Comparison of Seattle weather to San Francisco weather? (Vancouver, Pacific: transfer, school district)

[marimari123]

Hi Everyone,

I was born and raised in the San Francisco area (born in SF and grew up in the Berkeley area). Now I live north of Los Angeles. The weather where I grew up, near Berkeley, was cool and foggy for most of the year. Quite a bit of rain during winters. Spring and fall were foggy and overcast (May 31st was cloudy and the temp was about 62 degrees). Summers were the only consistently clear days, with sunshine. Even then, the daytime highs would be in the 70's. I loved that weather...probably because that's how I grew up.

Now in contrast...in North LA...it never rains. Winters are mild where I live, about 65 degrees. Summers here are horrible. Always over 100 degrees...can't even go outside...I hate having to keep the kids indoors during summertime because their skin will burn within minutes outdoors.

My husband's job may transfer him to Seattle. I've read through these forums about people looking forward to the weather in Seattle and then "getting tired of it" within a year or two. I feel like I'll really like the weather because I think it's probably similar to Berkeley/SF weather.

So...how does the weather compare with SF weather? How's the climate during each season? Thanks so much for the advice/answers.

Best regards,
mari

[scirocco22]

Well, we're opening up a can of worms again, mari.

If you have read the threads here pertaining to weather, climate, and seasons, you must've noticed that everybody has a different perception and opinion. We've had some pretty heated debates about it in the past here on this forum. Just like others, I tend to exaggerate my perceptions ...like my statement of Seattle only gets two weeks of summer... so take all the comments you'll get on this thread and come to your own conclusion.

I won't express my perception right now but I'll just say that if you enjoyed the weather in the bay area, then you might enjoy the weather in Seattle. Of course it's a bit cooler in Washington but you'll definitely see less sun than in either area of California that you've lived.

[509]

I lived in the Bay Area for 14 years. Including quite a bit of time in Berkeley.

I spent one winter west of the Cascades. l lasted six months. The weather is much, much worse than the Bay Area. Yes, it is foggy in the Bay Area during the morning and night for much of the summer, but the middle of the day was usually sunny and warm.

In Seattle, it stays wet and cold all day for much of the year.

Most folks that move from elsewhere in the west generally cannot stand the weather west of the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest. Easterners and folks from the mid-west have a much easier time coping. I guess because Seattle weather is similar to their weather.

I did have one friend that loved the weather in Seattle. She had skin cancer and had to stay out of the sun. She was excited about being outdoors without worrying about skin cancer.

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

...if you enjoyed the weather in the bay area, then you might enjoy the weather in Seattle. Of course it's a bit cooler in Washington...less sun...

Hi, marimari123. Welcome to what seems to be one of the subjects people seem to love to talk to death -- weather! Your description reminded me of Barbra Streisand's line in "The Way We Were", when she, a New Yorker, was saying what she didn't like about southern California, "I wish it would rain!!"

My quote of scirocco22 is probably your best starting point. And maybe that's really all that needs to be said about the weather in your case -- clearly, our weather in the wide "Seattle" area is far more what you are longing for, right?

I've lived here for 23 years (and one day ) and I love the weather. I also love the GREEN GREEN GREEN here and that can't happen without rain and gentler sunshine. I've lived in various places in the world, and I guarantee that I know well what hot, humid, killing summers are like, what fiercely cold and blizzardy winters are like, and what mild in-between climates are like. This area is pretty much in-between.

It seems that here the temperatures are almost always (98% of the time?) friendly to humans and animals. Isn't that what you most want to know?

Listen to your heart... and follow the paths that give you the feelings of being contented and really pleased with yourself. If you do, you will never go wrong, and by your example you will show your children how to create happy, fulfilling lives.

[CityGirl72]

I'm from Calif, and was brought up in LA area (Marina Del Rey) and other parts of So CAl til I moved to No Cal for College (Davis) and then moved up to Seattle.

I keep MY kids inside the majority of the year because it's TOO COLD and wet (not rain but moist air and misty) most of the year - under 50 degrees starting in Sept and not ending til mid June. Mildew makes the kids sick often. Plus they want me to go in the back yard to play and I don't go outside til it's 65 degrees. Summer and sunshine don't start til after July 4th. TO kids that are used to California weather - this place is quite the change!

We are looking to move back to California - we just haven't decided yet between So Cal (by my parents) or No Cal (where I left my heart)

[la_fuerza]

Originally Posted by CityGirl72

I'm from Calif, and was brought up in LA area (Marina Del Rey) and other parts of So CAl til I moved to No Cal for College (Davis) and then moved up to Seattle.

I keep MY kids inside the majority of the year because it's TOO COLD and wet (not rain but moist air and misty) most of the year - under 50 degrees starting in Sept and not ending til mid June. Mildew makes the kids sick often. Plus they want me to go in the back yard to play and I don't go outside til it's 65 degrees. Summer and sunshine don't start til after July 4th. TO kids that are used to California weather - this place is quite the change!

We are looking to move back to California - we just haven't decided yet between So Cal (by my parents) or No Cal (where I left my heart)

You are actually considering moving back to California over something like weather? Do you think that's fair to your kids? Do you really want to send them to those gang ridden prison yards masquerading as schools? What kind of education do you think they will get there?

Maybe you are super rich so you can afford to live in one of the "islands" of affluence in the middle of the sprawling cesspool and send your kids to private schools. But do you really want them living in a place where if they venture into the wrong city they can get killed over something like race or clothing?

I just came from California. It's gotten much worse than even two years ago. See all those cars on the road with CA plates? There's a reason for that.

Please do the right thing for your children and stay in Washington. You know in your heart it is right thing to do. Don't be selfish and let your hangups about the weather cost your children a good future. Tens of thousands of children have made the transition from California to Washington without any adverse effects.

[CityGirl72]

My kids are fine Thank you. I can't say the Seattle School district is that great to want to stay here, but you are correct I haven't moved because of them - We've been here four years - FOURS YEARS TOO MANY! But I don't move because I don't want to move my kids all over the place. If I didn't have kids - I would have moved the month I moved to Seattle (and that was MAY!) That's how fast I did not like it here. I've stayed and my health has gotten progressively worse, sinus infections and many colds and flus from this weather, I now have SAD and have a anti-depressant prescription.

But I don't move because I want my kids to feel like they have a stable home.

BTW - Both my husband and I received our educations in California, and we are fine. We actually make a substantial enough amount of money to live comfortably, so finding a nice area to have my kids in California is not a problem.

[drowningintherain]

Originally Posted by la_fuerza

You are actually considering moving back to California over something like weather? Do you think that's fair to your kids? Do you really want to send them to those gang ridden prison yards masquerading as schools? What kind of education do you think they will get there?

Maybe you are super rich so you can afford to live in one of the "islands" of affluence in the middle of the sprawling cesspool and send your kids to private schools. But do you really want them living in a place where if they venture into the wrong city they can get killed over something like race or clothing?

I just came from California. It's gotten much worse than even two years ago. See all those cars on the road with CA plates? There's a reason for that.

Please do the right thing for your children and stay in Washington. You know in your heart it is right thing to do. Don't be selfish and let your hangups about the weather cost your children a good future. Tens of thousands of children have made the transition from California to Washington without any adverse effects.

Wow, that was really judgemental post. People have lots of different reasons for picking where they want to live and weather can be a really big one for a lot of people.
I am moving to Southern California after my wife and I have completed our nursing degrees. We like Vancouver, but like citygirl cannot handle the seemingly endless drizzle not to mention the cold. Life is too short to live somewhere that you're not happy. For me, I''m just not happy somewhere that is grey for so many months out of the year.There are many fine areas of Southern California, that are not gang ridden and that will provoide our kids with a good education. I really like the Santa Clarita area, good blue ribbon schools, no gangs and one of the safest cities of it's size in the U.S. Orange County also has many areas with good schools. Our kids are excited about moving when we're done school. Seattle is a beautiful city but I'd much rather visit the PNW then live in it.

[MichaelinWA]

Very clear the past couple of days, but cold as heck! Funny how the cloud cover actually moderates the winter temperatures in the Puget Sound area.

[Tony from Europe]

San Francisco weather is too much nicer than Seattle weather !!!