Is it impossible to find a place with all of these desires? (Seattle: cheap home, job market)

[prncsnyc]

Hi there! We are RAIN, SNOW, THUNDER, LIGHTENING lovers who are desperate to leave this dry and sunny hellhole known as Los Angeles.

For a year we thought we were choosing Fort Collins, CO until we went to visit and my husband thought it was too college oriented and the locals told us it doesn't snow very much. We liked Loveland and sort of thought we might move there until we went back to my hometown of Buffalo, NY for a visit to my family.

We just had the best time there in Dec/Jan with the rain and snow. Then I remembered the hot and humid summers and thought maybe not.

We love the idea of Washington because of the cloud cover but a lot of it gets less rain than Buffalo, NY. We liked Forks because of the ridiculous amount of rain (yes, I read all the comments about needing to love the rain and yes, we LOVE rain to the point of it being a bit crazy), but there is no snow to speak of and no thunder. (also, job and housing prospects look dim.)

We absolutely love rain, Thunder & Lightening storms, and snow.
We absolutely hate the sun, heat.

Is there anywhere in WA that fits that description bc I can't seem to find it in these forums.

If not WA, is there somewhere else that we are missing?

At this point, jobs for my husband's field (CG animation/Computer Graphics) are going to spare anywhere but here in Los Angeles but if there is a place that happens to cater to that kind of demographic, we'd also be interested in that.

[AzDreamer]

I know the AZ and NM high country has plenty of snow in the Winter and lots of lightning storms in the Summer. The most intense lightning storm I have ever seen was in AZ. I have been in some pretty wild lightning storms in Florida but it's too hot there for snow.

Here's a U.S. lightning map

NWS Lightning Frequency Safety Map

[509]

Originally Posted by prncsnyc

Hi there! We are RAIN, SNOW, THUNDER, LIGHTENING lovers who are desperate to leave this dry and sunny hellhole known as Los Angeles.

We absolutely love rain, Thunder & Lightening storms, and snow.
We absolutely hate the sun, heat.

Is there anywhere in WA that fits that description bc I can't seem to find it in these forums.

Start with the area north of Spokane. From Colville, eastward to Sandpoint, Idaho and then over to Kalispell, Montana. Stay north of I-90 in that area.

Towns in the area are Colville, Metaline Falls, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, Libby and Kalispell. So you have three states to chose from!!!

You will have plenty of rain and snow in most years. Summers tend to be cool, with low humidities. We have missed summers completely when we lived in that area. One year we had fires in the fireplace....Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day!!! Cool enough for you??

The thunder and lightning will vary year by year, but you should get at least one storm a summer.

Lots more area that will meet your criteria in BC. But then you have to become a Canadian. Though it is fairly easy to get in if you come with $500,000 and an outside income or needed skill.

I don't believe that there is another area in the WEST that will meet your criteria. I don't have a clue about anything east of the Missouri.

[cdelena]

Thunderstorms happen with the clash of hot air rising into a cooler mass... not something commonplace in Washington.

'In the United States, thunderstorms are most common over the Florida Peninsula and the southeast plains of Colorado have the highest frequency of thunderstorms. The greatest severe weather threat in the U.S. extends from Texas to southern Minnesota.'

[509]

More thoughts.....your criteria matches that ecological needs of Western Red Cedar. This link will give you information on Western Red Cedar and a map of its native range. Ignore the stuff in western Washington and Oregon. It just rains there, no snow. Look at eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and BC.

Thuja plicata description

For lightning try this link. Looks like you would get about 20 days of thunderstorms in the area. Hope this is enough!!!

Lightning Strike Regions in the U.S., Thunderstorm Days/Year - National Lightning Safety Institute

You can probably find better maps at the library of the ecological range of Western Red Cedar, lightning strikes, and snowfall. That would pinpoint it for you!!!

[prncsnyc]

Thank you everyone for your replies!

Is there a way to edit my original post? I'm no longer seeing the option. I wanted to say that lightening is not a deal breaker. We can do without it so it's not really a factor like the rain, snow, and thunder.

Also, if we can't have snow where we live bcwe want the rain, we would be happy with an hour or 2 drive to play in the snow. We like sledding lol. Is there anywhere that is driveable from the rainforest areas of WA?

What about the Puget Sound Convergence Zone? I read on a weather site, "Most Convergence Zones are strong enough to produce rain, but depending on how strong the winds are, and if the atmosphere is unstable, you can get strong thunderstorms, hail, or on cold days, heavy snow. It will also bring very heavy snows to the Cascades wherever it sets up -- usually between Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass."

[toyota_mdt_tech]

Originally Posted by prncsnyc

...Is there anywhere in WA that fits that description bc I can't seem to find it in these forums.

Wow, sounds like maybe North Bend, Snoqualmie, Roslyn and areas east of Seattle on Interstate 90 at the foothills of the cascades. Wind, rain, snow, not real hot and not real humid. And still close enough in to the good paying jobs

[bobbilly79]

Northern AZ, mountains of New Mexico sound like the best bet. Monsoon season brings the downpours lightining and thunder. However, in Washington, the central part of the state gets a t-storm or two a year (Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Yakima), has nice warm summers, snowy winters (or close enough to snow). Ellensburg is a college town (I've lived there and think enough of it that I'm moving back this Spring to get my Masters degree). I'm not to fond of Yakima, and not as familiar with Wenatchee as I rarely visited there. Hope this helps

[StealthRabbit]

you have quite a variety of needs (desires)

If Loveland, CO is still on your list I would do that in a heartbeat (my previous home for 25+ yrs). But it does have sunshine, and lots of it + variety of weather. Great place to bike, and a banana belt from harsh winter. (in a storm shadow) The big plus for me is availability of CHEAP lap swimming, and RMNP 1/2 hr away, and WY 1 hr. The lightning on the plains east of town is spectacular. My parents had a home placed on a ridge (no longer possible) and you could see Cheyenne to Denver and east towards Sterling. Storm (and fireworks) watching was very good.

back to WA...
Thunder is more rare than lightning in the PNW, and the bone shaking stuff does not happen. The lightning is more often heat lightning on the we_t side of cascade range, and only a couple flashes per year.

For rain forest and snow, there are lots of places at the foot of cascades (East or west side). Because of the abundant recreation of the Columbia Gorge + being 1 hr from down hill or cross country skiing and 1.5 from the scenic OR coast, and access to a great airport; the WA side of Columbia River near Portland, OR is a good location. I would look to White Salmon or Troutlake if you can find the work you want.
Do realize that the quantity of rain in some of the PNW may seem low, but it comes in the form of drizzle, not downpours... thus it takes a few weeks of drizzle to equal one thunderstorm.

I would also look into the mtns of eastern TN if you want cool and storms (and can handle a bit of summer humidity).
If forest is not required, Nebraska has some very nice people, cheap homes, and great storms.

I would 'get-mobile' and try out a few spots and see what fits.

[KAILANI]

Originally Posted by toyota_mdt_tech

Wow, sounds like maybe North Bend, Snoqualmie, Roslyn and areas east of Seattle on Interstate 90 at the foothills of the cascades. Wind, rain, snow, not real hot and not real humid. And still close enough in to the good paying jobs

That would be my suggestion.

I don't think you would be happy with the Olympic peninsula, It's too mild for what you are looking for. There's mostly drizzle and grey, some days are bright and cold, but not much snow. Also the job market here is virtually GONE..
It's a GREAT place to visit though-come on out!!!!!!
FORKS-no way.. More rain, wet, cold.

I love 190 west of Seattle!!