Seattle Weather/Climate Thread (Tacoma, Everett: utilities, storage, reservoir)

[dav51lin]

summer can never be too long in western wa

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by Xanathos

Not entirely true. One thing I've noticed about Denver weather (I spend about 1/3 of my time there at this point) is that the weather can be a bit of a whipsaw. For example, by the time Seattle had its first 80 degree day this year, Denver had already had probably 7 or 8, with another 20 or so days in the 70's. The reason for the "late springs" has to do with the fact that it can be 75 one day and, literally, 28 degrees the next. It's just unpredictable, which is why all the locals say to not plant anything or blow out your sprinklers until Mother's Day. Which didn't so much work this year because a freak snowstorm blew through between Colorado and Illlinois in late May. But things were absolutely blooming in April. I saw them with my own eyes. And it is, dare I say, just as green today as it is in Seattle. I'm not sure the logic tracks that trees blooming a bit later is somehow more depressing than living under a grey umbrella without sight of the sun for months straight. Still trying to track this "intense sun" thing. Enough people say it that I figure there has to be some truth to it, but I was in town yesterday, it was 85 degrees, and it felt...85 degrees. I think people saying th at might be meaning that it doesn't feel hotter, but it's harsher on the skin and requires more liberal use of sunscreen or other products, which I can believe. Interestingly, the afternoons feel a lot cooler because (and this is a limited data set) every day at around 3 o clock, storm clouds roll in and it pours rain for about 10 minutes...then it's sunny again for the rest of the day. Like, it seems to do it about every day I've seen throughout the spring.


The methodology for dealing with the non-existent daylight hours in Seattle during the winter is great in theory, but in reality doesn't work, from my experience. Nobody wants to go out and be active in a damp, dank, half-dark gloomy day. You've pretty much got to take a trip to California or Hawaii or something to break the cycle. It's the only way we were able to deal with it as long as we did.

I wouldn't say "no one." I quite like what I call "moody weather" days. Yes, I may be looking for some sunshine after weeks of it (sans the heat) but I love it all the same... and would even prefer it super hot and humid no matter what. I am making sure to take vitamin D in WA :-) LOL

[freepelican]

Originally Posted by Kayela

Tons of places to go kayaking. The Pugent Sound for example. Just within the Seattle metro area you have 20-mile long Lake Washington, Lake Union, Green Lake, Bitter Lake, Haller Lake, Lake Sammamish, and you also have things like the Ballard locks, the Montlake Cut, and Portage Bay. And that's without leaving town.

Anything that needs full sun and heat does 'meh' here unless you give it a good start indoors, and have raised beds in a sunny area. Tomatoes and peppers will grow, but do not really develop the flavor they do in a hotter climate. Cool weather plants (legumes, squash, etc) do great here, and the mild weather means you have a longer growing season than you'd think this far north. This is an amazing area for growing flowers, and you won't believe the arrangements you can buy for $10-20 at the farmer's markets.

Across the mountains to the east are some world class orchards, and there is nothing like a sun-ripened peach straight from the tree. Considering your interest in both gardening and sun - is Eastern Washington a possibility for you? Not as green as Seattle, but also not nearly as brown as CO. Someplace like Bend, OR might also be good.

The one exception I found was certain varieties of cherry tomatoes.... excellent flavor and can grow well in cooler climates. If you want really good beef stake tomatoes, then I tend to agree with you.

[PhoenixSomeday]

Anyone have pics of what it looks like outside right now in your area, in terms of the greenery?

[Mokba5]

I have a theory we're going to have a cold, snowy winter this year. The forest fires have been bad, so there's lots of smoke and particles in the air from both the West Coast and Siberia. The smoke will lower temperatures as well as provide nucleation points for precipitation which will combine with it being a la nina year, on top of having lots of snow the past couple years.

[uniquetraveler]

Such a strange year! So many records in one year..

-One of the longest stretches of dry days during the May-August time period
- Few of hottest days in recorded Seattle history in August
- Wettest fall in few decades (Oct-Nov)
- Highest snowfall in 30 years (Dec)

[dav51lin]

Originally Posted by uniquetraveler

Such a strange year! So many records in one year..

-One of the longest stretches of dry days during the May-August time period
- Few of hottest days in recorded Seattle history in August
- Wettest fall in few decades (Oct-Nov)
- Highest snowfall in 30 years (Dec)

prob been wettest spring in years and its been
very cold

[rjshae]

It looks like we may be in for another El Niño in the climate cycle, which may mean a warmer and dryer than normal Summer in the Northwest.

El Niño and La Niña Information (weather.gov)

ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere spring, followed by a 62% chance of El Niño developing during May-July 2023.

El Niño is coming. Here's what that means for weather in the U.S. (NPR)

"There's a 62% chance that El Niño will develop during the May–July period, and more than 80% chance of El Niño by the fall," according to NOAA's Emily Becker.

But because of the new trend of warmer sea surface temperatures, Taalas added, "El Niño will most likely lead to a new spike in global heating and increase the chance of breaking temperature records" that were only recently set.

[rjshae]

The forecast is for 90° F temperatures on Sunday and Monday (5/14-5/15). Time to get those ice cube trays filled.

[Hemlock140]

Our forecast last night was for snow overnight here in Sammamish, at 615' elevation. We woke up to wet but clear, and 37F so no snow, and it was no longer in the forecast. I got to the office downtown Seattle where it was 40F and received an email from one of my employees, along with a picture. She was going to be a few minutes late due to the snow on her car - in Seattle, near the zoo! I wouldn't have believed it without the picture. A real weather oddity.