Just got a job in Spokane but would like to live close to the Cascade as Spokane’s wind-chilled weather isn’t great for my son who may struggle under weather below 20F. I noticed Amtrak passes through Everett so would like to put my family in Everett while I travel on Sundays and returns to Everett on Wednesday.
Anyone with useful information on the reliability of the train systems on this route?
Hi all,
I’m moving to Spokane for a new job, but I’m a bit concerned about the winter weather. I currently live in Vancouver, Canada, so I understand Spokane is significantly colder.
My main concern is my son’s health. He has a medical condition that can be triggered by cold temperatures, especially below about 23°F. Because of that, I’m trying to understand what Spokane winters actually feel like, not just the official temperature numbers.
I’ve considered having my family live in Everett, where the Cascades may help moderate the weather, while I commute to Spokane twice a week for my job. I don’t mind two hours on the road, but I guess winter road conditions may be more difficult than what we’re used to around Vancouver.
I’d really appreciate input from people who actually live in or around Spokane:
What is the coldest month in practice?
How bad does the wind chill usually get?
When temperatures drop below 23°F, does that usually last for a few hours, a few days, or weeks at a time?
Are there nearby areas within a reasonable commute that feel noticeably milder or are better shielded from wind chill?
Is it true that Spokane can feel like -4°F at times because of wind chill, or is that rare?
I’ve already checked weather data and used tools like ChatGPT to look at historical values, but I’d really value real-world experience from people who live there. We can manage occasional cold snaps, but persistent cold lasting for weeks would be a serious concern for our family.
Thank you.
My family is relocating from
Vancouver, BC to Spokane to start a job. We chose Vancouver because of the friendly weather as myself and my son can’t live in temperates below -5C (in winter months - DAYTIME temperatures!). This is for medical reasons. Occasional dip to -10 is okay if this isn’t persistent.
We know Seattle and other towns/cities close to the cascade are our top choices, but all are far from Spokane.
I am considering the TriCities area (or any area within 2 hours of commute) but would like to hear from people living in the are what winter temperate FEELs like during winter months. I have done a lot of research online as a geography graduate and getting that with windchill temperatures can be 10 degree Celsius lower than what it is actually.
And by the way, I read that Spokane experiences severe windchill, hence the need to move away from it.
Will also appreciate any recommendations for any other cities or areas that people on ground can recommend. We have sons going to Grades 5 and 7 and love schools with vibrant programs- like STEM, music. We also like towns/cities that have universities as we loved living on SFU, Burnaby campus then.
Thanks!