Weather categorization

I've decided that the weather here in Seattle is completely uninteresting. The Midwest has a very interesting and robust weather scene by comparison, with specific cause and effect relationships and concrete events that cause a great deal of variety and distinction. For example, there are thunderstorms that form in squall lines, generally moving west to east. These systems produce thunder, lightning and rotation. The lakes when unfrozen pick up moisture and dump it on land as snow in the winter. Distinct cold and warm fronts push the temperature around and create these windy times spans. It's just interesting, and the weather guys on TV have something to talk about in terms of how it all goes down.

Out here, the most interesting thing they can talk about is where the jet stream is coming in to make it a little warmer or a little colder. The temperature rarely has any serious variation. There's generally some potential for rain every day in the winter, and less so in the summer. It's hilarious that one of the local TV stations has a weather promo, and the best they can do in terms of weather B-roll is a shot where a wave splashes up against one of the bridges over Lake Washington. It's pretty hilarious.

I categorize weather like this:

• No mountains: It's cloudy and rainy, so you won't likely see any mountains.
• Some mountains: It may rain, but it's clear enough to see most mountains.
• Rainier: (It's funny that it's spelled "rainy-er") It's clear enough that you can see Mt. Rainier and it won't likely rain.

I suspect I'll really miss the thunderstorms in the summer.