Seattle 101: How much does it really rain in Seattle?

Another gray day in Seattle // Courtesy www.seattle.gov

It's hard to mention Seattle to outsiders without someone cracking a joke about umbrellas, rain slickers, galoshes, or various other rain accoutrements that Seattleites barely use.

So if you're new in town -- or if you're thinking of making a move -- what can you really expect from Seattle's infamous weather?  Will you be waterlogged for most of the year? 

The short answer is yes ... and no.  Seattle weather is complicated, and widely misunderstood.  For example, the average annual rainfall in Seattle is 36 inches -- that's less rain than New York City sees in a year.  It's not even ranked as one of the top 10 rainiest cities in America.  So what gives?

Well, it might not rain especially hard in Seattle (you'll almost never experience humid days with dramatic thunderstorms), but it drizzles often.  The city averages 226 cloudy days a year, with the majority of those falling between October and May. 

But if you can stand the clouds, the weather is actually fairly temperate thanks to Seattle's unique position between two mountain ranges and several major bodies of water (especially compared to other parts of the state).  Winters rarely drop below freezing (although this past year was an exception), and summers tend to be hot and dry, with record-breaking temperatures expected this weekend.

The truth is, Seattle's cloudiness can get you down sometimes -- and it's debatable whether the long, glorious summers days actually make the short, rainy winter days worthwhile (some people say Seattle only has two seasons).  But there are advantages, too.  Seattle's clouds give it character and shape its culture, right down to the music scene and coffeeshop on every corner.