Orcas Island Vacation Rentals

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San Juan Islands

Banana Belt

 

"Gratitude is the memory of the heart." 

Jean Baptiste Massieu

 San Juan Islands Vacation Rentals

 

 
 

Sunny Deer Harbor Truth or Legend?

 
 

The Factual Truth to the Banana Belt Legend

 
 

 

 
 

Most of our moisture comes from water evaporating from the Pacific Ocean. 

As this moist air moves into the area, it encounters the mountain barrier

 to our southwest and is forced to move upward along the western slopes

 of the Olympic Mountains. As the air moves upward, it begins to cool and 

condense, forming clouds. As it continues to rise, the moisture condenses 

even more until precipitation begins to fall. By the time the air reaches 

the top of the mountains, much of the moisture has already been squeezed 

out of it, before it ever begins its descent into the San Juan Islands

That's the reason there are vast rain forests on the southwestern 
side of the Olympics. They receive over 200 inches of rain a year.
 
To add to this effect, as the air moves down the North Eastern side

 of the Olympic Mountains, it warms up and dries out even more . 

By the time this air reaches the San Juan Islands, it is usually so warm 

and dry that we seldom get the rain and snow that our neighbors to the 

southwest enjoy, leaving us in the Rain Shadow.

 The Olympic Mountains cover a relatively small area 

so there is only a small area that gets the better weather.

 
     
 

A place where sunny days are so common 

it's embarrassing to discuss the weather with a friend long distance.

 
     
 

A place where sunny days are so common  
it's embarrassing to discuss the weather with a friend long distance.

 
     
     
     
  More truth to the mystery of so many sunny days in Deer Harbor  
 

The Above Map Indicates Annual Rainfall in Inches

Sunny Deer Harbor Averages about 24 inches a Year

Some say we average over 250 sunny days.

Temperatures are moderate rarely dipping below 40

in the winter or above 85 in the summer.

 
     
     
  Keep checking dopplar radar to prove it to yourself  
 

A very common picture - How we are so blessed.

Orcas just below the B in Bellingham.

 
 

Questions about the weather in San Juan County?

Contact the Connors

 Click Here to Email the Connors                   Telephone 360-376-2480