[speakspokespok]

July 5th through September in Seattle are a dream; incredibly long days, dry but not too hot. The sun never sets. I've been a lot of places on the planet and PNW summers are uniquely great.

However, during the winter it's dreary, it's dark by noon, and every year around October the raven comes tapping at my chamber door.

July of 2020 I left and went south to Central America. That first 'winter' I kept waiting for my annual S-A-D season to start. It didn't. The second 'winter' was worse because I reasoned the lst time could have been endorphins keeping me going. I was really expecting any day for the depression to start. And again, it didn't. December and January felt normal. That very consistent 7am it's bright sunny day and at 7pm it's dark night all year is helpful.

Quite literally, I never intended to return to Seattle, but with the recent economic turmoil it worked out that way. S-A-D season kicked off like usual, even with the 10,000 IUs of Vitamin D.

Without a job I moved to Eastern Washington, and within a month I was doing better, life got easier and the future was far less inscrutable. I have the energy to do the work, and after an angry or sad thought the follow-up thought is "that was a bit dramatic". That's a sign every year that things are on the up-swing.

Many people love and appreciate the Seattle climate just as it is; I don't know really anyone that reacts quite as severely as I do to it. Not being in Seattle weather means I get 6 more months of life every year. It kills me how much time I wasted trying to 'fix myself' in a place I just wasn't meant to be.

[silisili]

I've only ever been to Seattle to visit in summertime, and largely agree with everything. It's probably the prettiest place I've ever been (weather/greenery wise). But I already know I can't handle the greyness of the other seasons. Real shame.

Even living in the south, the 3 or so months of SAD feel like an eternity. I don't know how anyone could stand an even longer period.

[sepositus]

I live within a short distance of the western side of the Cascades (I don't want to dox myself any further). Meaning I'm on the eastern side. The difference in weather between the two sides is pretty shocking. During the winter, I often look to the west and see a solid sheet of clouds.

[frogulis]

What's different about the eastern part of the state? Is it as simple as having less rain and clouds to block out what sunlight there is?

[speakspokespok]

The western half of the state is close to the ocean with warm ocean currents, so you get a lot of moisture. However the Cascade Mountains split the state N and S. Windward side is Seattle side, so all the rain stays there.

Eastern Washington then is in the rain shadow. Actually I think it's high desert - there's very little annual cloud cover.

The Cascades go all the way to California so this pattern applies to Washington, Oregon, and maybe Nevada.

In the context of my original comment, I can only speak from an experiential sense. I think it's the strength or frequency of the sunlight, maybe the UV, is what makes the difference.

[pcthrowaway]

We have this same pattern in Vancouver and a good chunk of British Columbia as well, though this winter which just ended was the mildest of the 11 years I've been here