Let's talk Seattle rain. (Vancouver: rentals, university, living)

[seahawksweetie]

attend the Macy's tree lighting

I don't think there has been a comment on this board that has made my eyes light up as much as this. I'm a big Christmas/Winter Solstice/ snow/tree kind of person and I love the holidays!!!!

I so can't wait to be there.

There is something very wrong down here where I live at Christmas time. Everyone wearing shorts, flip flops and decorating palm trees. It's just wrong.

I need snow and mountains and evergreens and lights/tinsel/mistletoe. Ok, I'll stop now, I can tell I'm getting all sappy again. My hubby calls me the Christmas nazi, cause I'm such a perfectionist on decorating at the holidays.

Sorry to get off topic, carry on

[pwright1]

I think July was due some rain since we did have less than a half an inch so far.

Oh wow Citygirl that is funny.

[scirocco22]

Well, I had to do some work in and around my car this morning and since I don't have a garage where I'm staying ...and didn't bring my full array of Gortex and winter clothes (after all, I thought it was summer), I had to make due with just a rain shell. That actually became to cumbersome when I was doing some of the work I had to do so I took it off.

Yes, here I am soaked to the bone as I was out in the drenching rain for about an hour; just the way I remember it. Yes, I don't mind it because this is what I grew up with but still, I'd much rather be doing stuff outdoors without the continuous rain. Refreshing? ...well, perhaps but this reminds me of winter --not rain showers but a steady continuous rain for about the last 3 hours or so.

I'm now inside trying to get dry and looking at the internet. I see where the NWS description of weather conditions at SeaTac International is "Light rain, fog" ...hahahaha, right, I'd describe it as a "Steady downpour" but I'm east of Seattle so maybe it's different here than at the airport ...yeah, right!

Ah, summer in Seattle ...a love/hate relationship for me!

--'rocco

[gallo]

Originally Posted by songgirl

What do people do during all those rainy days? Are they outside working in their gardens as if it were a sunny day, or do they stay inside watching tv, reading, etc.? Are there lots of indoor playgrounds, bowling alleys, great libraries in the suburbs anywhere? I'm just wondering what I would do with all those drizzley days and how I could entertain my 4 yr. old without getting cabin fever or spending to much money shopping! (I'd have to stay away from the malls)
I'd like to hear from the happy people. How do you handle the weather????

Hey songgirl,

The way people act here during the rainy season, which is about mid-October through July 4th, is similar to the way people behave in the cold, winter months of the places in the northeast or upper Midwest.

In other words, people in Seattle tend to hibernate inside their homes for the vast majority of this time and just watch TV, read etc. Now of course there are a few exceptions to this, but for the very, very large part it’s true.

One misconception that a lot of people who don’t live here have is that everyone is out and about in the rain, the rain is only a small drizzle so no one really gets that wet, and everyone lives in the rainy season just like they would in the dry season.

This is NOT true.

Remember, it’s usually hovering around 40-45 degrees during the rainy moths and, since it has been raining for days, everything is soaked. We get more types of rain here than I have ever seen. But even in the drizzle you are drenched within a few minutes of being outside. Add that to cold temps and you get the reason why everyone pretty much stays curled up inside during the rainy season. Yes, you will see a few people wandering around doing things outside in the rain, but a lot of times it is because of necessity not choice.

There is typical suburbia stuff to do, not a great amount and not that great of quality but better and greater than some other places have seen. If like to shop and spend money, Seattle’s weather will certainly give you ample time to be in a mall. LOL.

Personally, I read and read, and cook and cook. And yes, there is huge cabin fever up here. It really doesn’t daunt on me until about June, when it very often will be 55, gloomy, and wet here, and 75 and sunny in the rest of the country. It’s common for locals, including the radio and television news people, to mention that summer weather doesn’t come to Seattle until after 4th of July.

gallo

[gallo]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

Ah, summer in Seattle ...a love/hate relationship for me!

--'rocco

You’re getting it especially bad this year ‘rocco.

We have a few stretches of decent weather in June, but coming into July it was 55 and raining for a week straight. Then we hit July where it set all sorts of records broke as we saw a stretch of 90+ degree heat. Now we sit in the end of July a get a week straight of rain and60 degrees.

Have you put your heat on yet today?

gallo

[scirocco22]

Have you put your heat on yet today?

I've been tempted to, gallo, but I don't want to be a wimp so I've been forcing myself to make due. Everybody laughs at me when I tell them my feet feel numb in the 60 degree temps. I guess I'm still struggling to acclimate coming from the 110 degree desert.

I need snow and mountains and evergreens and lights/tinsel/mistletoe.

Seahawksweetie, you've got to take a trip to Leavenworth for the treelighting ceremony. An ex-girlfriend and I used to make it an annual event. It's almost a sure thing to have snow on the ground there in December and we found it to be an especially romantic getaway in the dark days of December.

The Seattle area will almost for sure not have snow on the ground during December so even though the Bon Marche star may be lit, it's reflecting off rain slickened streets.


--'rocco

[gallo]

Originally Posted by pwright1

I think July was due some rain since we did have less than a half an inch so far.

This statement can be misleading, unintentionally of course. Yes, we have not seen that much rain in July, and yes, we usually do not.

But, when you say we were due some rain, I think a lot of people have in their minds just one day of rain, or just a rainstorm – that is what we got in Seattle – what we were due. In reality, however, we get seven straight days of rain and temps in the 60s throughout.

Again, we are on our third straight day of rain here and about 7 days in a row total are predicted. It just doesn’t rain like this in other places.

In other words, yes we were due some rain, but unlike most areas of the country, that rain that we were due sets in here for 7 days straight.

This is important to realize and acknowledge as songgirl is wondering if she will be able to get out of the house with her kids.

Currently it is 62 degrees and raining. It has been this way for the past three days, and it is predicted to continue on like this for the next four days. This is the type of rain we get here, even when we get it during the summer.

[CityGirl72]

Originally Posted by gallo

This is important to realize and acknowledge as songgirl is wondering if she will be able to get out of the house with her kids.

Currently it is 62 degrees and raining. It has been this way for the past three days, and it is predicted to continue on like this for the next four days. This is the type of rain we get here, even when we get it during the summer.

Also on Gallo's comment - it's so cold and the air is so moist throughout the year - I do TRY and keep my kids indoors - they can get sick easily! They are kids and the snot runs wild here. SO another reason people are cooped up in their homes is because you don't want to chance dragging yourkids everywhere in the cold moist air

and PS - I HAVE TURNED MY HEAT ON ALL WEEK AT MY HOUSE

[seahawksweetie]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

Seahawksweetie, you've got to take a trip to Leavenworth for the treelighting ceremony. An ex-girlfriend and I used to make it an annual event. It's almost a sure thing to have snow on the ground there in December and we found it to be an especially romantic getaway in the dark days of December.

--'rocco

Thanks for the info! I will definitely make a trip there to see the treelighting. How far is that from Seattle?

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by seahawksweetie

Thanks for the info! I will definitely make a trip there to see the treelighting. How far is that from Seattle?

About 115 miles ...a little over 2 hour drive depending on the road conditions on Stevens Pass

Here's their Chamber of Commerce site: Leavenworth, Washington The Bavarian Village (broken link)

--'rocco