Seattle rain
2012 will go down as one of the wettest on record in Western Washington (AP image)

2012 one of wettest on record in Western Washington

BY Josh Kerns  on December 28, 2012 @ 1:48 pm (Updated: 1:56 pm - 12/28/12 )

Remember that long stretch of dry weather that nearly broke a record this summer? It would be easy to forget as meteorologists tally the totals on what's turned out to be a wetter than normal year.

"We'll end up with about 48 and a half inches, which is quite a lot. Normally we only get about 38 inches," says University of Washington meteorologist Cliff Mass.

Despite the nearly 50 inches of rain that fell this year at SeaTac Airport, Mass says the record of 55 inches should stand. But 2012 will go down among the top five.

"So that's something to be proud of, I guess," he laughs.

Looking ahead, Mass says this is the first winter in a number of years that's considered "neutral", without the effects of either the La Nina or El Nino patterns. That means it's pretty tough to predict what comes next. But in the past, neutral years have brought the most intense storms with the biggest floods and snowfall.

"Anything goes. So this should be a normal year, as normal as we get around here."

Check out the local forecast

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (5)


  • Add A Comment

  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    I can remember all you crying about all the sunshine.
    December 28, 2012 2:10 pm
    And now you are all crying about all the rain!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Carbon tax
    December 28, 2012 4:37 pm
    A carbon tax or at least "cap n trade" will fix everything.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    the extra water came from . . . .
    December 28, 2012 4:37 pm
    the republicans - tears and wet diapers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    2012 one of the wettest years on record?
    December 28, 2012 10:54 pm
    Soon liberals will be calling for water use restrictions to off set global warming. Silly libtards.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    Hey CH!!!!
    December 28, 2012 10:55 pm
    You are an idiot-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh you are such a silly wanker.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }