26 consecutive days of rain AS OF JANUARY 13TH
If it rains for 8 more days, Seattle will beat the 1953 record of 33 straight days of rain.
Precipitation since Dec. 19, 2005, total as of Jan. 13, 2006: 12.53″
January rainfall through the 12th is 3.93 inches above average: 5.97″
countdown courtesy the Seattle Times weather page

Currently in Seattle the forecast is for ten more straight days of rain. For the past month there has been little deviation from this terribly soggy pattern. Every morning I’ve put down my mug of coffee and donned my thick wool coat, only to step into the unending drizzle and face the teeming masses—of people absolutely proud—to hardy such hideous climes.

Yes, they are proud, every one of those damp Seattleites. It’s on the tips of everyone’s tongues…”what is it now, 25 straight days? I bet we’ll break it.” I overhear it in grocery stores, on the bus, outside of work. It’s all pride, willfullness, and an unspeakably thick layer of denial.

As far as the National Weather Service is concerned, Seattle in the winter of 2005 – 2006 is on its way toward a record of consecutive days of rain; though experienced locals will claim there have been winters far wetter, far darker, not even a generation in the past. Regardless it’s a shocking testament to human perserverence—every time I lower my chin and try to duck under the raindrops there is another small collection of people whispering gleefully, “oh we’re going to break it…”

The people, willing onward such terrible weather.

I can’t help but admire their optimism.