Rain, rain here to stay
According to the latest 2021 PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, 55% of Portland and Seattle residents not only tolerate the climate here, they actually like it. How about you? What’s your take on NW weather?
How well does the year-round climate where you live match your climate-preferences?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 838 | 420 | 418 | Total |
| 12 | 16 | 9 | Matches my preferences exactly |
| 43 | 45 | 40 | Matches my preferences mostly |
| 26 | 21 | 32 | Matches my preferences somewhat |
| 12 | 11 | 12 | Matches my preferences a little bit |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | Does not match my preferences at all |
How well does the year-round climate where you live match your climate-preferences?
| Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| 18 | 13 | 9 | 7 | Matches my preferences exactly |
| 30 | 34 | 30 | 39 | Matches my preferences mostly |
| 15 | 26 | 31 | 33 | Matches my preferences somewhat |
| 9 | 13 | 10 | 14 | Matches my preferences a little bit |
| 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | Does not match my preferences at all |
The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for having a rainy climate. Compared to the United States’ average rainfall, do you believe that the Pacific Northwest experiences:
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 838 | 420 | 418 | Total |
| 16 | 17 | 15 | A great deal more rain, in inches |
| 41 | 38 | 45 | Moderately more rain |
| 21 | 21 | 20 | A little bit more rain |
| 11 | 12 | 10 | About the same amount of rain |
| 5 | 8 | 3 | A little bit less rain |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Moderately less rain |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | A great deal less rain |
The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for having a rainy climate. Compared to the United States’ average rainfall, do you believe that the Pacific Northwest experiences:
| Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 55 | 55 + | < 55 | 55 + | |
| 19 | 6 | 17 | 9 | A great deal more rain, in inches |
| 37 | 39 | 46 | 44 | Moderately more rain |
| 21 | 24 | 19 | 23 | A little bit more rain |
| 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | About the same amount of rain |
| 6 | 13 | 3 | 5 | A little bit less rain |
| 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | Moderately less rain |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | A great deal less rain |
Just your best guess, on how many days do you think it rains where you live?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 837 | 420 | 417 | Total |
| 4 | 5 | 3 | Fewer than 50 days |
| 19 | 18 | 19 | 50 – 99 days |
| 35 | 31 | 39 | 100 – 149 days |
| 27 | 28 | 25 | 150 – 199 days |
| 10 | 11 | 9 | 200 – 299 days |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 300 days or more |
| 141 | 142 | 140 | Average number of days of rain |
Just your best guess, on how many days do you think you have only clouds—that is, there’s no blue sky or sunshine all day long (often known as overcast)?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 837 | 420 | 417 | Total |
| 7 | 6 | 8 | Fewer than 50 days |
| 22 | 20 | 24 | 50 – 99 days |
| 21 | 20 | 22 | 100 – 149 days |
| 29 | 28 | 29 | 150 – 199 days |
| 13 | 15 | 11 | 200 – 299 days |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 300 days or more |
| 143 | 149 | 137 | Average number of days of rain |
Across the United States, the statewide annual precipitation (rainfall plus snowfall) is as high as 65 inches per year and as low as 10 inches a year. Knowing that, how much precipitation do you think you get where you live?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 838 | 420 | 418 | Total |
| 6 | 6 | 5 | Fewer than 20 inches |
| 11 | 11 | 11 | 20 – 29 inches |
| 21 | 21 | 22 | 30 – 39 inches |
| 24 | 23 | 25 | 40 – 49 inches |
| 15 | 15 | 14 | 50 – 59 inches |
| 11 | 10 | 13 | 60 inches or more |
| 42 | 42 | 43 | Average number of inches |
For you personally, how bothered are you by the amount of rain where you live?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 838 | 420 | 418 | Total |
| 3 | 5 | 2 | Extremely bothered |
| 6 | 7 | 4 | Very bothered |
| 19 | 18 | 19 | Somewhat bothered |
| 40 | 41 | 38 | Not too bothered |
| 32 | 28 | 36 | Not at all bothered |
When it rains, how regularly do you use an umbrella?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 838 | 420 | 418 | Total |
| 9 | 11 | 7 | Always |
| 8 | 8 | 7 | Usually |
| 21 | 21 | 20 | Sometimes |
| 29 | 27 | 31 | Rarely |
| 33 | 32 | 34 | Never |
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of mood disorder that is connected to seasonal climate changes. Most commonly, it expresses itself as depression during winter months, when there’s less sunlight. To what extent, if any, do you believe you suffer from SAD during winter months?
| Total | Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 838 | 420 | 418 | Total |
| 9 | 8 | 9 | I suffer a lot |
| 17 | 17 | 17 | I suffer moderately |
| 33 | 35 | 32 | I suffer a little bit |
| 36 | 35 | 37 | I don’t suffer at all |
To what extent, if any, do you believe you suffer from SAD during winter months?
| Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| 8 | 8 | 4 | 13 | I suffer a lot |
| 12 | 20 | 16 | 18 | I suffer moderately |
| 32 | 38 | 30 | 32 | I suffer a little bit |
| 44 | 29 | 45 | 32 | I don’t suffer at all |
To what extent, if any, do you believe you suffer from SAD during winter months?
| Seattle Metro | Portland Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 55 | 55 + | < 55 | 55 + | |
| 9 | 7 | 10 | 5 | I suffer a lot |
| 20 | 6 | 20 | 10 | I suffer moderately |
| 36 | 32 | 32 | 32 | I suffer a little bit |
| 29 | 55 | 33 | 49 | I don’t suffer at all |
About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll
PEMCO Mutual Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 420 respondents in the Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce Counties) region and 418 respondents in the Portland Metro (Multnomah, Marion, Clackamas, Washington Counties) region yields an accuracy of +/- 5.0% respectively at the 95% confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.
About PEMCO Insurance
PEMCO Insurance is the Defender of Your Northwest, providing auto, home, renters and boat coverage. We are consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee expertise and social impact. Our Mutual Good programs raise the achievement levels for youth in education; build stronger, greener environments; and increase safety at home, on the road and at play. Our mission: Free our communities to worry less and live more.
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