Spokane sunshine in different seasons (Seattle: living, area, phone)

[geefreck]

Just curious, how exactly does Spokane fair as far as sunshine goes, during different seasons of the year? The city data graphs tell part of the story, but I was curious what people living there might have to say on the matter.

[spotown11]

More sun than the coast, thats for sure. June through September is almost completely sunny, maybe 1 rainy day every other week in an average year. The other three seasons, however, are very erratic. Maybe a week of sun then a week of rain/snow for the rest of the year. Its no sun drenched desert, though it my seem like it to a Seattleite, but gets an acceptable amount of sun.

[spotown11]

I should specify, those weeks of rain and snow aren't necessarily rainy or snowy, just cold and cloudy enough that the potential for percipitation is there.

[WendyK]

I wear sunglasses year round -- just less often in the winter. There are some winter days with bright sunshine and blue skies, but usually it's more grey and foggy.

[skinem]

You can find real differences in the amount of sunshine in the Spokane area depending upon your elevation. For example, the West Plains and north of Spokane was just high enough that it was above many of the winter inversions that seem to plague Spokane.
I've posted this before, but countless times we'd be in blinding winter sunshine up on the plains and as we drove into Spokane down the Sunset Hill, it was like driving into soup.

I'd talk to friends on the phone in Spokane and they'd say they had a dark dreary foggy winter's day and I'd gotten sunburned that day...

So, even within the Spokane area you can have some real differences.