Olympia

Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the national capital; both are named after George Washington, a U.S. Founding Father and the first U.S. president.Wikipedia

The Pacific Northwest grouping covers Washington and Oregon, including coastal communities, the Puget Sound and Willamette Valley urban areas, the Cascades, and inland cities. Seattle and Portland represent only part of that geographic variety.

West of the Cascades, coastal and valley locations generally have milder, wetter winters than many inland locations. Inland cities such as Spokane, Bend, and West Richland have different patterns, including drier conditions and larger seasonal temperature swings. Use the local climate figures: coastal conditions do not describe every Washington or Oregon city.