Seattle is situated on a series of hills in a lowland area on Puget Sound's eastern shore between the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the east. Westerly air currents from the ocean and the shielding effects of the Cascade range produce a mild and moderately moist climate, with warm winters and cool summers. Extremes in temperature are rare and of short duration, and the daily fluctuation is slight. While Seattle is known for its pronounced rainy season and frequent cloudy weather, the average annual rainfall is actually less than that of many other cities in the United States, including New York and Atlanta.
Area: 83.9 square miles (2000)
Elevation: Sea level to 450 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: January, 40.8° F; August, 66.1° F; annual average, 52.4° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 36.6 inches