Sunny Days in Sequim? (Aberdeen, Anacortes: to live in, stats, moving to)

[Destiny2008]

Various sources claim there are 300 sunny days per year in Sequim. Realistically, I know this is not true. So, how many days a year does the sun shine at least a good portion of the day in Sequim?

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Destiny2008

Various sources claim there are 300 sunny days per year in Sequim. Realistically, I know this is not true. So, how many days a year does the sun shine at least a good portion of the day in Sequim?

"... unrealistic ..." is at the very least an understatement ... at worst it is fraud ... particularly as this misinformation is perpetuated by persons and organizations marketing the area.

Sequim has only a Very little more sunshine than the rest of the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound Region. It is true that Sequim, and certain other communities in the center of the "rain shadow" effect of the atmospheric currents around the Olympic Mountains, have considerably Less Rain than the greater part of the western Washington region. However, it is gray most of the year except for about 3 months in summer. Spring and fall each have a marginally bearable mix of rain, gray days, and partial sun days ... only rarely does one get a full sunny day except in summer ... even in Sequim.

All that said, all of western Washington IS still a beautiful place ... and Sequim, Coupeville (Whidbey Island), much of the San Juan Islands, and Anacortes are lucky to have only 18" - to about 24" of annual rainfall — compared to the convergence weather zones and south Sound where you will find double and triple the precipitation.

I have lived in the region 39 years ... nearly 10 in the San Juans. I have webbed feet to prove it.

[sean98125]

300 days without rain does not mean 300 sunny days.

[ochoco]

The Sequim C of C advertises 300 days of sunshine, BUT the sun may only shine for a few minutes on any given day. It really means Sequimites can see SOME sun at least 300 days per year.
As for rainfall, the average is 16-17 inches per year, considerably less than anywhere else west of the Cascade mountains.
The past few months have seen more cloudy, cool days than normal, but there hasn't been much precipitation. The meteorologists are threatening temps in the low 80's for this weekend. That's a threat I can deal with!

[bbyfl4me]

the sun does shine in sequim, just hardly ever u get more rain than sun there....but on a good week u get 4 sunny and 3 rainy days

[the_pines]

I read this also about Sequim. I researched it and found out it wasn't even close to the amount I had read somewhere. That's some really bad false advertising going on there.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by the_pines

I read this also about Sequim. I researched it and found out it wasn't even close to the amount I had read somewhere. That's some really bad false advertising going on there.

Yep ... here's the stats from City-Data:

Average climate in Sequim, Washington

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

[vegasgal47]

Geez, we were told in April that it is sunny 300 days a year. This is one place we considered retiring at. It also doesn't look like it gets warmer than in the 70's! It is a beautiful area and WAS one place we considered moving to. Don't know about that now. We live in the desert and I'm sick of sun, sun, sun, a little rain every 6-7 months or so and not many trees but I don't think I wan't to live in a place that doesn't get much sun. We'll have to re-think keeping it on our list. :-)

[acwhite96]

It is beautiful there and the rain is less there than any other location in western WA. With a high of 70, it is comfortable since there us humidity and when it gets warmer, it is very muggy out. The sun for 300 day was described to my husband as "when the sun shines no matter how long, it is counted as a sunny day". There are areas, like Grays Harbor that the sun won't even shine for days on end.

When we first moved up to the Peninsula, the clouds slowly came over the mtn where we were fishing on a lake and all I could think was great, we are going to get wet. Nothing fell from that cloud! Now having lived down near Aberdeen, moisture surely would have dropped from it!!

[MichaelinWA]

Some positive pub in Money this month (best places to retire).

Money Magazine - Sequim, WA

3 Couples Who Took the Plunge

Originally Posted by vegasgal47

Geez, we were told in April that it is sunny 300 days a year. This is one place we considered retiring at.