Two factors explain why Seattle, Portland, and surrounding areas get all that precipitation.

HOW ON EARTH
While 100 percent humidity might seem to suggest there should be pure rain showers, there may not even be a hint of drizzle. So what does it mean to reach peak humidity?
Storms are used to set an ominous tone in spooky stories, even as they bring much-needed relief to parched fields or distressed humans on a hot day.
From a surprise temblor in the Mississippi Valley to colossal ruptures and tsunamis around the Pacific Ring of Fire, these are some of the biggest earthquakes in modern times.
Not sure if your avocado is ripe? Learn easy ways to check, tricks to speed up ripening, and the best ways to store it without ruining the taste.
Sinkholes have gulped down suburban homes, Corvettes, the White House lawn, a sizable chunk of Louisiana, and even people. How does the ground just open up like that?
Ninety years ago, the Black Sunday dust storm blasted the Great Plains with millions of tons of topsoil scoured from the once-rich prairies. The Dust Bowl had arrived.
To predict quakes, scientists have to understand how they occur, what happens just before and during the start of one, and whether it shows signs that movement is imminent. So far, none of those things is known.
Learn the key differences between the two before the next polar vortex.
The sensation is real, but it doesn't have to do with odor.
Meteorological organizations have strict naming protocols for tropical cyclones and hurricanes. Not so for wildfires, which can end up being named for the local dump.
News reports warn about the Santa Ana winds and their power to turn modest wildfires into conflagrations. Here’s why these wind patterns in Southern California can be so destructive.
Get to know the flurries and flakes on a deeper level.
Scientists have long suspected that a gigantic eruption was behind the strange atmospheric phenomena of 1831. Scientists have finally figured out which volcano blew its top.
Heavy fogs have long been a part of life in London. But the darkness that enveloped the city on December 5, 1952 wasn’t your typical pea-souper.
From the color of snow to the shape of rainbows, weather breeds a lot of misconceptions.
Beryl, Helene, Milton—recent hurricane monikers aren’t exactly the most popular girls’ and boys’ names.
Wind isn’t the only danger a hurricane can bring to coastal communities. Storm surges are often more destructive.
Tornadoes can (and do) happen anywhere. Here are 10 of the most terrible twisters to ever take a turn on Earth.
Melting polar ice is slowing Earth’s rotation speed, extending the length of each day by a few milliseconds per century.
The nightmare scenario described in an influential 2008 study may end up being less destructive than scientists thought, but Angelenos still shouldn't get too comfortable.
The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. Here’s what you need to know about these destructive storms.
The United States has hosted half of the biggest blizzards in history. Discover what makes these snowstorms so legendary.
Discover the hidden rivers buried beneath cities around the world. From Moscow to Tokyo, explore the history and modern efforts to reopen these forgotten waterways.