Why does northwest Washington often have rainy weather?

Why does northwest Washington often have rainy weather?

When moist winds blow inland with an approaching storm, the high terrain of the Cascade Range forces the moist air to rise into the atmosphere, enhancing the thick clouds and steady rainfall. The rain that does fall in Seattle and Portland, though, falls over a longer period of time.

Does it rain a lot in Pacific Northwest?

The Pacific Northwest is billed as an excessive- ly rainy place, but in reality, it does not live up to its wet reputation in the regions two largest cities: Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. Both cit- ies both receive less precipitation annually (on average less than 40” per year), than New York City or Miami.

Does it rain a lot in Washington state?

Average annual rainfall in Washington is 38.15 inches, which ranks high compared to other U.S. states. Be sure to bring a rain jacket and umbrella on your trip.

Why is Seattle so wet?

What makes Seattle so rainy? Seattle is located slap-bang in the middle of a convergence zone where nearby weather patterns meet. It’s here that different streams of hot air, cold air and moisture collide, forming clouds, rain, hail and snow.

Why is Washington state so Rainy?

The largest ocean on the planet brings a huge amount of moisture over to the state of Washington, carrying it over the Olympic Mountain range. The moisture coming from the Pacific is in the form of vapor, but once it reaches the mountains, the cool air turns it into drops of rain.

Why is the West Coast so Rainy?

In the winter, the westerly winds blow warm moist air onto the West Coast, which makes it rain so much. Since land cools and heats more than the ocean does, the land is much colder than the ocean during the winter. This also is due to the direction of the winds.

How much rain does the Pacific Northwest get?

The Pacific Northwest gets about seven feet of precipitation a year.

Why is Washington so Rainy?

Wet Weather of the Pacific Northwest Low pressure systems are one of the main reasons the Pacific Northwest is so wet and rainy. Building in the Gulf of Alaska, these storms barrel right toward Oregon, Washington, and Canada, dumping condensation on the way.

What is the driest place in Washington State?

In western Washington, the driest location is the rainshadow of the Olympics, where some locations, such as Sequim, enjoy 15-17 inches of precipitation per year. But if you are looking for REALLY dry conditions, you must head to southeastern Washington, where less than ten inches a year reaches the rain gauge.

What is the rainiest month in Washington state?

Average monthly snow and rainfall in Seattle (Washington State)…

• A lot of rain (rainy season) falls in the months: January, February, November and December.
• On average, December is the wettest month with 5.98 inch (152.0 mm) of precipitation.

How often does it rain in Seattle and Portland?

The rain that does fall in Seattle and Portland, though, falls over a longer period of time. Between 1981 and 2010, both cities saw a little more than 150 days with measurable precipitation per year, compared to about 122 rainy days in New York City and just 115 in Mobile.

Why does it rain in the northern hemisphere?

The jet stream is a fast-moving river of air that encircles the Northern Hemisphere right around the latitude of the U.S.-Canadian border. Whenever the jet stream swoops to the south, creating a trough, it can generate low-pressure systems at the surface that produce heavy rain and high winds.

Which is the wettest city in the United States?

Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, each only see around 36 inches of rain every year, which hardly makes these bustling metro areas the wettest in the country.

How much rain can you get in one year?

Some spots at high elevation right along the coast or along the Cascade Range can see more than 10 feet of precipitation in a single year, accounting for both rain and the equivalent amount of liquid in snowfall.