Seattle needs a new weather warning: 'Pleasant Weather Advisory'
Ask any Seattleite if they thought it'd be possible to have 3 weeks of sunshine with warm, but not hot temperatures, and they'd have laughed.
Ask about 4 weeks, and they start to feel your head to check for fever.
Six weeks? Might as well call the UFO hotline as you've certainly been brainwashed.
Yet lo and behold, six weeks it has been. We all know it's been super dry -- Seattle was just two brief rain showers away from a current and record-smashing 58-day dry streak. (Think about that -- nearly two months!)
But what's amazing to me is how moderate the temperatures have been. Unlike our big sunny streak in 2009 which saw relentless heat as well, this time around many would say the temperatures have been perfect.
In the 49 days since Aug. 1, Seattle has had 37 of them with highs ranging from 70-83. Of those, 30 have been in the 70s -- including a record 19-day consecutive 70s streak, and 19 of those 30 overall days between 70 and 74.
It hasn't been humid, and days that would be considered hot by many (85+) have only stretched 2-3 days at most before we cooled off again.
It's as if Mother Nature is apologizing to Seattle sun fans for this past June, May, April, the spring of 2011, the barbecue she rained out, the 4th of July that was soaked, that drenched hydro race in 1995, the budget deficit, Jersey Shore, and the New Coke. Dare we say that Seattle's weather over the past 6 weeks outshines California, outshines Hawaii, outshines Florida, and could probably win a head-to-head matchup with any international city (we mean you, Monaco). Rain city, we are not, at least this summer.
And long range forecasts somehow keep this stretch going all the way through the end of the month.
The long weather stretch reminds me of another bout of nice weather -- allbeit considerably shorter -- that we had in August of 2010.
Yes folks, it's time to dust off the always popular Pleasant Weather Advisory (still trying to get NOAA on board with this one.) We're belatedly putting into effect immediately:
PLWSEW
PLEASANT WEATHER STATEMENT
KOMONEWS.COM WEATHER BLOG, SEATTLE WA
329 PM PDT TUE SEPT 18 2012
WIC103-123-090700-
/O.CON.KATX.SV.W.0084.000000T0000Z-100825T0700Z/
SEATTLE - TACOMA - EVERETT AND VICINITY
...A PLEASANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR KING...SNOHOMISH...PIERCE...KITSAP AND THURSTON COUNTIES. THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF SEATTLE...TACOMA...EVERETT...OLYMPIA...BREMERTON...AND BELLEVUE
* UNTIL AUTUMN BEGINS... OR POSSIBLY LONGER. PERHAPS OCTOBER.
HIGH PRESSURE IS PROVIDING ABUNDANT SUNSHINE OVER THE WESTERN WASHINGTON REGION. AGAIN. IN ADDITION... A COOL, REFRESHING SEABREEZE IS MOVING EAST INTO THE AREA AND GUSTING TO 10 TO 15 MPH. AGAIN. AS A RESULT... TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SOAR WELL INTO THE UPPER 70S AND LOW 80S. AGAIN.
DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES INCREASING AND QUICK-MOVING CELLS OF WORKERS LEAVING THEIR OFFICE AND HEADING TO LOCAL PARKS AND BEACHES. THUS...THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING NEAR-RECORD LOW PRODUCTIVITY TO THE REGION... PERHAPS REACHING LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE THE GREAT PLEASANT WEATHER STREAK OF 2003 THAT CAUSED 14 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* GET OUTDOORS AND AWAY FROM SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!
* IF IN YOUR CAR, ROLL DOWN WINDOWS AND OPEN SUNROOFS. THOSE IN CONVERTIBLES ARE URGED TO TAKE THE TOP DOWN.
* DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS FLOODED WITH TOURISTS. JUST DRIVING BEHIND 3 CARS FROM OUT OF STATE CAN CAUSE EXTREME HAZARDS TO YOUR TRIP'S SCHEDULE.
* CITIZENS ARE URGED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF FAVORITE BEVERAGES ON HAND, SUNGLASSES CLEANSED, AND THEIR SUMMER LAUNDRY UP TO DATE.
* FOR YOUR PROTECTION, IF TRYING TO EVACUATE YOUR PLACE OF WORK BEFORE YOUR SHIFT ENDS...BE SURE NOT TO USE A SIMILAR EXCUSE YOU HAVE USED IN THE PAST. THEY KNOW YOUR GRANDMOTHER, AUNT, AND COUSIN'S KITTENS HAVE SINCE RECOVERED.
* AREAS UNDER THE MOST IMPACT FROM THIS SYSTEM INCLUDE ALKI BEACH...SEWARD PARK... GREEN LAKE... HOUGHTON BEACH... GOLDEN GARDENS... AND COULON PARK.
* STAY TUNED TO THIS WEATHER BLOG (VIA MOBILE DEVICE OUT IN SUNSHINE) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS POTENTIALLY VACATION BALANCE-DAMAGING PATTERN.
- - will ALWAYS be a Washingtonian! I was born in Seattle and spent most my years living around same. I've lived in Tucson for 11 years and I'd like to express how wonderful it felt to have experienced a couple weeks of the September weather!! (I even got goose-bumps some mornings) I found it hard to believe that, after such a LONG and cold spring there - plus I believe it rained on the 4th of July - that so many people complain about the extended sunny weather! - - I still say Washington is the most beautiful state! (Perhaps the complainers ought to spend an extended time in triple digit weather to 're-appreciate' the Seattle sun! :-) )
Nice! Really great post... My wife and I laughed hard!
This is kind of funny actually. In June everybody was begging for a stretch of pleasant weather and now everybody wants it to stop? I personally have been enjoying every minute of it. Going out walking most days, hiking on weekends, barbeques, road trips -- It has been fantastic! I love summer - and I shall miss it!
"IF IN YOUR CAR, ROLL DOWN WINDOWS AND OPEN SUNROOFS. THOSE IN CONVERTIBLES ARE URGED TO TAKE THE TOP DOWN." Real good advice, to get a sunburn. Yeah that's really smart
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Now Scott when it is nice and cool outside and our regular weather is back are you still going to be talking about "pleasant" or will it be the usual round of horrible whining about how "terrible" the weather is?
 @Patrick Carr "Now Scott when it is nice and cool outside and our regular weather is back are you still going to be talking about "pleasant" or will it be the usual round of horrible whining about how "terrible" the weather is?"
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Well said! I'm sick and tired of the media bias against the wonderfully cool weather Seattle is known for. If the literacy rate is indeed higher here, as dignitaries like to flaunt, it's not because it's hot most of the year. Bring on the cool of Autumn! And with it, a cozy blanket, a coffee, and a good book. Â
Pleasant? I'm so sick of it. Bring on fall! I'm ready for some cool air and rain.
 @Smashquail I agree. I'm tired of hearing how "nice" it is constantly from these weather forecasters. can't WAIT for fall. Not everyone wants hot sunshine every day
 @Smashquail I'm sick of it too! Summer needs to go away. Our summers are so dry and so warm. If I wanted this kind of weather I'd move to Phoenix and LA. These bad summers are overlooked by our rainy, storm reputation! Its time for our normal Seattle Wet And Stormy Weather to return and it looks like it will a week from this coming Saturday!
 @MikeLovesStorms  @Smashquail We need it. the grass is so brown. the afternoons are hot and i don't lke walking outside in the sun when it's so hot. i get tired of the endless comments about how "lovely" it is. not all of us like it get it?
 @MikeLovesStorms  @Smashquail As a deep-sky astronomer and deep-sky astro-photographer these last few weeks have afforded me the best weather anyone could've asked for. My livelihood as a photographer selling my works dependent on clear weather was severely hampered by our storms we had all winter and spring, not to mention the near constant cloudiness in June and July.I will take sunny skies all the way to the end of the year to make up for the lost time I experienced early this year. Clouds and rain can stay away.Â
Yeah, not a fan. If I wanted this kind of weather, I'd move to California. September is usually my favorite month but this one feels a bit of a dud; I am crossing my fingers for some glorious 65º overcast days, ASAP.
 @Jolly same here. I didn't move to seattle for a long hot summer
Scott,
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Love this! I cannot remember a nicer stretch of Seattle weather. Even I (who love the sun) think about enjoying a cloudy day to get something done! But I will have 10 months of time to get something done so I'll deal!
Something I found interesting I have been looking back in weather records and the years we have very nice weather like we are having right now in September. Are the years we have the big storms! I am not saying it will happen this year but the track record is quit interesting.
OH please, oh please hang on a little longer. I am spending a week at the Oregon Coast come the end of the month. I would just love it if this weather stuck around for that.
YAY!!!
Well-written blog....made me chuckle!
Scott - any sign of rain on the way? We really need it...
I have zero complaints concerning the weather we have enjoyed so far. I have averaged 2725 miles on my bike for each of the last five months. Priceless!
I doubt anyone around here would complain about this summer. It's been down right pleasant. I overheard someone say they thought they were in San Diego. We could sure use a little water around here but that will come soon enough. In the meantime I plan to enjoy this weather. Brown lawn and all.
I'm not crazy about this weather.