeat it.

Here's the reality of what the lifestyle is due to the weather. It is overcast most of the time. Yes, even in the summer. (today is July 14 and it is 63 degrees and raining. Yesterday wasn't much better. And tomorrow won't be either.) Which is fine for a week or two, but after weeks on end, year after year, it really gets to you. I used to be a very active person: Six days a week at the gym, happy, outgoing, and tan. Now I can barely get out of bed in the morning, I have gained more than 20 pounds, and I don't enjoy socializing or exercising anymore. I just want to come home and sleep. The lack of sunshine is the cause. The outdoors are no fun when you're slipping on mud all the time. It's too cold to do any "summer" activities like swimming, running, or biking.

Yes, there are a few nice days every year. Brilliant days. Days that make you forget what an awful place this is most of the time. But the fact that most people can clearly remember them (ie "remember that really sunny day when we ate lunch outside?") proves that they are painfully rare. And if you are a working person with a 9-5 job, chances are you will miss many of these days anyway due to being at work. And then there is the anxiety that comes with not "missing" a nice day... you feel like you have to drop everything and go outside just because the sun came out.

Not at all good for anyone's mental or physical health. I really believe the weather has influenced the culture: the passive-agressive, anti-social, "don't talk to me" Seattle freeze is a direct result of the inhospitable weather. It puts *everyone* in a bad mood, whether they admit it or not.

I would not recommend moving to Seattle unless you really absolutely need to (desperately needing a job comes to mind) and unless you have a very clear exit strategy.

I am actively planning my exit as we speak, and unfortunately due to job necessities will have to be here for another 18 months, but do trust I am counting the hours.

[JAQ]

^^Well said.

Today we had a outdoor summer social function at work. The weather totally ruined it..

I can't wait to move back to California, high prices or not, it's well worth it.

[evergraystate]

PersonA
You put into words how I feel exactly. All I can say is vitamin D helps a lot. 1000 iu in the summer 2000 iu in the winter. I tried a sun lamp but it didn't do anything for me except give me a headache. It works much better for others. If you end up seeing a doctor the're ready to write a prescription for Prozac 10 seconds into describing you situation. Its very common here. I turned them down and glad I did. We also try to find something to do east of the Cascades about once a month. Its usually sunny over there even in the winter.
Best of luck getting out of here.

[I'm miserable, plz let me]

Originally Posted by Or3g0n

I love transplants to the Pacific Northwest. It's fun to tease them at how depressed they are and how hateful they are toward to our perfect weather. I born and raised my WHOLE life here in Northwest. I went to Hawaii, California, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and the east coast. Tell you what, these places are overrated.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by evergraystate

Makes you wonder why 70% of the natives took off and never looked back.

His argument was that the natives didn't know any better-- so don't listen to them about the weather (since they have no frame of reference). Your comment make it sound like they did. So which is it?

Like with anywhere else, it takes a certain person to enjoy this type of climate/weather. I just don't get the hostility of either side.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by JAQ

^^Well said.

Today we had a outdoor summer social function at work. The weather totally ruined it..

I can't wait to move back to California, high prices or not, it's well worth it.

Yup, I understand completely.
It's looking like summer this year is going to be pretty much non-existent (for the 2nd year in a row).

Pretty darned tough to take.

Ken

[evergraystate]

Our friend who lived here her entire life called this a "board game summer".

[cjg5]

I was born and raised in Seattle, and have lived in the area my entire life. 26 years here now, and I'm more than ready to head to the other side of the state!

Colder winters, hotter summers, basically a guarantee of all four seasons. A much drier climate too! Way more sunshine per year on average than this side of the state. Soon.... soon..... Mainly looking at the Wenatchee / East Wenatachee area. (Or Chelan if I could get a decent paying job there!).

[Botev1912]

Everyone here knows summes here are usually much much much better and sunnier than what it is this year. This is brutal. Even places like San Francisco and LA are having colder than usual weather. How are you going to like 56 degrees in San Francisco in the middle of July?

http://weather.yahoo.com/united-stat...cisco-2487956/

[evergraystate]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Everyone here knows summes here are usually much much much better and sunnier than what it is this year. This is brutal. Even places like San Francisco and LA are having colder than usual weather. How are you going to like 56 degrees in San Francisco in the middle of July?

San Francisco - California Weather Forecasts | Maps | News - Yahoo! Weather

Thas pretty normal for SF in the summer. Drive 10 miles in any direction from the city and you will find much warmer and sunnier weather in the summer. The Bay Area has micro climates in a way that Seattle area never experiences. For example in San Rafael just 12 miles to the north it was 73 and sunny all day while SF didn't see the sun. Walnut creek 20 miles to the east was 77f. Not really a fair comparison to seattle imho.

The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.

Mark Twain