Seattle less rain than Portland/Vancouver area? (Bellingham, Kirkland: houses, construction)

[MtnSurfer]

I've been watching the weather lately and noticing Seattle actually has fewer rainy days than both Portland and Vancouver. Someone in another thread mentioned Seattle is in a rain shadow. However, I've never heard that phrase being applied to Seattle only Sequim and Port Angeles. The funny thing is Seattle is actually showing less rain than them as well over the next 10 days.

I was wondering if this is just a fluke thing as some weather patterns can be very unpredictable. And one set of storms do not represent longer term patterns... or do they?

In looking up some stats online it seems that at least some indicate Seattle gets less rain on average (~ 37"). Is this something which is obvious to the locals or is it so close its too harder to really notice?

Derek

[jacqueg]

Having lived in both areas, I can say it's six of one, half dozen of the other. Seattle does get a bit less, but it doesn't make all that much difference to the experience of winter.

What does make a difference is that Seattle has shorter days in the winter - we're over 150 miles further north, and it's enough to notice.

[Hemlock140]

There are so many microclimates in the area due to the ocean, bay, rivers and mountains that you can gain or lose 20” of annual rainfall in 20 minutes drive. Seattle is at about 37”, while here in Sammamish it’s 48”. I often leave home for work with the wipers going and after about Mercer Island it’s dry. Portland is in between at 44”. In the real rain shadow, Sequim is only 16”, less than San Francisco where they get 24” in a typical, non-drought year. We do also get longer days in summer than Portland.

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

I've been watching the weather lately and noticing Seattle actually has fewer rainy days than both Portland and Vancouver. Someone in another thread mentioned Seattle is in a rain shadow. However, I've never heard that phrase being applied to Seattle only Sequim and Port Angeles. The funny thing is Seattle is actually showing less rain than them as well over the next 10 days.

I was wondering if this is just a fluke thing as some weather patterns can be very unpredictable. And one set of storms do not represent longer term patterns... or do they?

In looking up some stats online it seems that at least some indicate Seattle gets less rain on average (~ 37"). Is this something which is obvious to the locals or is it so close its too harder to really notice?

Derek

I've lived in both and I don't think it's something you notice, they both are gray and rainy for months. You'll only feel the difference if you're actually in the rain shadow of Sequim, PA, PT, Oak Harbor.

[StealthRabbit]

Less 'accumulation' (37") is very elevation / terrain dependent on the western side of Cascades.

I am 16 miles from a NOAA Headquarters and I get nearly 3x the annual 'accumulation'. (30'elevation NOAA (37") vs my 1200' elevation (110")). I probably have more 'clear' days than NOAA station (very windy at my location).

The 'rainy days' (overcast with measurable precip) are nearly identical in number (SEA vs PDX), depends on how the winds blow and where the storms are coming from. (jet stream gives Bellingham a few more clear days (than PDX), but slightly cooler average temp.)

[pnwguy2]

It is about the same. But as others have stated, there are micro-climates that make precipitation uneven over certain areas. I think the bigger difference is that Portland gets more ice storms due to being in the Columbia Gorge funnel where cold winter air combined with a western front can create this condition at times, especially in the northern part of the metro area.

Portland does average about 1-2 degrees above Seattle year round, more pronounced during summer, somewhat due to the same Columbia River funnel and a slightly lower latitude.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

I've been watching the weather lately and noticing Seattle actually has fewer rainy days than both Portland and Vancouver. Someone in another thread mentioned Seattle is in a rain shadow. However, I've never heard that phrase being applied to Seattle only Sequim and Port Angeles. The funny thing is Seattle is actually showing less rain than them as well over the next 10 days.

I was wondering if this is just a fluke thing as some weather patterns can be very unpredictable. And one set of storms do not represent longer term patterns... or do they?

In looking up some stats online it seems that at least some indicate Seattle gets less rain on average (~ 37"). Is this something which is obvious to the locals or is it so close its too harder to really notice?

Derek

I've always heard Seattle is at the peripheral edge of the rain shadow. Depending on winds and intensity of storms, Seattle could experience the rain shadow effects.

For most part, the differences between Seattle and Portland in winter are pretty small. My husband spent a good portion of his life in Vancouver area. Between the 2, he preferred Seattle as he felt Seattle was a tad more moderate. He didn't like the ice storms. I remember he was telling me of an ice storm in the early aughts, where it had froze the 3 inches of snow. He was walking on the top of the snow and it didn't even crack. He's a big guy; at that time, probably around 250lbs. That just doesn't happen in Seattle. It's already hard enough to drive around when there's a snow event, but the ice storms just adds another layer to how difficult it can get. He would wear his golf shoes with the spikes just to get the mail. He also prefers Seattle summers over Portland/Vancouver's.

[Thom52]

The "official" location where they measure "Seattle" rainfall is in a dry micro-climate and gives a false impression of what goes on in most of the Puget Sound region.

I lived in the area for 31 years and have always been a bit of a weather geek, including tracking at my own house in Kirkland with a rain gauge and paying attention to the surrounding area for hiking.

[bloom]

I love a rainy night

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Thom52

The "official" location where they measure "Seattle" rainfall is in a dry micro-climate and gives a false impression of what goes on in most of the Puget Sound region.
....

Likewise the long range weather forecasts in the PNW we_tside often show 'chance of sun' in the 7-10 day (even a slight chance will give you a ray of hope...) Winter 'Sun' rarely happens, but a glimpse of hope is a nice thought and gets you through the day(s) / weeks / months.

In my arid locations in USA, it is optimistic for weather forecasters to show a slight chance of rain in the 7-10 day (it brings more 'daily viewers' to the news network...). Rain (though critically needed for crops) seldom comes, unless I hitch a cloud to the tail of the aircraft when I leave the PNW.

PNW short range forecast is becoming very accurate (with the additional tracking of weather via aircraft, "real -time" similar to google traffic). If I am trying to get firewood under cover and there is rain predicted for afternoon... I best have it under cover by 11:59AM.

What I find strange is the PNW precip often happens when the sun is supposed to come out. In my arid climates (CO, NE, TX, SD) the precip comes at night and often disappears / stops at dawn (I am a farmer, so I prefer "night shift rain!") .

One thing is certain... in PNW, an office / indoor job RULES... during the winter (evening shift teaching college (summers off May through Sept) is probably best gig). I really dislike construction tasks during the winter... digging and forming and pouring concrete. The worst was installing underground utilities / always caked in MUD, always wet and slimy / falling into trenches, From dawn till dark (thank goodness the mid-winter days are only 8 hrs long). Farming on the we_tside is pretty sad too, as is livestock health (hoof rot, matting coats, worms....)

But... if you have ANY 'required' outdoor chores or activities (replacing roof, painting, building ponds, fences, houses, putting up hay (while the sun shines), orcharding, commercial berries.... your summer 'free-time' will be very restricted.)