patbarb

OK, interesting to know about Wunderground @Phil. Doesn't NOAA open up all their data to the general public, such that I could look at the raw data myself?

Well, that's sad. I was actually imagining that at the more sophisticated weather stations they are recording when it is raining and when it is not and so can give the specific number of minutes it's raining each day at that location. And, I didn't want a monthly or weekly average, but an average for each day of the year at that location. Guess that just ain't gonna happen, huh?

So, no one knows of any "hours of rain per day" data?

I'm definitely wondering more and more about rain shadow areas, and I think you have a point about S. Oregon, 'Front Ranger'. Ashland, looks interesting, although a bit colder than I like in winter

I realize that there are "average number of hours of sunlight" statistics available, but that's not quite what I'm looking for. I'll be looking at places in the western US to live and I've come to realize that the above measure in the title is the most important for me. My perfect climate would be one hour of rain per day, every day of the year. Gray skies and storms are perfectly fine, since that means cool temps and a green landscape. I don't like dry and sunny every day - and especially don't like the desert. Seattle has a perfect amount of rain, 37"/yr, but is not quite right since it has too many hours of rain each day. The town of Sequim, near Seattle and in the rain shadow of the Olympics, is somewhat interesting to me since it only gets 1/2 the rain of Seattle. At any rate, would sure appreciate it if someone could point me to some resources. Thanks!