Sun in a Shadow, Climate of the Yakima Valley

With the weather warming up right in time for this weekend's vineyard tour, I thought it might be pertinent to briefly touch on the Yakima Valley AVA's unique climate.

The federal government designated this appellation in early 1983; but the area has been cultivating wine grapes as well as a cornucopia of apples, cherries, pears, and apricots for multiple generations. Such agricultural bounty reflects a remarkable climate. The Yakima Valley enjoys 300 days of sunshine each year, including more summer sun than even San Diego, Phoenix, or Honolulu. That’s a big surprise to people who associate Washington State with rain. But the snowcapped volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains dramatically influence the weather in this corner of the country. Skies that are cloudy in Seattle turn clear by the time you reach the Yakima Valley, only about two hours’ drive to the east. Climate scientists call this phenomenon a “rain shadow.”
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