Seattle, long dubbed “Rain City,” finds itself in a meteorological twist this year. Despite its reputation, Seattle’s 2024 rainfall has officially lagged behind Los Angeles and San Francisco, cities known for their sunny skies and coastal fog, respectively.
According to Seattle’s National Weather Service, while Seattle has collected only 12.91 inches of rainfall this year–just 86% of its usual total–Los Angeles and San Francisco have exceeded their norms.
Los Angeles, typically synonymous with sunshine and the occasional drought periods, most recently between 2020 to 2022, has seen an almost record-breaking 15.33 inches of rainfall, which is 194% of its normal amount. San Francisco also saw more-than-average precipitation, clocking in at #2 with 13.58 inches, which is 183% of its normal rainfall. Even San Diego saw floods and rainfall reaching 10.89 inches, more than 183% of its normal rainfall.
Still, Seattle’s reputation for rain is well-deserved. However, breaking down why we have the reputation is interesting: According to The Weather Channel, the city experiences an average of 152 rainy days per year, which is significantly higher than most U.S. cities.
It’s important to note though, that in weather metrics, a rainy day refers to any 24-hour period where a minimum of one-hundredth of an inch (0.01 inches) of precipitation falls, including rain, melted snow, or melted ice. So while, it rains more often in a calendar year, the rainfall amount simply isn’t just as much.
This February, the West Coast was experiencing a powerful Pineapple Express atmospheric storm, contributing to the rainfall. The NWS also cites El Niño as a leading cause, as these warmer Pacific waters create conditions that favor stronger and more frequent Pineapple Express storms, ultimately bringing tons of rain to SoCal.
For Seattleites, the shift in typical weather patterns offer a slight break from the norm, as we’re breaking out our rain coats less (because (who in Seattle uses an umbrella)?