subject: Pacific Northwest Weather Myths Dispelled | The Orcas Ohana Vacation Home [print this page] When planning your vacation to Orcas Island, you may be worried about the weather because so many people think that it rains all the time in the Pacific Northwest. While the area does get a fair amount of rain, the truth is that the weather is much more varied than people think and Orcas Island actually experiences dry, moderate summer temperatures that last much longer than other vacation destinations, making our vacation season that much longer as well.
Climate on Orcas Island
The warmest month on average is July where the average temperature is around 71 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, the warm season lasts from May through the middle of October with average temperatures over 60 degrees or higher. However, what most people are concerned with is the perception that it"s always raining in the Pacific Northwest. The truth is that the most rain tends to fall in November when an average of just over 4 inches of rain falls each year.
As a comparison, consider Orlando where the average summer temperaturesare well over 90 degrees and the majority of the rainfall occurs in June with an average rainfall of 7.5 inches that month. In fact, during the summer vacation period, Orlando receives the majority of its yearly rainfall and the months of June through September all have an average rainfall of over 6 inches per month.
It"s clear to see that the idea that it rains constantly in the Pacific Northwest is definitely a myth. And for those planning a family vacation, the temperature in the summer months is quite moderate and the rainfall is much less than to be expected at other vacation destinations.
And of course, the winters are also moderate and short as well. The lack of snowfall means that visitors can still participate in outdoor activities like cycling and hiking throughout the year on Orcas Island or any of the other islands in the San Juans.
Summary
Orcas Island has a variety of outdoors activities for people of all ages, and the myth of the constant rainfall is just that, a myth. Visitors can enjoy the moderate summer temperatures with hiking, biking, visiting the Farmer"s Market or even whale watching and farm tours. The Island also has a wealth of indoor activities too for when it"s time to head indoors and spend time on quieter activities like visiting a museum. The weather is beautiful and the summer vacation season is quite long.
