We get a lot of hail in north Texas. Pretty tough on solar panels
Many producers account for hail and extreme weather. I saw one that shoots golf balls at their panels at 100mph to simulate hail. Simply put, there should be a hail rating or a hail certificate. If you have one of these then the damage, if incurred, will most likely be covered by the manufacturer or even by your home insurance.
How many days of sunshine do they get in Seattle? Maybe they should find a way to power their stadium on a steady drizzle and caffeine.
Decent solar equipment will function at a good rate even in overcast weather. The UV rays still break through and stimulate the electrons to create power. It won't be quite as good as Arizona sun, and probably will not allow you make so much power that you can sell back to the grid; but it still works.
I am no expert, but I find this stuff really interesting and hope to break into the job field of sustainable energy some day. Hopefully soon!
