What Makes Subtle Differences In Our Summer Weather?

Story Published: Mar 13, 2008 at 1:13 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 13, 2008 at 1:13 PM PDT

By Steve Pool

SEATTLE - Tony wondered why is it that the weather is usually different around here, even over short distances. For example, Olympia tends to be hotter than Seattle in the summer.

The difference are mainly due to the mountains and our proximity to the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound. Olympia gets warmer in the summer because they don't get as much of the cooling effects of Puget Sound. Even in Seattle -- West Seattle tends to be cooler than Capitol Hill and Northgate because they get the sound breezes.

Everett tends to be cooler than Seattle and Olympia because they get the westerly breeze off the Strait of Juan de Fuca in addition to being next to the Sound, adding to the cooling.

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KOMO Weather

Current Temp 59 °F

Partly Cloudy

Wind : From the South at 5 MPH

Humidity : 83 %

Pressure : 30.05" (1017.9 mb)

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Traffic

Traffic Alert

North Cascades Highway (S.R. 20) is closed due to high avalanche danger through the weekend. Crews will return on Monday to assess road conditions. The state DOT advises drivers to check mountain pass conditions for all passes before leaving this weekend.

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