Washington's Location
Washington state is geographically quite unique. Both the northernmost border for the Pacific Northwest strip, as well as the westernmost border of the mainland U.S., Washington state serves as an international border on two fronts. Dividing Washington state is the Cascade mountain range, which includes the towering Mount Rainier. This mountain range effectively splits Washington state into two geographical zones, with Western Washington personifying the rainy, evergreen aura of Seattle while Eastern Washington retains an arid climate, outlined by big skies and rolling plains.
Western Washington
The western half of Washington experiences rain for most of the year, with sunny weather lasting from early June to mid-September. The steady rain nurtures an abundance of greenery, most notably evergreen trees, which remain green all year round. Western Washington’s summers are famously mild, breezy, and pleasant, with the average temperature reaching about 24 degrees Celsius.
The winters in Western Washington are characterized by regular rainfall, humid climate, and temperatures that float around the 8 degrees Celsius range. Occasional snowfall during the winter months should be expected annually. The naturally hilly and mountainous geography of Western Washington acts as a natural deterrent against flooding, although localized flooding along the main water routes are expected on an annual basis. Due to the cool, marine air circulating along the Washington coast, hurricanes and catastrophic storms are a rare occurrence.
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Eastern Washington
In contrast to the mild weather of Western Washington, Eastern Washington experiences the extremes of both weather cycles. Summer months in Eastern Washington are subject to higher temperatures ranging from 27 degrees to 34 degrees Celsius while the winter months range from about 3 degrees to -17 degrees Celsius. Because the Cascade Range shields the eastern region from the coastal rain, more than 300 days of sunshine can be expected near the eastern border of Washington. Rolling hills and large plains characterize this region of Washington, which makes it excellent for commercial agriculture.