Sunbreak

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The moody Bay Area-style weather has many Angelenos itching for a change. Having lived in New England, Colorado, Maryland, London and Washington state, this particular editor suggests making the most of the cold spell. It's a welcome change in an otherwise utopian and temperate climate.

Part of the reason we're disliked up North is because of our enviable weather. Conversely, in Seattle, there are about ten different terms for rain and sunshine is measured in meteorological blips known as "sunbreaks." What's a sunbreak, you ask? After weeks of nonstop rain, clouds will dramatically part over Puget Sound, revealing streams of warmth and light. Washington natives know this is a short-lived event. Ergo, like leggy flowers reaching for sun, people will rush from their pent-up, weather-proof offices in a futile attempt to soak in the rays. The group euphoria is dampened (literally) as the rain triumphantly reclaims the land.

Similarly, in Western states, like Utah, gloomy inversions can settle-in over the valley regions, snuffing out direct sunlight for weeks at a time. And on the East coast there is a predictable pattern of year-round precipitation that makes LA's rainy season seem like a mere sneeze.

So, although the overcast skies may be wearing thin on your patience, it could be exponentially worse. We often turn our nose at any sort of climate fluctuation here. However, there is something to be said for the pungent smell of decaying leaves during a New England autumn, the dramatic cloud formations in Seattle and the snow-capped Rockies. They punctuate the seasons and help others avoid the dreaded LA time warp (where 3 or 4 years feel like one long summer).

LAist's advice: rent a scary movie, start working on your Halloween costume and make the most of the current pseudo-autumn treat. A sunbreak is sure to come soon. And, thankfully, they last much longer here in the southland.