A Strange Unspoken Rain Rule Will Out You As A Tourist In Seattle Immediately

The city of Seattle is not just the biggest population center in the Pacific Northwest. It's one of those towns with an identity so singular that certain images spring to mind upon hearing its name: Coffee, outdoor life, the Space Needle, political protests, tech companies, grunge music, and perhaps more than anything, rain. That's right, the Emerald City has a reputation as a very soggy place, a weather myth that might need to be debunked, seeing as it only ranks in the middle nationally when it comes to the amount of annual precipitation it receives.

That said, while it may not rain a lot — quantity-wise — it certainly rains often. According to the website Redfin, Seattle averages 226 cloudy days a year, which puts it at number 2 in the U.S. (just behind Anchorage, Alaska), and with that comes plenty of drizzle. So, while Seattle doesn't suffer many great deluges (that honor goes to southeastern cities such as Miami, Houston, and New Orleans), it's certainly a dark and gloomy place for much of the year, a fact that a lot of locals not only tolerate but celebrate.

Another badge of pride worn by many Sea-town residents is that, no matter how nasty the weather, they largely avoid using umbrellas. There are reasons for this, but the fact is, little makes you stick out as an out-of-towner more than deploying a parasol as soon drops start falling from the sky. So when the rain inevitably starts to fall, resist the urge to unleash that umbrella.

The burning question is, as usual, why? In a city as damp as Seattle, why are umbrellas seen as not just unnecessary, but even a bit gauche? One answer lies in the type of rain Seattle gets. Aside from a couple of big storms a year, the city's precipitation tends to come in sprinkles, patchy showers, and mist, barely warranting the need for an umbrella in the eyes of locals. "For the most part, you will be no dryer with an umbrella than you would be without it," writes columnist Naomy Tomky on the website Seattle Refined, "since the rain is so light that it doesn't matter."

Seattleites are also quite fond of dressing for the elements. Outdoor wear is viewed as both appropriate and practical fashion. Fleeces, flannels, beanies, and boots keep locals warm during the dank winters, while hooded Gore-Tex raincoats act as a kind of armor once the drizzle starts coming down.

There is also this notion of civic pride, that if a Seattlelite employs an umbrella, they're somehow betraying some great local tradition and may even have to hand in their Pacific Northwest card. In the often stubborn (and sometimes smug) Seattle mind, eschewing umbrellas is a sign of resilience. It's also a way to prove your local bonafides over supposedly weak out-of-towners who are unable to endure a bit of moisture without the aid of implements.

Perhaps the most-talked-about social phenomenon in Seattle is the so-called "Seattle Freeze." This is the idea that — given the frequently dreary weather and locals' polite but frosty demeanor — it can be difficult to make new friends in the Emerald City. While this may have something to do with the town's Nordic heritage (it was largely settled by Scandinavians), it applies to transplants far more than tourists.

Some dismiss it altogether as an urban myth. "The Seattle Freeze is a moniker applied to unfriendly locals, but this couldn't be further from the truth," says Samantha O'Brochta in Lonely Planet. "At 6 a.m., a barista in Seattle will say sweeter things to you while you're still fully waking up than anywhere else I've visited. Simply put, there's no such thing as the Seattle Freeze."

While people in Seattle can, at times, be a bit grumpy, they also have an offbeat and irrelevant sense of humor. You can see this in local attractions such as the Fremont Troll (a massive sculpture of one of the beasts lurking under an actual bridge), the Archie McPhee novelty and gag gift store, and The Gum Wall, a constantly evolving public art display of — you guessed it — used chewing gum, located in an alley underneath the city's iconic Pike Place Market. To top it off, like Chicagoans (who seem to load everything on their hot dogs but ketchup), Seattlelites have their own take on the classic American dish: they apply cream cheese. This may sound strange, but Seattle is an unconventional place, so don't knock it until you try it. For more Pacific Northwest urban action, head down to Seattle's rival city to the south, which has blossomed into a perfect foodie destination.