Protected by the Olympics from the worst of the Eastbound Pacific weather patterns and warmed by the inland waters, the Northwest has a milder climate than many other parts of the world, with less extreme variations in temperature. The normal average yearly precipitation is around 37 inches with 27 inches of it coming between October and March. The winter temperature averages about 46º and has only a handful of snow days per year. The overcast is what some have difficulty with. On average, annual cloudy days number about 201, partly cloudy days about 93 and clear sky days about 71. Northwest summers tend more towards the dry than the humid. There is the occasional summer thunderstorm, but not many. June, July and August are the driest and warmest months. Temperatures usually hover around a pleasant 75°, although week long heat spells in the high 80's or low 90's are not unusual.
The Metroplex is networked with freeways, highways and surface streets. The primary ones are Interstate 5, transecting the community north to south and Interstate 90 traversing the state, east to west. A large fleet of auto and passenger ferries ply the waters of Puget Sound.
Each of the region’s 4 counties has its own independent bus system that integrates with its neighbors' and with local and long distance commuter trains, such as Amtrak, the “Sounder,” Light Rail and Monorail. Connecting the Metroplex with the rest of the world are the major deep water ports of Everett, Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia.
Sea-Tac International Airport is one of the busiest in the world and has a supporting network of 26 other airports; 2 international, 2 military and 24 civilian. Major trucking and heavy rail companies handle the goods coming and going from the ports and airports.
Employment is strong in the NW Metroplex with 1.9 million jobs and with 2006 adding another 55,000. Puget Sound is the economic trade and international transportation engine for the Pacific Northwest and the fifth largest exporter in the United States. Home to many of the nation’s Fortune 500 companies like Nordstrom and AT&T Wireless, it is ranked by future-web.com as the #1 Metroplex in the nation on their Environmental and on their Infrastructure indices. It hosts more than 60,000 aerospace jobs with over 190 aerospace companies, making it the largest commercial aviation center in the country. The region is home to over a dozen research institutes, and the nation’s leading public research university. Over 400 companies in Washington employing 16,000 people make it one of the largest concentrations of businesses dealing with environmental and alternative energy matters in the nation. The most recognizable names in information technology were begun or have settled here and the area plays a strategic role in the new global economy. World-renown research centers, large biotech and software industry clusters, and an educated workforce give the region a compelling competitive edge. Quality workplace experience is not forgotten with several local businesses like Starbucks and Costco making Fortune magazine’s 20 most admired companies.
Education is an important foundational element for prosperity and the Northwest is famous for providing quality educational programs to students by well trained, highly educated staff. Washington overall, is ranked by the US Chamber of Commerce as one of the top states (8th) for public school education in the nation and the NW Metroplex is the state leader. The Metroplex has 52 public school districts, 152 public high schools and more than 400 state-approved private K-12 schools. Nearly 100 state approved institutions of higher learning and nearly 300 private career schools feature both traditional and non-traditional curricula. This includes the world class University of Washington and its many undergraduate and graduate schools and research projects.
Puget Sound is the home of numerous installations and military bases of all branches giving the Northwest a strong economic lift. Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base are near Tacoma. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Kitsap and the Keyport Undersea Warfare Research Station are all in nearby Kitsap County. Island County is the location of Naval Air Station Whidbey, and Snohomish County hosts the Everett Navy Base. Fairchild Air Force Base, Yakima County training center and more than 100 smaller facilities including hospitals, camps, depots, signal stations and recruiting offices complete the wider region’s military presence.
As the birth place of computer giants like Microsoft, the Northwest leads the way in internet communications with more internet firms per capita than any other place in the world and according to Medialife Magazine, the Seattle-Tacoma area is the #2 most wired metropolitan area in the nation.
The Health Sector is exceedingly important in the NW Metroplex and is lead by the University of Washington Medical Center. It’s ranked 10th out of 5,189 U.S. hospitals by US News & World Report in this year’s “America’s Best Hospitals.” Only 14 hospitals even qualified for this Honor Roll by ranking at or near the top in at least six specialties. In nearly every area of medical specialty, oncology, orthopedics, virology, education, bio-technology, genetics, cardiology, hematology, global health, medical IT, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and more, the medical community of the Northwest is respected as a world leader.
The Northwest embraces diversity and creative ideas, and offers unlimited opportunities to experience art, heritage and culture. There are world class dance and opera companies such as the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Opera. A thriving music scene includes all areas of contemporary, classical and jazz music from grunge to symphony orchestras in Auburn, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia and Seattle. A dynamic theater community offers musicals, drama and comedy at the Village Theatre in Issaquah and others. There are galleries galore filled with art and Native American, maritime and pioneer history with strong and diverse ethnic heritage influences.
Museums of every kind include the Museum of Glass, the LeMay Car Museum, the Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum and the Museum of Flight. Festivals, fairs, events, parades, rodeos and shows for every interest and in every city and town fill the calendar.
Unlike many regions of the country, the Puget Sound region continues to enjoy a healthy housing market according to the latest figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Prices are up about 8.85%, sales are up about 13.9% from last year and with interest rates at 6.4%, this trend is expected to continue. Condominium prices, for the first time ever, are rising faster than single family homes, although the residential market is also volatile. Inventory can not keep pace with the demand. The Northwest is so diverse, its residents can choose urban, suburban or rural living all within close proximity to major amenities. The many cities and towns each have a unique personality and the “Queen”, Seattle, has multiple, fascinating “cities-within-the city.” From waterfront to high-rise to remarkable house boats, the choices are limitless and prices are still half of what they are in San Francisco.
The NW Metroplex is at the same time a magnet for and a catalyst of dynamic innovation. People come from all over America and the world seeking education, opportunity and employment. This makes the region a melting pot of diverse language, culture and unique approaches to new technologies which brings energy, productivity, stability and growth. All this adds to the vitality that makes the NW Metroplex a great place to live, work and play. Welcome to your new home!
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NW Metroplex Weather Patterns Chart
| Averages | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Yr |
| Highs F. | 46º | 50º | 53º | 58º | 64º | 70º | 75º | 76º | 70º | 60º | 51º | 46º | 60º |
| Lows F. | 36º | 37º | 39º | 42º | 47º | 52º | 55º | 56º | 52º | 46º | 40º | 36º | 45º |
| Precip. In. | 5.1 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.5 | .08 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 37.1 |
| Precip. Days | 23 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 210 |
| Snow In. | 5 | 2 | 1 | tr | tr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | tr | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| Sunny Days Mo. | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 71 |
| Partly Sunny Days Mo. | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 93 |
| Cloudy Days Mo. | 23 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 201 |
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NW Metroplex Map
(click map for larger view - will open in new window)
