Recently several people have asked us if it was always like this in Sequim. By
it, we took it to mean, driving rain, gale-force wind, fog, humidity, and bone-chilling temperatures in October and November. We answered, 'yes.' The last two and a half years we've been in Sequim, it even snowed on April Fool's Day.
Some even dared to ask about the famous claim to
'300 days of sunshine' a year. Questioning Sequim's perennially "sunny" weather results in robotic 'boos' and scorn as if we broke a
secret society's vow of silence. Half the people we ask claim the cloud, fog and rain are unusual. The other half say it's always been like this except for a few sunny weeks in summer.
So far this year, noticeable precipitation was recorded on 135 days. I used station
KWASEQUI12, a non MADIS station, and eliminated precipitation less than 0.01 in. Precipitation includes snow, freezing rain, hail, rain, "rain shower," and other states and forms of water.
In November so far, it has rained every day except for five days. Today I could not see out my windshield unless I put the wiper at full speed. I was going 45 miles per hour. Today's driving rain in Sequim began late morning and lasted until shortly after dinner.
The "rain shadow" effect seemed plausible until I got soaked by walking outside for 10 minutes. Granted, it doesn't rain as much in Sequim. But it rains frequently here. 135 days and counting.
If you're used to frequent rain and mostly cloudy days, and desire less rainfall, Sequim is a great start. If you would like a desert-like feel and climate, Phoenix would be a better bet. Because in Sequim, on average, there is precipitation once every three days--or more often.
Some day soon, we will be invited to join the secret society and be sworn to perpetuate the fallacy.
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