University of WashingtonWeather Summary

Written by Emily Sugiyama

Emily Sugiyama

Hometown

Seattle, WA

Major

English/Women's Studies

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Seattle has a very mellow marine climate, and Seattlites have a relatively limited view of seasons. There's plenty of rainfall, and it comes in long, dull drizzles, rarely in concentrated downpours. But the surroundings definitely benefit from the rain, with plenty of lush, year-round greenery. Snowfall is such an event here that it becomes first priority on all the local news channels. Local high schools close for as little as a couple inches. But many say Seattle summers come pretty close to perfection, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around the 70s and 80s.

Some in-state students enjoy the constant drizzle, and there are many who don't tolerate it well. But if you're from a sunnier, more southern state like California, beware of the potential winter blues. Plenty of students from locales with less rain absolutely detest the rainfall that Seattle sees day after day for much of the fall and winter, and some out-of-staters accustomed to more extreme seasons feel that Seattle can get very dreary during the middle of the year. So it depends on your temperament, but one piece of advice is to stay in Seattle during the summer. It definitely makes up for the rest of the year.