Seattle, WA Climate & Monthly Averages

Washington, United States 🇺🇸 · oceanic climate
Annual avg
52°
Hottest month
August
Coldest month
December
Rainy days / yr
151
Sunshine
8.0 h/day
Right now: 68° and sunny - see live conditions

The climate of Seattle

Seattle runs on a dry-summer rhythm: the warmest months are also the driest. July averages 14 mm (0.6 in) while the wet season peaks in December at 7.4 inches (189 mm). Highs range from 45°F (7°C) to 77°F (25°C).

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: August - highs near 77°F (25°C)
  • Coldest month: December - highs near 45°F (7°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · 14°F (-10°C) low
  • Wettest month: December (19 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.7 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: oceanic
  • Annual swing: 14°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
  • Snow: about 7 days a year
  • Average humidity: 77%

Temperatures through the year

Sunshine averages 8.0 hours a day over the year - duller than about 83% of the cities we track, peaking in July at 12.7 hours. December sits at the other end of the year: 45°F (7°C) by day, 37°F (3°C) at night. August is the warm end of the year, averaging 77°F (25°C) by day and 59°F (15°C) overnight. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 100°F (38°C) and bottoms at 14°F (-10°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Precipitation concentrates in December - 7.4 inches (189 mm) on 19 days - and thins out by July.

Rain, sun and snow

Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is June through September.

How Seattle compares

  • Seattle sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 52°F (11°C) as an annual average, 47.4 inches (1203 mm) of precipitation and 8.0 hours of sun a day.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Seattle based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 47° 37° 18 7.3 in 4.1 h/day 84%
February 47° 36° 15 4.9 in 5.1 h/day 82%
March 52° 39° 15 4.3 in 7.5 h/day 80%
April 57° 42° 14 3.3 in 9.2 h/day 77%
May 64° 49° 10 2.1 in 10.1 h/day 74%
June 70° 54° 8 2.0 in 11.7 h/day 70%
July 76° 58° 3 0.6 in 12.7 h/day 66%
August 77° 59° 5 1.1 in 11.5 h/day 68%
September 69° 55° 10 2.5 in 9.2 h/day 76%
October 59° 48° 14 5.0 in 6.5 h/day 82%
November 50° 41° 18 6.9 in 4.7 h/day 83%
December 45° 37° 19 7.4 in 3.6 h/day 84%

Seattle month by month

Seattle weather in January

January brings highs around 47°F (8°C), lows near 37°F (3°C), about 18 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.

Seattle weather in February

February brings highs around 47°F (8°C), lows near 36°F (2°C), about 15 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days.

Seattle weather in March

March brings highs around 52°F (11°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 15 wet days.

Seattle weather in April

April brings highs around 57°F (14°C), lows near 42°F (6°C), about 14 wet days.

Seattle weather in May

May brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 10 wet days.

Seattle weather in June

June brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 8 wet days.

Seattle weather in July

July brings highs around 76°F (25°C), lows near 58°F (15°C), about 3 wet days - typically the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Seattle.

Seattle weather in August

August brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 5 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Seattle.

Seattle weather in September

September brings highs around 69°F (20°C), lows near 55°F (13°C), about 10 wet days.

Seattle weather in October

October brings highs around 59°F (15°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 14 wet days.

Seattle weather in November

November brings highs around 50°F (10°C), lows near 41°F (5°C), about 18 wet days.

Seattle weather in December

December brings highs around 45°F (7°C), lows near 37°F (3°C), about 19 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Seattle.

Seasons in Seattle

Spring (March through May)

Spring is crisp but comfortable here - highs near 58°F (14°C), nights near 43°F (6°C), and rain falls on around 39 of the 90 days.

Summer (June through August)

Summer in Seattle settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 74°F (23°C) and nights around 57°F (14°C); rain comes on about 17 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 12.0 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall stays on the cool side of mild here - highs near 59°F (15°C), nights near 48°F (9°C), and rain falls on around 42 of the 90 days.

Winter (December through February)

Winter is brisk and cold here - highs near 46°F (8°C), nights near 37°F (3°C), and rain falls on around 53 of the 90 days, plus about 6 snowy days.

Climate questions, answered

How much sun does Seattle get?
8.0 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in July at 12.7 hours.
How often does it rain in Seattle?
About 151 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 47.4 inches (1203 mm). That works out at roughly 8.0 mm on an average wet day.
How humid does Seattle get?
Relative humidity averages 77% across the year, which reads as fairly humid. The most comfortable stretch falls in the drier half of the year.
What should I wear in Seattle?
It depends on the month: August runs to 77°F (25°C) while December holds at 45°F (7°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
How hot does Seattle get in summer?
August averages 77°F (25°C). Summers here stay temperate rather than hot.

Best time to visit Seattle

The best time to visit Seattle is generally May to September, when the dry season is running but the afternoons are still bearable. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 71°F (22°C), with rain on about 7 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.

Pack for Seattle with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Note the gap between afternoon and night: August pairs 77°F (25°C) with 59°F (15°C).

Seattle temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
100°
in June
Lowest recorded
14°
in January
Annual precipitation
47.4"
Snowy days / yr
7

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.