Moving to Oak Harbor (Seattle, Pacific: school, living, budget)

[tracienjim]

We are planning to move to the Oak Harbor area and were wondering if any one could tell us if it rains alot there?

[allforcats]

Hi. The average rainfall map below shows probably 25+ inches per year around Oak Harbor. That part of Whidbey Island is in what we call the "rain shadow", meaning less rain falls in that area than in other areas. Seattle's annual average rainfall is about 36".

Rainfall Map of the Pacific Northwest

In living color:
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printab...precip_wa3.pdf
If you enlarge it to, say, 200% you can see Oak Harbor's location clearly, and the color, then check the legend to the left of the map for rain totals.

[Whidbey]

Not a lot of rain, it drizzles/mists/whispers. I've been here about 15 years and you get a drizzle in the wintertime. In fact, most of us are used to it and don't even use an umbrella. It's more an annoyance than something that gets you wet. I wear glasses, and it's not bad.

We did have a thunderstorm or two over the last year, which was neat and highly unusual for Coupeville!

We are in the rain shadow, and Oak Harbor too--and I know it's true because my spouse spent time in Seattle while I stayed here--we thought about moving there. But, I'd say, "Boy, it's nice up here!" And it usually wasn't in Seattle.

[jenniferwa]

are you making a funny--------does it rain alot??? This is washington.

[Whidbey]

No, I'm not being funny.

The past two days--sunny and lovely on the island. Spouse was in Seattle, raining.

You're from OK, I see. We don't get the TX and FL rain--rarely.

Today, on the island, it was windy and raining. But, even though it was definitely raining, it was a steady, annoying "medium?" one--and it was pouring on the mainland. We can get our rain a little sideways during fall and spring storms.

I pick my kids up at school each afternoon. Last year, I honestly can't remember a day when I got rained on (that doesn't mean it didn't rain beforehand, just that life works in mysterious ways and benefits the parents). This school year, today was a bit drizzly, but everyone still got out of the car and walked to get their kids instead of sitting in the car pick-up line.

What everyone in Washington and this latitude get are shorter days in the winter and long, glorious days in the summer. We do get short days with days of high overcast clouds (i.e. gray). Solution: go on a trip to visit family, or low-budget: read, knit, go outside anyway (it's never as bad as it looks), have lots of parties, go to the gym, work on a project, volunteer, etc.

So, there is a long-winded bit of info. re: the rain shadow. Conclusion: it does exist, it is to your benefit, it is on NORTH and CENTRAL Whidbey.

[SeaDreams]

Hey there tracienjim...

We're also going to be relocating to the island in mid-January. We've been researching this move since June - and are SO excited! We've gotten a lot of great information from CD to help doing it, and everyone here has been great. If there's anything you need in addition to weather, just ask! Hope this works well for you!