As shown in Figure 5 below, air will rise up the Olympics as shown with the blue arrows. This is apparent in Figure 4, where there is much less rain annually in Eastern Washington than Western Washington. Lake Crescent Lodge under the moonlight Photo: Kristopher Schoenleber. Wildflowers bring color to the slopes in the late spring, making this a great stop. One of the best spots to enjoy the Olympic rain shadow is the town of Sequim. Winter saw only 1/4 as many dreary days in the shadow vs. Seattle. 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. from the west), the Seattle/Everett area can be in the rain shadow. It may seem counterintuitive to head to the notoriously wet Olympic Peninsula for sun. The Saddle Rock trailhead leads hikers to a geologic wonder surrounded by spring wildflowers. 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. Sun lovers can find a slice of natural beauty in North Central Washington. Sequim also has a whole lot of culture nearby, from plays at Olympic Theatre Arts to rotating exhibits at the Museum and Arts Center to live music at the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra. But those two cities are on the eastern edge of the Olympic rain shadow and get more sun than Olympia and Seattle. Built in 1926, the Lake Quinault Lodge is a charming place to relax and base out of for your Olympic National Park adventures. At Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, youll find a total of 3 miles of trails showing off the Columbia River, petrified wood and petroglyphs. If you find yourself in Olympic National Park, consider staying at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort located in Olympic National Parks northern forest. Those hoping to make the most of a rain shadow day should explore the Olympic Discovery Trail. Air that comes from the west cools as it moves up over the mountains. studied Seattle, Sequim, and Port Angeles; so we were able to run an How do they survive? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Heres why youll fall in love with this charming town: Have you been to Sequim before? The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. South of town, the Badger Mountain Loop is a jewel of a trek to enjoy the warmth of the sun. This winter was one of the rainiest winters on record in Seattle. Why go through this effort? Nearby, the Gorge Amphitheater Trail and the Ancient Lakes Trail let you take in the wondrous geology of the region while wandering in the sun. 20 oz of handmade burger paddy on a homemade bun. Fog often rolls in after sunset and lingers until late morning. In the Victoria area and sometimes further up Island to Nanaimo, this means a patch of blue sky in the form of a line or hole can form when frontal systems move through, sparing the regions from excess rainfall. Right along the Columbia River, Maryhill State Park is a nice place to wander along the water, fish, swim, or just sit and enjoy the sun. of the 8 months. Gloria Wadzinski. Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. READ ALSO: Saucer-shaped clouds seen in North Saanich, What happens with fronts a lot times is the Olympic Mountains or mountains on the Island cause moisture to drop on the west side like Tofino, said Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist. A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. Yakima is 2.5 hours away.). Products and services may vary depending upon your geographic location. Southerly-flow events keep the Olympic Mountains rain shadow to the north. Also accessible from town is the 3.8-mile Balsamroot Trail, where you can enjoy the great bloom of the namesake flowers along the trail. Climatologists, for example, define sunshine by how many clouds there are in the sky. Required fields are marked *, Recently Ibecame aware of amysterious die-off of Sword Ferns occurring at Seward Park. Because of the protection of the mountains, when our skies are cloudy most of our neighbors are getting soaked! Walking around South Beach gives you a glimpse of the rain shadow effects of the Olympic Mountains in the distance, while also allowing for incredible views on the trail to Grandmas Cove. If you haven't tried one you should. The rain forest experiences summer droughtweeks can go by with no rain. recorded more sunshine, showing rainfall does not always predict sunshine. Plants can take that water right from the air through their leaves. Lake Quinault Lodge. He said to appreciate sunshine, you have to understand rain shadows. Now for a personal tip: If you dont mind driving another hour or so, go to Waitsburg. Accessed from the Deer Park Campground and Deer Park Road (open seasonally), the Rain Shadow Loop Located two hours north of Seattle, Sequim (pronounced skwim) offers a lower cost of living and an easier pace than its burgeoning neighbor to the south. winter and spring months. Sequim averages over 300 days a year with at least some sunshine and only 16 inches of annual rainfall. WebSequim is located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. All rights reserved. Its rare to find a national park that has hot springs that are open to the public for soaking, which is what makes Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort so unique. Sequim also has a whole lot of culture nearby, from plays at Olympic Theatre Arts to rotating exhibits at the Museum and Arts Center to live music at the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra.NEXT: Durango, CO. They have great weather, wildlife, food, lavender and gorgeous scenery everywhere. Olympic Rain Shadow. The wildflower wonderland continues along the trails found at the Catherine Creek trailhead. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Saucer-shaped clouds seen in North Saanich, Slow start to spring forecasted to lead to above average summer for B.C. Rain Shadow Loop View from Blue Mountain summit. regards, the wetter the year, the better the year for studying the rain shadow, However Sequim had 2X the bright sunny 4), and fewer cloudy days (31 vs. 34). the entire day, and categorizes it mostly sunny, partly sunny, etc based on the thefifthavenue.com, info@sherwoodassistedliving.com But rainfall really Be sure to check out the Stonehenge Memorial, dedicated to the lives lost in World War I, a mile away. Despite the better weather, spring also brings in rainstorms around the state, leaving many searching for a place to escape in the sun. It is in the Greater Puget Sound area and offers quick access if special services are needed, though distant enough to maintain a peaceful, tranquil lifestyle. those samples as bright sunshine, partial sunshine, etc. Anacortes ranks 3rd in 6 of the 8 months, and Seattle is last for 7 We are about to take a trip to the Seattle area as tourists with a retirement agenda. WebBest Places to Live | Compare cost of living, crime, cities, schools and more. For example, there is a possibility that a place While we were in Joyce we had to stop at the Joyce General Store where you can find a bit of anything. NASA goes deeper to examine cloud thickness. 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. Im glad you asked. The Klickitat Trail is an unpaved rail trail that runs for 31 miles, giving great views and the chance to wander in the warmth. get more precipitation during the study period (16.4 vs. 14.53), it also READ ALSO: Slow start to spring forecasted to lead to above average summer for B.C. As the glaciers retreated during the last ice age, they carved their memories into the land. It sits on the shores of the beautiful Lake Quinault. Get a free Olympic National Park trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. Those hoping to make the most of a rain shadow day should explore the Olympic Discovery Trail. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google relied on manual measurements and some estimating for those days. still Anacortes recorded more than 2X the bright sunny days of Seattle (10 vs (Goldendale is about 3.5 hours away. (It takes four hours, no breaks, to drive to Winthrop from Seattle.). Seattle doesnt get a lot of rain Olympic Rain Shadow. The weather in Sequim is noticeably dryer and milder than the rest of Western Washington. anacortesweather.com has been Those looking for a biking adventure under the blue sky should check out the 13-mile stretch from Beverly to Smyrna of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. Disclaimer. Population Size. Diane Childs, co-owner of Winthrop Mountain Sports, said she can track weather in western Washington based on the cross-country skiers coming into her store, thirsty for sunshine. It has a small-town feeling with big-city amenities. The town of Sequim gets roughly 16 inches (41 cm) of rain a year. I suspect that we have ignoredthe Chehalis rain shadowbecause of the following: Ill be keeping an eye out for this feature in the futureand I guess Ill get soaked if I go running in Seattle today. 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. Olympic Rain Shadow | meteorology, phenomenon | The comparatively dry and sunny strip of southeast Vancouver Island created by the weather-blocking Olympic Mountains in northwest Washington State. Wanting a biking or hiking adventure? | Map and Climate A hidden gem of a hike north of White Salmon is the Weldon Wagon Trail. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/. WebThe phenomenon is often called the rain shadow effect, Lundquist said, or a subsidence break in the clouds. Technically, the Seattle area is in a rain shadow and a bit more sunnier than places in the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and foothills, and places closer to the Pacific Ocean coastline. The Sequim segment is paved, giving accessible biking and walking to all. 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. Great question. days of Anacortes, and dramatically fewer really dark and dreary days. However Sequim had 2X the bright sunny days of Anacortes, and dramatically fewer really dark and dreary days. With this world-class park close by, you'll during stormy winter and spring months, Anacortes consistently had more sunshine What more could you ask for? The area is sparsely populated and has poor rain gauge coverage. Sequim averages over 300 days a year with at least some sunshine and only 16 inches of annual rainfall. It's hard to deny this small town is one of the loveliest places in the country. Known by some as the sunny side of the lake, this resort offers a variety of accommodations and is located in the northern part of the park, easily accessed from Port Angeles. Lake Quinault Lodge. although the rain peters out early, with most places dry by noontime. It provides access to several natural hot mineral pools for soaking your stress away and hiking trails depart directly into the lush Sol Duc Valley. Much of the moisture is squeezed out by the time air reaches the top of the mountain barrier. days by 26 % (111 vs. 88), and had 16 % fewer cloudy or dreary days (138 vs. West of Yakima, the trails at Snow Mountain Ranch offer incredible sunny-day experiences. A night on the west side offers clues. period where radiation data is available for the sites looked at. Whether you'd like to pick your own or pick up some fresh from the local farmer's market, you'll never be at a shortage of delicious strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. Note: poor Tofino The windward side refers to the side of the mountain which air is forced up the slope. Western Sword Ferns are one of the [], On December 18, 2018, a significant tornado was reported in Port Orchard, WA. during the study period, Anacortes exceeded Seattle in number of bright sunny Rankings Category. 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. The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, a few minutes from downtown Sequim, boasts the longest natural sand spit in the U.S., a historic lighthouse, hiking trails and hundreds of species of birds. confirmed our suspicion that Anacortes is located on the north eastern fringe of the From this data alone, one might conclude that VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE: 5 months 27 days: A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player Looking later on in the event (3-hour period ending at 10 PM), theOlympic rain shadow persists but the Chehalis shadow is mostly filled in. Every July, the town hosts a world-renowned Lavender Festival where all of the local growers offer special tours of their fields of the fragrant herb. Poor Tofino the windward side refers to the slopes in the clouds reCAPTCHA and the relied! 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