Thomas Boyd | The Oregonian/Oregonlive

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Rain drops bead up on the sorrel at the Leach Botanical Garden. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

Which Northwest city gets more rain? Some Portlanders will tell you that Seattle gets way more rain. Are they right? We compared precipitation statistics from the National Weather Service stations at Seattle Sea-Tac and the Portland International Airport. Of course, once we started looking at rain and snow we just could not stop there. Here's what we found.

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Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

Looking just at the past four years, Portland and Seattle are tied. However, over the long haul Seattle wins, beating Portland 10 years out of the past 14. Seattle averaged 38.34 inches for 2000 through 2014 and Portland 35.09. Is a difference of 3 inches a year life-changing? That is up to you. We say you probably will need some rain gear in either city.

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Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

On the other hand, Portland's precipitation does edge past Seattle's in certain months: February, April - June, and December. November is the rainiest month for both cities.

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Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

Which city has more blue skies? The weather service defines a "clear" day as one with less than 30 percent of the daytime sky obscured by clouds. Seattle wins this round with an average of 71 clear days versus Portland's 68 days. Portland has more clear days in the summer. Seattle is clearer March through June and in December.

--Source: Western Climate Center 1998-2008

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Dale Stark, out for a lunchtime run, keeps control of her hat she crosses the Hawthorne Bridge. Photo by Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian

Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

Hold on to your hat! The National Climactic Data Center examined data from 1954 through 2012 and pegged Portland's highest wind speed at 88 mph. Seattle's, as recorded from 1968 through 2012, was 66. That is a difference of 22 mph! Portland wins in the average wind speed category, too. Portland's average is 7.6 mph, Seattle 6.2.

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Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

Portland also wins for heat...

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Lynne Palombo | The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

August is the hottest month for both cities. Portland's average high is 81 versus Seattle's 76.