Seattle Weather misconception... (Pacific: homes, refrigerator, college)

[CUDavidBanner]

Why is it everyone criticizes Seattle's weather? All I hear is depression this and suicide that. But, Seattle gets nearly 10 inches less rain than places like Atlanta, GA and Raleigh, NC. And Ohio has more overcast days. So, it seems unfair that Seattle gets chastised for its weather. From the outside looking in Seattle weather seems ideal. The only place comparable I think is SoCal.

Am I right, or is Seattle's weather a precursor for depression.

[compltlyme]

Here we are in the depths of winter...today Blue skies and sunshine!!!

The rain can be long...as the clouds and this bout with snow we just had... yeah rough. But this place is green for a reason... the same say the Southern California Desert is Brown for a reason...

Having lived in both places...Give me Seattle weather anytime!

[scirocco22]

I think that's the first time I've heard anybody say that Seattle weather and Socal's weather are "comparable." ...hmmmm, I'll have to think on that one.

--'rocco

[noplacelikeWA]

Rain is not the bad part of Seattle weather, it is the damp grey days in between that run on and on and on for weeks at a time. It is green for a reason and it is the most beautiful part of the US to live July through September.

[Seattletony]

Its funny but I made this point awhile back. There is obviously no denying the fact that the winters damp and the sky is overcast but you don't get greenery without rain and you also don't get clean air. As always with us in this part of the country misconception, inaccurrate knowledge, and percieved national perception reigns supreme (no pun intended). Per Sperlings best places, Seattle gets on average 155 (five months) days of sun, 151 days of precipitation of some sort and 59 days of partly cloudy weather. Also if you look at W. Washington and W. Oregon in comparison to the rest of the west i.e. California, Neveda, Utah, and Arizona, we do get a considerable amount of rain but lets keep in mind that the majority of these states especially in there southern parts are deserts. So its also a matter of perspective. I will take the western part of the Pacific northwest in terms of natural beauty, culture, and people over any part of the United States. Below are yearly averages of the climate for Seattle.

Month Avg. High Avg. Low Avg. Precip. Rec. High Rec. Low
January 46.0° F 36.0° F 5.13 in 64.0°
(01/20/1981)
0.0° F
(01/31/1950)

February 50.0° F 37.0° F 4.18 in 70.0°
(02/27/1968)
1.0° F
(02/01/1950)

March 53.0° F 39.0° F 3.75 in 75.0°
(03/31/1987)
11.0° F
(03/04/1955)

April 58.0° F 42.0° F 2.59 in 85.0°
(04/30/1976)
29.0° F
(04/05/1975)

May 64.0° F 47.0° F 1.78 in 93.0°
(05/21/1963)
28.0° F
(05/01/1954)

June 70.0° F 52.0° F 1.49 in 96.0°
(06/30/1995)
38.0° F
(06/12/1952)

July 75.0° F 55.0° F 0.79 in 100.0°
(07/20/1994)
43.0° F
(07/02/1954)

August 76.0° F 56.0° F 1.02 in 99.0°
(08/09/1960)
44.0° F
(08/14/1955)

September 70.0° F 52.0° F 1.63 in 98.0°
(09/02/1988)
35.0° F
(09/27/1972)

October 60.0° F 46.0° F 3.19 in 89.0°
(10/01/1987)
28.0° F
(10/19/1949)

November 51.0° F 40.0° F 5.90 in 74.0°
(11/04/1949)
6.0° F
(11/15/1955)

December 46.0° F 36.0° F 5.62 in 64.0°
(12/10/1993)
6.0° F

[Seattletony]

Also Seattle weather is not comaprable to Socal but you can make the arguement that Seattle and the bay area are similar in temperature in most years. On Average, if its 47 in Seattle it is 55 in San Francisco. There is also this misconception that all of California has weather like LA which is totally false. I have travelled many times to Norcal on buisness weeks at a time in the winter and there weather was much like W. Washington/Oregon. Here is my simple rule of thumb rain=green/clean no rain=brown and dirty. Also outside of the beach towns and areas of Socal much of it is desert with the worse air polution in the country. Also places like Vegas and Phoenix are nomans land in the summer. Having sun is great when you can be out in it and enjoy it during the day time. Vegas, Phoenix, and inland Socal get close to 180 days of deathly heat(not exactly family picnic weather) yeah yeah its a dry heat all that means is that your sweat evaporates quicker which can be misleading when it comes to dehydration. So basically you will be living in a refrigerator for 6 months. Seattle truly has four seasons. Look up the word paradise in your dictionary and that basically describes the western part of the pacific northwest. "Garden like conditions"

[scirocco22]

--delete--

[scirocco22]

P.S. One thing I do miss is being able to drink water from the tap. --and not having water spots over everything once the water drys. Yeah, that I miss.

--'rocco

[compltlyme]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

P.S. One thing I do miss is being able to drink water from the tap. I REALLY miss that! --and not having water spots over everything once the water drys. Yeah, that I miss.

--'rocco

funny you should say that... one of the things we LOVE is not only being able to drink water from the tap but to drink COLD water from the tap. You don't need ice here!

I know you are ready for warm after so many years of cold... but that is why I am here...after so many years of HOT I am ready for cool. It is all in how you see it.

As I said...give me green and refreshing anyday. Love opening up the windows and feeling that cool breeze on those summer nights. Instead of trying to keep cool in a hot pool at midnight. Or running the AC 24/7 from April to October every year. And remember getting into your car with out burning your hands on the steering wheel.. Yeah I got that now!!

[Seattletony]

I could see how someone living in a place consistently for 50 years would want a change in environment absolutely nothing wrong with that but as for me, I have had my fill of moving and come to the realization that I'm a Seattle guy all around. The last place I moved to was Phoenix, AZ but my reasoning wasn't weather it was a couple of things. First, wife to be was in Phoenix and second, at the time I could not afford to live in the Seattle area I was a recent college graduate making recent college graduate money and it was tough. At the time I moved to Phoenix, 3 bedroom 2 bath with pool homes were going for $110,000. Your standard home in the Seattle area was going for no less than $250K so I made the move. The first year of being there was good because of the novelty of being in a new place but after that first year I started to get really homesick for Seattle. Don't get me wrong, there were things I liked about Phoenix but Seattle was more me culturally, natural setting, and climate wise yes climate. Like you scirocco22 I was an advid runner who ran year round in Seattle. I couldn't do that in Phoenix either day or night for literally a 180 days. Like alot of people who say the rain gets to them the heat got to me and I spent most days indoors depressed. The first year I was there the heat didn't bother me and I used to even go out and do yard work. Hindsight being 20/20 that wasn't the wisest thing to do even in the morning becasuse the sun would rise at 5:45 a.m.

So the long hot springs/summers/falls started to wear on me and so did the air pollution in the winter. Believe it or not the only time the air was clean in Phoenix was after a good rain. Not having water was another factor. Being from Seattle I was used to seeing and being near water. Phoenix along with Vegas, and most of Socal was brown with concrete paved over it with ridiculous sprawl. I just couldn't take it anymore and moved back home to the most naturally stunning city in the U.S.A. Seattle is beautiful year round rain or shine no one can deny that fact!!!!