Seattle's dry streak drags on with no rain in forecast
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SEATTLE - Saturday marks the 41st day in a row of dry weather in the Puget Sound region - and if the forecast holds true, we could come close to setting a new record streak of rain-free weather.
"Right now, we have 40 days as of (Friday), and that is tied for fourth for the driest streak," says Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle. "The driest streak is 51 days, and that was back in 1951."
The last rain at Sea-Tac Airport was .04 inches on July 22 - marking 40 days and counting. The month of August 2012 has already entered the books as the driest August on record.
Seattle's dry summers are often overlooked because of its rainy reputation, said University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass. Seattle can attribute its damp status to the persistent drizzle and overcast skies that shroud the city much of the rest of the year.
"We are one of the driest places in the country in mid-summer," Mass said. "People don't hear about that but it's true."
The dry stretch is just fine for people heading outdoors for Labor Day weekend. The 200,000 people expected to gather by the Space Needle for the annual Bumbershoot Festival, a three-day music and arts fair named after an old-timey word for "umbrella," can expect sunny skies and highs around 70.
But the dry spell can also spell trouble - the lack of moisture has led to high fire danger on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.
Flames recently destroyed dozens of homes near Cle Elum. And on Monday, a wildfire burned parts of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline.
That has King County fire officials issuing a warning.
"Brush fires, like in the grassy areas here, can move as fast as the wind can blow them, about 14 mph," says King County firefighter Jared Shoop.
Forecasters say those people who miss the normally wet Seattle weather should not get their hopes up for rain any time soon.
"It looks like the next seven days are looking to be dry with no rain in sight," says Burg.
Despite the dry streak, there are no worrries about a water shortage. Thanks to our wet spring, our snowpack is looking good.
"Our rainfall for the year so far - we are 5 inches above normal," says Burg.
So it's OK to water the lawn - just stay on guard for wildfires.
"Right now, we have 40 days as of (Friday), and that is tied for fourth for the driest streak," says Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle. "The driest streak is 51 days, and that was back in 1951."
The last rain at Sea-Tac Airport was .04 inches on July 22 - marking 40 days and counting. The month of August 2012 has already entered the books as the driest August on record.
Seattle's dry summers are often overlooked because of its rainy reputation, said University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass. Seattle can attribute its damp status to the persistent drizzle and overcast skies that shroud the city much of the rest of the year.
"We are one of the driest places in the country in mid-summer," Mass said. "People don't hear about that but it's true."
The dry stretch is just fine for people heading outdoors for Labor Day weekend. The 200,000 people expected to gather by the Space Needle for the annual Bumbershoot Festival, a three-day music and arts fair named after an old-timey word for "umbrella," can expect sunny skies and highs around 70.
But the dry spell can also spell trouble - the lack of moisture has led to high fire danger on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.
Flames recently destroyed dozens of homes near Cle Elum. And on Monday, a wildfire burned parts of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline.
That has King County fire officials issuing a warning.
"Brush fires, like in the grassy areas here, can move as fast as the wind can blow them, about 14 mph," says King County firefighter Jared Shoop.
Forecasters say those people who miss the normally wet Seattle weather should not get their hopes up for rain any time soon.
"It looks like the next seven days are looking to be dry with no rain in sight," says Burg.
Despite the dry streak, there are no worrries about a water shortage. Thanks to our wet spring, our snowpack is looking good.
"Our rainfall for the year so far - we are 5 inches above normal," says Burg.
So it's OK to water the lawn - just stay on guard for wildfires.
Ok,.Seattle rainy season starts the middle to end of October. It's been that way for 20 years, and I doubt it will change even with the media warnings what "could", "might" or "may" happen in the a future that no one can accurately predict and certainly not by the meteorologists computer models and coin tosses.
Weird.....it rained in Marysville this morning. So much for THIS headline.
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@LoudNoises The headline represents the NWS rain gauge which is based at SeaTac airpport.
I think it's about time we had a rainless August on record. I was surprised to learn that we had 2 rainless Septembers in the books, but no Augusts and August is statistically drier than September. Way to go mother nature!
These bad summers make me wonder why I live here. Our summers are horrible with no rain heat sometimes and fires! Anyone who thinks our summers are nice is crazy! I miss the storms, the rain and cooler temperatures! I HATE this time of the year! Its so boring!
@MikeLovesStorms jesus christ, this is what is wrong with this state. If you dont like, dry, warm, august weather, THEN MOVE. It hasnt been that way now for about three years, and the majority of us enjoy it.
It seems like everyone here complains when its warm and sunny and want cooler weather and rain. They get it, and then they want warm weather and sunshine. Look dude, this time of year I covet. If you cant handle three months of nice, pleasant weather, then move to the southwest. I grew up there, 20 years. I like this time of year.
Keep on going through September and October. There are still plenty fun things to get outside and do. Fall color should be coming along and would make for some nice hiking photo shots.
 @Jordan You're crazy! Our summers suck!
 @MikeLovesStorms Chill out and enjoy life!
@MikeLovesStorms @Jordan No, you suck
I am starting to think that there is something seriously wrong with you MkeLovesStorms. Sunshine is a gift to the Seattle area and the longer our gift keeps giving, the happier people seem to be. So relax and enjoy, the nasty weather will return once again and probably stick around for months, like it usually does.
Low of 75 here tonight, 100 tomorrow. Just how I like it. Enjoy your good fortune while it lasts to my Wa/AK  friends and family. Luvs from Texas.Â
 @Kodiak Enjoy the hail storms and tornadoes in that flat land of wretched humidity, low income and high workplace fatalities... don't mess with texas huh?
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@TruthinAdverts I live in hill country so we have about as much of a chance as Spokane having a tornado. Hail happens thats what insurance is for. 2 humid months a year or ten months of cold and rain is just fine with me, and OSHA is really cracking down in the work place. The income levels are realitive to the cost of living. You don't really need to make 50 buck an hour down here just to afford a car and an appartment. Please pander someplace else.Â
 @Kodiak  @TruthinAdverts And I should hope OSHA is "really cracking down"... texas is killing more workers than any other state in the union... Oh yeah.... big #1. Nice job! Heck of a place.
 @Kodiak  @TruthinAdverts texas... fried "everything"... more fat people than I'd ever seen in my life... with the exception of the NW part of the state, the place is a flat, humid cow pasture. Guess what else? Despite the fact that I've been there and have friends there... I don't hang around around texas news sites and comment on their blogs... apparently such is not the same of you with Seattle news sites? If you enjoy it so much there... why hang around our news sites? Curious.Â
YES!!! SUN RULES!
 @Longhairedvixen You'll feel differently if you lose you home to a fire because of how dry it is!
@MikeLovesStorms @Longhairedvixen Dude, MOVE. If you dont like summer here, then move. You keep going on and on about it, just leave.
@MikeLovesStorms Most homes lost by fire is usually caused by something internal such as faulty wiring, cigarette, etc. Relax Mike....geeeez!
good Keep it going till say next August!