FinnFest USA '99

Dear Friends of FinnFest USA, Seattle, Washington You've started making arrangements to come to FinnFest USA '99 in Seattle, when some spoilsport says, "But it always rains in Seattle." Hmm, you think. The prospect of thousands of wet Finns, you among them, enters your mind. A cloud of doubt falls across your FinnFest plans and dampens your enthusiasm. Do not listen to that wet blanket. I, too, used to believe the enduring stereotype of Seattle as damp, dreary and, well, a little bit depressing. The proof was right there on the Weather Channel. Wild and colorful weather happened elsewhere: Giant hailstones pound Texas! Killer storms flatten Louisiana! But the Seattle forecast ran the monotonous gamut from "rain likely" to "rain continuing." And then there was that ominous little raincloud, permanently parked on the northwest corner of the weather map--the land the sun forgot, or so it seemed. Now, two years into life as a Seattleite, I know better. Here is a little quiz to help illustrate the truth about Seattle weather. Pay attention. I am about to reveal the Secret of Seattle. Question 1:   Seattle's average annual rainfall is similar to: Dallas Toronto New York City All of the above Answer: D. It doesn't rain more in Seattle than in those cities, it just rains differently. In the other cities, when it rains it pours and then its over with. Seattle’s rain is more diffuse and spreads itself out over more days—at least180 days a year, actually. It drizzles, mists, and wafts like cool steam. It doesn't soak you, usually, but it might unpress your pants. Question 2:   Cloudy, rainy weather is most likely to occur in Seattle during: the winter the summer outdoor sporting events ethnic festivals  Answer: A. Seattle's location on the lowlands surrounding Puget Sound results in dry, sunny summers and cloudy, moist and mild winters. December is the wettest month, and December and January each average 16-18 rainy days. During the winter, vast cloud sheets reduce sunshine to annual lows, such as about 60 hours in the month of January. Question 3:   The percentage of hours with sunshine in Seattle during July is roughly equal to that of: Los Angeles Miami Chicago All of the above Answer: D. Yes, the hours of sunshine in Seattle during July and August equal or exceed the sunshine in Miami and Los Angeles. In July there is an average of 300 hours of sunshine. Summer in Seattle is perfection; that is when the city is in full bloom. Offshore breezes temper the heat and long summer evenings end in spectacular sunsets. Elliot Bay, Lake Washington, Lake Union fill with sailboats. A carefree, happy mood prevails. Everyone is out of doors, under the spell of the beauty around them. Well, now you too are in on the Secret: it rains in the winter, but the summer months are nearly rainless and the city is at its prime. Since I am now a Seattleite, I am dutybound to perpetuate the myth of endless Seattle rain, spread by generations of Seattleites to discourage outsiders from moving here. I am sharing it with you because you are Finnish and can be trusted to keep it to yourself. And besides, the outsiders (including me) moved here anyway and drove up property values (not me, the California people). So you see, the timing of FinnFest USA '99--July 22-25, 1999--couldn't be better, for it occurs during the few months of the year when the threat of precipitation is remote. So, forget the stereotypes of rainy Seattle. Pack your sunscreen, since there's a 95 percent chance that you will find yourself rainless in Seattle during FinnFest 99.   Sincerely yours, John Stephens