Vancouver vs Seattle: Weather & Climate Compared
🇨🇦 Vancouver, Canada · 🇺🇸 Seattle, United States
Warmer overall
Seattle
Sunnier
Seattle
More rainy days
Vancouver
Vancouver vs Seattle weather right now
At this moment, Seattle is the warmer of the two by 13°F (7°C).
The short answer
If warmth is the deciding factor, Seattle wins: 52°F (11°C) on the annual mean against 40°F (4°C) in Vancouver, a gap of 12.4°F (6.9°C).
Head to head
- Sunshine: expect more blue sky in Seattle - 8.0 sun hours a day on average, against 7.7 in Vancouver.
- Rain: Vancouver records roughly 184 days of measurable precipitation annually; Seattle sees 151.
- Snow: Vancouver is the snowy one, averaging about 97 snow days a year.
- Peak heat: Vancouver tops out in August (68°F (20°C) highs); Seattle peaks in August (77°F (25°C)).
- Coldest nights: February lows of 22°F (-6°C) in Vancouver; December lows of 37°F (3°C) in Seattle.
Vancouver vs Seattle month by month
| Month | Vancouver high / low | Seattle high / low | Vancouver rain days | Seattle rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° / 25° | 47° / 37° | 21 | 18 |
| February | 32° / 22° | 47° / 36° | 17 | 15 |
| March | 36° / 25° | 52° / 39° | 17 | 15 |
| April | 41° / 28° | 57° / 42° | 16 | 14 |
| May | 52° / 36° | 64° / 49° | 11 | 10 |
| June | 58° / 41° | 70° / 54° | 14 | 8 |
| July | 67° / 48° | 76° / 58° | 9 | 3 |
| August | 68° / 49° | 77° / 59° | 9 | 5 |
| September | 58° / 43° | 69° / 55° | 13 | 10 |
| October | 48° / 35° | 59° / 48° | 16 | 14 |
| November | 37° / 27° | 50° / 41° | 19 | 18 |
| December | 31° / 23° | 45° / 37° | 21 | 19 |
Who's warmer, month by month?
Seattle is warmer in every single month - the question is never which city is milder, only by how much. The gap is widest in April, when Seattle's afternoons run about 16°F (9°C) ahead, and narrowest in August, when the two nearly meet.
Sunshine, daylight and rain chance
| Month | Vancouver sun | Seattle sun | Vancouver daylight | Seattle daylight | Vancouver wet-day chance | Seattle wet-day chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.6 h | 4.1 h | 8.6 h | 8.8 h | 67% | 59% |
| February | 5.2 h | 5.1 h | 10.0 h | 10.2 h | 59% | 54% |
| March | 6.6 h | 7.5 h | 11.7 h | 11.8 h | 56% | 49% |
| April | 8.4 h | 9.2 h | 13.7 h | 13.6 h | 55% | 48% |
| May | 11.1 h | 10.1 h | 15.3 h | 15.1 h | 35% | 32% |
| June | 11.0 h | 11.7 h | 16.3 h | 16.0 h | 45% | 28% |
| July | 12.7 h | 12.7 h | 15.9 h | 15.6 h | 29% | 11% |
| August | 11.7 h | 11.5 h | 14.4 h | 14.3 h | 30% | 16% |
| September | 8.8 h | 9.2 h | 12.5 h | 12.5 h | 43% | 35% |
| October | 6.0 h | 6.5 h | 10.6 h | 10.7 h | 53% | 46% |
| November | 3.9 h | 4.7 h | 9.0 h | 9.2 h | 63% | 59% |
| December | 3.4 h | 3.6 h | 8.1 h | 8.4 h | 67% | 62% |
Seasons compared
| Months | Vancouver high / low | Seattle high / low | Vancouver rain days | Seattle rain days | Vancouver sun | Seattle sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December - February | 32° / 23° | 46° / 37° | 58 | 53 | 4.1 h | 4.3 h |
| March - May | 43° / 29° | 58° / 43° | 45 | 39 | 8.7 h | 8.9 h |
| June - August | 64° / 46° | 74° / 57° | 32 | 17 | 11.8 h | 12.0 h |
| September - November | 48° / 35° | 59° / 48° | 48 | 42 | 6.2 h | 6.8 h |
Best months for sightseeing
Counting months with average highs between 64°F and 82°F (18-28°C) and fewer than 12 wet days:
- Vancouver: July, August (2 months)
- Seattle: June, July, August, September (4 months)
Both cities are at their most comfortable in July, August, the easiest window for a trip that takes in both.
Records, distance and time difference
- Vancouver records (2015-2024): high of 94° in June, low of -9° in December.
- Seattle records (2015-2024): high of 100° in June, low of 14° in January.
- Distance: Vancouver and Seattle are about 201 miles (323 km) apart as the crow flies.
- Time difference: the two cities share the same local time right now.
Vancouver vs Seattle: quick answers
Is Vancouver warmer than Seattle?
On the annual mean, Seattle is the warmer city by roughly 12.4°F (6.9°C), though the margin shifts with the seasons.
Which city is sunnier, Vancouver or Seattle?
Seattle, with 8.0 hours of average daily sunshine against 7.7 in Vancouver.
Which city gets more rain?
Vancouver is the wetter city, logging about 184 rain days annually to Seattle's 151.
Dig deeper
Vancouver climate guide
Seattle climate guide
Canada weather
United States weather
All city comparisons
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