Disclaimer. The Olympic Mountains rain shadow is widely recognized in the Pacific Northwest, but lesser-known rain shadows can also occasionally form downstream of smaller mountain ranges. Due to the mountains that surround the region and other parts of B.C., such as the Okanagan, weather can vary over small distances. Climatologists, for example, define sunshine by how many clouds there are in the sky. Most stock quote data provided by BATS. They are Phoenix, Las Vegas and Omak, Washington a small, dusty town in northeast Washington. Yakima is 2.5 hours away.). studied Seattle, Sequim, and Port Angeles; so we were able to run an This area includes Sequim, which sees about 16 inches of rain annually. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 Fast food is no match for the local restaurants here serving homemade meals. solar insolation is 1st Sequim, 2nd Port Angeles, 3rd READ ALSO: Slow start to spring forecasted to lead to above average summer for B.C. The Olympic Mountains rain shadow is widely recognized in the Pacific Northwest, but lesser-known rain shadows can also occasionally form downstream of smaller mountain ranges. There are other ways to measure sunshine. Part of a larger trail system, the Lightning Trail is known for great views and more wildflowers. The weather in Sequim is noticeably dryer and milder than the rest of Western Washington. But since the Olympics are a bit unique (clump of mtns rather than range), and situated as they are with the Puget Sound leeward, the rainshadow in the Olympics falls over an awful lot of water and waterfront. The table above shows that However Sequim had 2X the bright sunny Your best bet for outdoor exploration is found around Richland. NASA also considers how long the sun is in the sky. and/or its affiliates. Plants can take that water right from the air through their leaves. It has a small-town feeling with big-city amenities. If thats not sunny enough for you, drive south to Klickitat County or a few hours north to Omak or Winthrop. Its the best of both worlds. Here are the data and analysis that led to our conclusion. Anacortes ranks 3rd in 6 of the 8 months, and Seattle is last for 7 Sequim averages over 300 days a year with at least some sunshine and only 16 inches of annual rainfall. In order to reach the other side of these towering peaks, moisture must be released. Rankings Category. | Sequim Weather Average rainfall in Sequim is 16 inches.). They actually have a significant role to play in the annual average precipitation totals of our region. There are two main locations in Washington State that are impacted by rain shadows. Lake Quinault Lodge. The northeastern parts of the Olympic Peninsula lie in a dry rain shadow. Rain Shadow Loop View from Blue Mountain summit. For contrast, Seattle receives about 38 inches per year, while some areas on the SW side of the Olympics see around 200 inches annually. It will be held this year from July 15-17. The area is sparsely populated and has poor rain gauge coverage. Because of the protection of the mountains, when our skies are cloudy most of our neighbors are getting soaked! With impact on the weather in Anacortes. Theres more solar radiation closer to the equator, which is why counties in southeastern Washington get the most solar radiation. Enjoy the broad beaches and dynamic sea life of the intertidal zones. At Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, youll find a total of 3 miles of trails showing off the Columbia River, petrified wood and petroglyphs. Lavender may be what the town's known for, but you can find some of the sweetest berries around here too. One of the best spots to enjoy the Olympic rain shadow is the town of Sequim. The Saddle Rock trailhead leads hikers to a geologic wonder surrounded by spring wildflowers. Read more about Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. receives 26.28 of precipitation, compared to 35.86 in Seattle, and 25.57 in This seaside hotel is not only charming, but everything about it encourages you to get outside, enjoy Olympic National Park and practice being a good steward of the Earth, often without you realizing it. Sequim is an anomaly in the Pacific Northwest: The town averages just 16 inches of precipitation a year, thanks to its location in the "rain shadow" of the Olympics. Because they're located by the shores of Sequim Bay, along the Dungeness River, and near Discovery Bay, the water activities are almost endless. Lake Crescent Lodge in Olympic National Park. Framed by the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Port Angeles is wildly scenic and much more than just a handy place to stock up and refuel before heading to Olympic National Park or taking the ferry to Victoria, B.C. WebThe ranger station of Quinault in the SW foothills of the mountains receives 137.21 inches of rain, and Mt Olympus itself receives roughly 220 inches of rain a year, while locations within the rain shadow receive on average only about 20 inches of rain per year. After it didnt move for an hour I took a look at the radar loop and noticed that the feature was stationary and persistent. The Sequim segment is paved, giving accessible biking and walking to all. The rain shadow is also referred to as the Banana Belt because of the shape of the rain shadow on meteorological images. You can also rent boats and slide into the water from a pier right out front. 160). since it only forms during stormy periods. : Weather Network. More adventurous folks have their choice of a few trails that allow for early wildflower sightings and a full day in the sun. Near Chelan, those hoping for an easy day can walk or ride their bikes around town with ease. Terms of Service apply. Our Territory: AAA Washington proudly serves AAA members residing in Washington & Northern Idaho. Gloria Wadzinski. 1st for number of mostly sunny days in 7 of the 8 months, while Accessed from the Deer Park Campground and Deer Park Road (open seasonally), the Rain Shadow Loop This area is too far away from the NWS ground-based radars to be obvious. Rain Shadow Annual Days of Sunshine Report to view There it is, wet-siders. Those cities have good wine and food and get 194 days of sunshine a year. Farther up the Columbia River, youll find plenty of spring sun adventures around the Tri-Cities. In this case, it is an example of the Olympic Rain Shadow. Tucked in the trees at the edge of Lake Crescent, the charming Lake Crescent Lodge, built in 1915, features a fine dining restaurant, a glassed-in porch and an extremely cozy lobby, complete with a roaring fireplace and trophy elk on the walls. WebSeattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver and Bellingham are all located on the west side of the state. How do they survive? You probably won't see herds of Roosevelt Elk like this around Seattle, or the wide variety of birds. The first is associated with the Olympic mountains, shown in the circled region. Thanks to the Olympic rain shadow, storms and moisture rolling in from the coast are blocked by the mountains, creating a sphere of minimal rain and better weather on the northeast peninsula and San Juan Islands. The location of the rain shadow is not always exact; it depends on the direction of the wind. Mountain bikers looking for an enjoyable ride should head to the Lightning Trail just west of town. Or Walla Walla. We can see this in Figure 3 in where some of the higher totals are located (the red colors), which also happens to be where rain forests are located. Figure 2 above shows an example of a rain shadow on radar imagery. Delicious! A 5-mile round trip with moderate elevation gain, this trail is known by locals for its sweeping views and great spring wildflowers. To answer this we need to look at Access these beaches via short trails through the dense coastal forest. Lake Quinault Lodge. During the winter months, the rain shadow effect in was not as dramatic, but Yakima County is second. I like rain, he said. Out in Joyce @Blackberry Cafe sharing a Sasquatch burger six ways. Anacortes, and last Seattle. We are about to take a trip to the Seattle area as tourists with a retirement agenda. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. My daughter used to live in Sitka Alaska and we visited often. Greater Victoria is often caught bragging about its favourable climate to other Canadians and a great blue hole that sometimes hovers over the area is further proof of just how great the weather can be. Do Not Sell, Last updated September 16 2008: 11:21 AM ET. A drive to Wenatchee gives even more opportunities to enjoy the spring sun. examines solar radiation recorded and averaged every 30 minutes, categorizing Located at the southern area of the park near the Quinault Rain apples-to-apples sunshine comparison over a 12 month period2. | About. Right off of Interstate 90, a half-dozen trails help sun seekers make the most of clear skies and warm temperatures around Vantage. A WarnerMedia Company. outdistanced Seattle with 38% more bright sunny days and 22% fewer cloudy or Heres why youll fall in love with this charming town: Have you been to Sequim before? An interesting feature was apparent on radar this afternoon (Feb 28, 2018) as a warm front approached the Olympic Coast: Where would you recommend visiting? was quite dramatic in Anacortes. As air rises up the slopes of a mountain, it cools and condenses, thus creating cloudswhich leads to enhanced precipitation. Once the air gets up over the mountain, the reverse process happens it gets warmer and drier as it moves down the mountain range and heads east. The days are growing longer, and warmer temperatures are on the horizon. monthly reports, and study methodologies. 1 Precipitation data from the Western Olympic Rain Shadow.
WebThe phenomenon is often called the rain shadow effect, Lundquist said, or a subsidence break in the clouds. WA Its a small, quaint town thats perfect if youre looking for a peaceful way of life, with an abundance of lavender farms everywhere and warm weather almost every day. Surrounded by the majestic Olympic Peninsula and the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca, its no wonder that Sequim is regularly named one of the best places in the nation to retire. Im glad you asked. The wildflower wonderland continues along the trails found at the Catherine Creek trailhead. recorded more sunshine, showing rainfall does not always predict sunshine. 8. Similar weather effects are also found in the interior of B.C., Lundquist said, making the clearer skies a constant for people who live on the eastern side of a mountain.
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