I then announced to my friend that we were near Sequim. Tampa, Florida. Major cities in Western Washington: Aberdeen. Anchorage, Alaska , What city gets the most sun in Washington state? Walla Walla is located in the southern part of the state just 10 minutes from the border with Oregon. You know you're from Western Washington if Vancouver is also about 10 degrees warmer in the summer and 10 degrees cooler in the winter compared to any town on the Puget Sound. Image: Tory Taglio courtesy Visit Sun Valley. I'd know - I work with Parks Canada in the area outside all day long. A 40-mile paved trail runs the length of town, along the Spokane River, all the way to Coeur dAlene in Idaho next door for ambitious cyclists. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. On average, there are 165 sunny days per year in Washington. Often referred to as "Sunny Sequim," the city sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and receives approximately 16" of annual rainfall, making it one of the driest places in Western . Anchorage, AK With an average of over 230 cloudy days per year, Anchorage is the gloomiest city in the United States. Mount Rainier, Paradise Ranger Station, Washington. Average highs in July and August hover around the 85 degree mark, while winter lows reach about 18 degrees. NASA has identified the worlds sunniest locations and an area of the ocean is especially sunny. The cost of living in Walla Walla is 18% lower than the Washington average, so youll have more disposable income to enjoy all the wine and charming shops. Port Angeles gets many more inches of rain than Sequim. The US average is 205 sunny days. In short, pack a puffy that matches your shades. Richland is a part of Washington State's Tri-Cities, which includes Kennewick and Pasco. Its no secreteven to Seattle newcomersthat we have more than our share of gray days (226 days of heavy cloud cover by one estimate). Kennewick is the largest of the Tri-Cities of Washington, which are located in the southern part of the state where the Yakima and Columbia Rivers meet up. It's supposed to be 5 times sunnier than Seattle during the winter months. , What parts of Washington state get the most sun? All are in the shadows of the Olympics. Yuma, Arizona, takes the crown as the sunniest place on Earth, with more than 4,000 hours of sunlight per year and an average of 11 hours of sunlight each day that's even more sun than Egypt while Seattle sees an average of only 3.8 hours of sunlight daily. Richland 2. Expect even colder temps than in Seattle, where that cloud layer acts like a damp duvet over the city. When hes not researching and writing, you can find him around Salt Lake City, Utah, snapping photos of mountains and architecture or seeking out some good tunes and friendly faces. Snoqualmie Snow Score: 53.8 That said, the base area is the lowest in the state, at 3,140 feet, and only 10% of the mountain faces north, with 40% of it facing east and another 40% west. Almost every room opens to a terrace and a private entrance for distancing. Colorado is a great state for retirees because it has low humidity levels and plenty of activities to keep you busy. Sequim, WA is sunniest and driest place in western WA. Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff are all in the top 25 sunniest cities in the US, and Phoenix ranks #1 with an annual sunshine rate of 85.8%. Bishop. Sequim is a small, friendly city (Population approximately 7000) located on the gorgeous Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of Washington State. Sequim is in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, so annual precipitation is only 16 inches. While Spokane is just behind the national average of 205 sunny days per year, it beats out Seattle, WA which has only 152 days of sun per year! You may be able to enjoy a great cup of coffee at this cafe during any time of the year, but there's something extra cozy about stopping by this place during the winter and curling up on one of their couches with a delicious mocha. There are places you want to visit or maybe live in for a year or two, and then there are the places that feel more like a forever kind of home. We also named Pullman as one of the best cities in all of Eastern Washington. Iron Springs Resort, 3707 WA-109, Copalis Beach, WA 98535, USA 5. This part of southern Washington is an excellent place to live because it's in the PNW sunbelt . While not a complete list of all of theplaces to visit in Washington in winter, this list is a great place to start! . This One Street In Washington Has Every Type Of Restaurant You Can Imagine, See A Show At The Historic Theater In Washington Where Bing Crosby Once Worked, Open Since 1906 Cle Elum Bakery Has Been Serving Bread And Pastries In Washington Longer Than Any Other Bakery, Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Washington Nightclub For Decades, Here Are The 8 Most-Recommended BBQ Restaurants In Washington, According To Our Readers, The Afternoon Tea At This British-Themed Brunch Spot In Washington Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, The Adults-Only Resort In Washington Where You Can Enjoy Some Much-Needed Peace And Quiet, The Southern Restaurant With Some Of The Best Home-Cooked Food In Washington. Where can one go on a day trip and experience a lot more sun? But if youre looking for a small town where everyone knows your name, one of these places might be right for you. More than half of the days here are sunny and summers are hot and dry as well. Record-Breaking Cold and Snow is Forecast by the Models. Privacy Policy. Have you ever come home from a cold day, thrown on a bikini, and sat on a beach chair in front of an array of SAD lamps trying to recreate the warmth and joy you once knew in the summer months? Even during dry spells the ice-skating rink is frozen and guides lead beginners fly-fishing on the Yakima River. But, that also means that there is a bit more snowfall here. Our states capital is also a remarkable place to live, especially if youre interested in a government job. Check out our 2021 sunniest cities list here. Sequim, WA is sunniest and driest place in western WA. I have to tell you about this, even though some of the forecasts are crazy extreme. Allison Williams By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Population: 84,347 Percent of Sunny Days per Year: 52% Average Inches of Rain per Year: 8 inches. Tacoma: Great urban cousin to the south of Seattle. Still, even with all that snow, it is one of the sunniest cities in Washington State. First in the state is Klickitat County, where Goldendale is. A city that may surprise you is the Hawaiian town of Hilo. , What cities have the best year round weather? still on trackcliff. Friday Harbor is a unique town with the best weather in Washington. Stockton, California. , Where is the banana belt in Washington? They offer a number of soaking tubs where clothing is optional and even a hot sauna. One of the sunniest cities in the Sunshine State, Tampa boasts 244 days of sunshine per year. Crime Rate: Safer than 43% of U.S. cities. So close to the city you can still get KUOW on the radio, the Cle Elumarea campus sits just barely on the sunny side of the mountains. Funny because it's only 15 miles west of Sequim. While Seattle may not be as gray and dreary as you may expect, there are certainly sunnier and drier places in the state. More than half of the days here are sunny. Meanwhile, they receive about 38 inches of rain annually. The public schools in Sequim are above average. Bend 162. Its extremely hot climate, with a mean maximum temperature second only to Wyndham, Western Australia has resulted in the town being well known for its hot weather. What Are The Differences Between The Most Common Traffic Control Devices For Road Construction? And despite Saturday's blown forecast, y'all stuck with the same thing on Sunday. But, residents of this quiet island town enjoy a bit more sun and a lot less rain throughout the year. In December, be sure to check out the parade of ships as well! Still, Friday Harbor would not be considered a very warm place to live, as average highs in the summer only reach about 70-75 degrees. official climate of Kennewick is a semi-arid climate. On average, the West Coast region of the US is sunnier than both the Midwest and the East Coast. Which part of Washington gets the most sun? The 10 Snowiest Cities In Washington For 2022 Mead Airway Heights Fairwood CDP (Spokane County) Spokane Cheney Country Homes Town and Country Spokane Valley Otis Orchards-East Farms Pullman What's the snowiest place in Washington with more than 5,000 people? Sequim, WA is sunniest and driest place in western WA. Port Townsend (zip 98368) gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 138 days per year. This ship has been around since 1949. Lake-effect cloud cover makes winter sunshine a rare sight in these places. http://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/washington/sequim Sequim:132 sunny days Seattle:152 sunny days San Juan Island (Friday Harbor):157 sunny days Clinton: 164 sunny days I lived in Sequim for years and it's HORRIBLY cold and grey there, compared to other places in Washington. Pasco 3. Average home price: $126,800. Who wouldnt want to put down roots in sunny Sequim? Elbe is an extremely small town with a big thing for trains. These states lie within the sun-drenched regions known as the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, which stretch from Southern California through Nevada into western Arizona. Highlights. On average, there are 132 sunny days per year in Sequim. We looked through all the weather & climate data to find the sunniest cities in Washington State that offer the most days of sunshine and limited rain. While weve totally never done that here at Move.org, we understand why youd want to. Contact Us; Follow on Facebook; Part of the MyNorthwest.com Network of Sites As a previous poster [read more] 84 Homes Kenmore, WA City during the summer and lows that are just above 20 degrees in the winter. Sunny Getaways: The Brightest Northwest Vacation Spots in the Desert, Small Towns, Mountains and on the Coast Gray skies may rule over Seattle, but the sun is shining at these vacation destinations only a few hours from the city By Danielle Centoni, Leslie Kelly, Kristen Russell, and Roddy Scheer May 1, 2018 A total of 21 of the top 25 sunniest cities are on the Pacific side of things, and that rises to 22 if you count Kahului, Hawaii, which is like the West Coasts cool cousin that lives just outside of the neighborhood. (Only from outside; indoors theyre luxury suites.) The cascade lies on the Palouse River and drops an incredible 198 feet. (Video) Top 10 Towns You Can Retire or Live for Under $1,500 in the Pacific Northwest of the United States? Eastern Washington In the shadow of the Cascades, little rain falls and cities like Wenatchee, Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities enjoy up to 300 days of sunshine a year. Just south of Hawaii and east of the Pacific island of Kiribati is a very sunny location. The Most Dangerous Weather Phenomenon in the North Is Sequim the Sunniest Place in Western Washington? While the economy here isnt amazing due to it being a small town, its a great place to be if youre self-employed, retired or in the hospitality industry. Population: 96,968 Percent of Sunny Days per Year: 55% Average Inches of Rain per Year: 9 inches. The sunniest place in Pennsylvania, in terms of solar energy, was Chester Heights, followed by Garnet Valley, Chester, Aston, Brookhaven and Marcus Hook. 4.4 inches of snow per yearsome cities in Washington average 50 inches of snow per year. Where is the warmest place to live in Washington? The following states, listed in order from the most to the fewest days of full sunshine, are the ten cloudiest states in the U.S. which allows its vineyards and farms to flourish. Get Your Domain Names Here! Pullman 6. The cost of living is reasonable, the community is friendly, and the location is fairly convenient if you plan to explore the stateits about 2 hours away from Spokane and about 3 hours from Seattle. If youre craving a laid back lifestyle near the water, Anacortes might be the place for you. You can always warm up at this scenic retreat on Orcas Island! It is free and quick. Even though Western Washington has a reputation for its abundance of rain, Port Angeles sits in whats called a rain shadow or the banana belt of Washington. Set outside Austin, Cedar Park made it to the top of the list, due to its low cost of living index (7.2% below the national average) and high income levels (17.8% above the national median). If you're feeling the effects of S.A.D., you might want to spend a week in one of these three places. Sequim has more sunny days than Seattle for all recent months except July and August. Fortunately, Washington state is home to a plethora of cozy airbnbs, resorts, spas, and charming accommodations. Winters average at 57 F, summers at 72 F72 F, people! Next time youre desperate for a sunny weekend or week, load up the car with a few essentials (i.e. Were looking at you, Arizona. Residents of Seattle experience about 152 days of sun per year, which is about 42% of their days. Nearly all of the sunniest US cities are in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Arid regions of Arizona, Texas and other western states dominate the list of places where the sun shines most during winter in the United States. Winters are colder and sunnier. 1008 N 109th St suite a, Seattle, WA 98133, USA. Richland is the 3rd and smallest of the Tri-Cities trio in Southern Washington State, but it is also the sunniest. Abeja erected a new winery building on the property this year, though the tasting room for visitors sits closer to the burbling creek that runs through the property. What parts of Washington are sunny? I'm not holding my breath. The town is about 13 miles from the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier National Park and is a popular place to stay in town is the world-renowned Hobo Inn. It is both the name of a city and a catch-all term for the small towns scattered along the vast Coachella Valley, from Cabazon to Indio. Cactus grows on south Lopez and we even have some here on Blakely Is. Additionally, the city receives about 27 inches of snow per year. Most rain in 24 hours: 14.26 at Mt. His number of "dreary" days (very low amount of solar radiation) is far higher in Seattle (19) than Sequim (5). I've lived in Seattle for 15 years and it seems to me subjectively that the number of sunny/clear days is increasing. Amarillo, Texas. The sunniest and most popular destination is the San Juan Islands. 1. In fact, the regions east of the Cascade Mountain Range offer a much warmer and sunnier climate compared to the cities in the Puget Sound region. We also ranked it as one of Washington States best cities. Yuma is situated in the southwestern part of Arizona. The Hobo Inn has Washington's largest collection of train cabooses. Kennewick 4. Cookie Notice There are plenty of golf courses and other recreational activities to keep you busy. The winters are mild so that you can enjoy the outdoors year-round. Before we begin with our list of the sunniest places to live in Washington State, lets set a baseline of sunshine and rain levels with the city of Seattle so that you can compare it with the rest of the cities here. Why stay indoors this winter when you could be out hitting the slopes? Or, perhaps its finally time you pack up and move to a state where the sun shines more often than not. Crystal Mountain Resort, 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd, Enumclaw, WA 98022, USA. This oceanfront resort offers an unforgettable trip, situated on beautiful beachfront cliffs right along the Pacific Coast. July high of 71.3 F. Yuma. Yakima is a sunny city that is located close to the Cascades in the lush Yakima Valley. , What city in Washington state has the best year round weather? What is the best area to live in Washington state? 1. We are incredibly diverse here and welcoming. Are you lucky enough to live in one of these sunny spots? Local wineries, crowded in summer, offer wide-open tasting rooms in winter. Every year, it sails to several Puget Sound waterfront communities where there are thousands of people on shore celebrating with bonfires and anticipating the ship's arrival. Were not surprised to see some notoriously rain-ridden cities included on the least sunny list.