For anyone thinking of moving to Seattle.. (employment, schools)

[toughguy]

This past February there was a stretch of about 10 days where it was either totally clear or slightly cloudy...I know all you SAD people remember that. Botev, your data shows only 2 sunny days in Feb 08. This tells me that either the criteria for "sunny" is extremely strict (totally cloudless), or the data is off.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by CityGirl72

there are only 21 sunny days in that data

(PS I'm not a Sun Nut either - I'm a Warmth Nut. EVen in Sacto I stayed in the shade)

PARTLY CLOUDY DAYS ARE SUNNY WITH A FEW PASSING CLOUDS

This is the web-site Beautiful Seattle

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by toughguy

This past February there was a stretch of about 10 days where it was either totally clear or slightly cloudy...I know all you SAD people remember that. Botev, your data shows only 2 sunny days in Feb 08. This tells me that either the criteria for "sunny" is extremely strict (totally cloudless), or the data is off.

It's not like a weather observer looks up at noon, sees the sun, and calls it a sunny day.

There are sensors that can actually measure when the sun is indeed shining on it. These sensors will track the number of seconds the sun was shining on it, and divide it by the number of seconds of daylight for that given day.

If the sun shone on the sensor for 70% or more of the day, it's considered a sunny day. If it was between 20-70% of the time, it was a partly cloudy day, and 20% or less, it's a cloudy day.

How Do You Measure A Sunny Day? | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | F.A.Q.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by Destructoman!

Feb-April 2007: Only 2 sunny days!!!
Feb-April 2008: Only 7 sunny days!!!

What is a partly cloudy day? cloudy, overcast, gloomy? Miami gets ONLY 4 sunny days per year more than Seattle, but it gets 82 partly cloudy more

[huruta]

We are all shaped by where we come from. Rikki_5 I can see truth in everything you say, but none of the criticisms bother me. But I was born and raised in (central) WA and have spent the better part of my 20 adult years in Seattle. My husband and I do keep to ourselves and more interested in the outdoors than in engaging people, especially those we do not know. Home prices are expensive and people are fashionable in a definite NW sense (e.g. LL Bean & REI). But I don't really see what is wrong with any of these things (ok, high home prices suck for everyone!) - its really personality/culture dependent.

Having been banished to NYC and Dallas for 3 years for my husband's work, I have realized how deeply ingrained Seattle is in me. I am counting the months (13.5) until we can return home. It is where we belong, first and foremost. NYC is a great city but its late mornings, small spaces, and stylishness are not what I value. Dallas and its hot summers and excessive consumption are not us either. Neither are awful but neither can compare to Seattle IMO. So, I guess city perfection is in the eye of the beholder.

[DawnW]

Seattle is one of the most amazing cities in the world. I lived there for 4 years and visit as often as I can. I wouldn't mind moving back but it isn't really DH's cup of tea (or cup of coffee as the case may be!)

I moved to Seattle from Kenya and since I lived in tea country in Kenya with rain almost 300 days a year (rained part of the day and then sunshine), Seattle's rain didn't bother me one bit.)

Now I might notice it more since I have lived in CA and NC and had mostly sunshine!

I would move back to Seattle in a heartbeat.

Dawn

PS: As for the friend thing....I still have several very close friends in Seattle and talk to them by phone at least monthly. I realize most of them are college friends so that may make a difference. It might be harder now to make close connections outside of an environment like college.

[jadybug]

Great commentary and good advice! My pal who has lived in WW since being adopted out of Nam, has struggled with SAD and vitamin D issues most of her life. She eats a ton of fruit and veggies!! Some of her "issues" relate to adoption, and some are weather/food related.

I forgot to add the quote I'm commenting on!!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

What is a partly cloudy day? cloudy, overcast, gloomy? Miami gets ONLY 4 sunny days per year more than Seattle, but it gets 82 partly cloudy more

The National Weather Service has a definition for clear, cloudy, etc. Depends on the amt of cloud cover. I don't remember all of them, but clear is 0-30% cloud cover, next category is 30-60%, etc. You can google it.

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by Katiana

The National Weather Service has a definition for clear, cloudy, etc. Depends on the amt of cloud cover. I don't remember all of them, but clear is 0-30% cloud cover, next category is 30-60%, etc. You can google it.

I get alot of good help here at these forums so I want to give some help back. I am going to give you honest facts to those wanting to move & get ideas. Just the facts so no one can say there is an intent to be negative. You wont find facts like this anywhere. I would say if you are considering the move to Seattle, know the following to make an informed decision:

• 325 days will be cloudy
• 275 days will be rainy
• 30 days will be VERY hot (85, 90 plus degrees)
• I-5 is worse NORTH of the city, AM or PM commutes alike. But it is fairly good, for example at 5pm you can leave Seattle and be in Kent in 15 minutes.
• SOHO district of Seattle, near all the container terminals it is VERY run down and unsafe at night. Pot holes everywhere.
• If you want to live in the Valley: Check how far away the freight rail tracks are. Intermodal Freight trains are VERY LOUD at night. So this is a heads up for home buyers or renters.
• Jobs: There are plenty of jobs, you have Boeing, Microsoft, Google, Weyerhauser, Real Networks, Seattle Times, Starbucks headquarters...
• Parking in downtown: It is a ROYAL NIGHTMARE. Parking is difficult, it is far worse than Boston. Best advice it to take a train or bus there if you are going there to hang out in the weekends.
• State Parks: This is a nice thing, near Seattle you have beautiful parks like Fire Geyser park, Snoqualmie Falls, Saltwater Park... too many to name. This is a nice thing for kids too.
• Swimming & Beach: Forget about the beach life. The water in the Pacific Ocean is ICE COLD. But you can swim in lakes and public pools. For example you have Juanita Beach park, Colon Park etc... Those are not your white sand beaches like in Florida, but at least you can swim in them.
• Apartments: The cheap ones ($850 to $1300) will be in Kent, Renton, Auburn, Covington... etc The expensive ones ($1500, $1800, $2200+) are in Kirkland, Bothell, Bellevue. All are nice areas for the most part.
• Schools: If you want good schools (low class numbers, good teachers paid well), look for Northshore District and live in EAST KING COUNTY.
• Home Searching: Windermere has by far the BEST online search tools and the house listings show addresses and tons of pictures. A truly nice site.
• Grocery Shopping: You have Safeway, Fred Meyers (aka Krogers), Costco, Sams Club, Walmart, QVC ...these are all well known supermarkets.
• Sales Tax is 9.65 percent. The state has a base tax and the country tacks on more depending where you go. But the average is 9.65
• Beer & Wine: You can purchase in any city. The dont have dry areas here.
• Plenty of small Casinos in the Indian Reservation areas... also in places like Auburn, Kent, Tukwila etc..
• Sounder is the commute rail that people use here. Google search Seattle Sounder.
• Ferries will take you from Seattle to Vashon, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Bainbridge etc..

If you need more specifics on anything just post and ask.... one of us will help

[seattlerain]

Originally Posted by Negotiator75

I get alot of good help here at these forums so I want to give some help back. I am going to give you honest facts to those wanting to move & get ideas. Just the facts so no one can say there is an intent to be negative. You wont find facts like this anywhere. I would say if you are considering the move to Seattle, know the following to make an informed decision:

• 325 days will be cloudy
• 275 days will be rainy
• 30 days will be VERY hot (85, 90 plus degrees)
• ..

Where did you get your figures from.

According to NOAA Seattle has the following:

226 cloudy
81 partly cloudy
55 sunny

Of the 226 cloudy and 81 partly cloudy days we get measurable precipitation on 155 of those days.