Barely a drop of rain in August in Seattle

Twenty-nine days of sun in August meant more time for the outdoors — more hiking, biking, beach-going and kayaking.

And for many area businesses, clear skies meant higher sales, with more patrons spending summer leisure time outside of home.

Last month brought just 0.02 inches of rainfall, less than the 30-year average of 1.02 inches in August. Temperatures were normal, but the usual 5 ½ days of August rain were reduced to two this year.

Ian Shulman, a manager at Duke's Greenlake Chowder House, said the recent string of sunny days has boosted sales as diners pile onto the establishment's patio.

"With our deck up it more than doubles the size of the restaurant," he said.

Waterfront businesses in Seattle and Tacoma have had a particularly nice summer, with customers cramming decks night after night, said Anthony Anton, president of Washington Restaurant Association.

And Craig Kirkpatrick, outreach coordinator for Real Change, a weekly activist newspaper sold by the homeless, said bright weather means vendors have a better shot of selling papers. Clear skies bring possible buyers out onto the streets.

This summer has been one of the driest on record, but the difference is largely insignificant considering the usual lack of rain this time of year, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jay Albrecht.

And despite the recent dry streak, he said, total annual precipitation is still a bit above average.

Charlotte Hsu: 206-464-8349 or chsu@seattletimes.com