The FINANCIAL — You know you’re in the Northwest when the forecast calls for grey skies and rain for the foreseeable future but there’s hardly an umbrella in sight.
While the region may be notorious for its overcast days, the latest poll from PEMCO Insurance finds that a majority of residents in Washington and Oregon don’t seem to mind the prolonged gloom, and instead embrace the fairly fickle climate of the Pacific Northwest.
The PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll found that most residents (80 percent) agree that the region faces prolonged periods of gloomy weather. But despite the cloudy outlook, about half of all respondents in Washington and Oregon (53 percent) say they’re okay with how much it rains where they live. And according to the poll, nearly three-quarters actually have a positive opinion about the climate overall.
“We all know the common perception that the Northwest is plagued by rain and clouds, but it doesn’t seem to deter us from enjoying all this region has to offer,” said PEMCO Spokesperson Derek Wing. “Maybe we’re just used to it, or maybe we’re willing to endure months of gloom for our glorious summers, but these poll results suggest we’ve developed a pretty bright outlook when it comes to Northwest weather.”
And while some residents find ways to cope with the area’s signature wet weather, the PEMCO poll found that about half say they don’t choose to take any steps to counteract the effects of the climate. Still, a quarter of those who experience prolonged gloomy weather say they take supplements or medications to help offset the gloom, while 17 percent said they go on vacation to boost their mood.
But there’s one thing you won’t find with many Northwesterners: the poll confirms that most people in Washington and Oregon (78 percent) say they’re unlikely to use an umbrella if it rains, and almost half say they’d never use one.
“Perhaps it’s the inconvenience of constantly carrying an umbrella around, or maybe it’s more of a badge of honor to endure the rain without one, but it’s clear we share strong opinions about ways to stay dry!” Wing said.
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