Seoul, South Korea Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Seoul
Seoul spends most of the year cold. August, the warmest month, averages 85°F (29°C) by day - a figure many cities in our dataset pass in early spring - while January holds at 36°F (2°C) with 98 wet days a year across the whole calendar.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 36°F (2°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 97°F (36°C) high · -3°F (-20°C) low
- Wettest month: July (18 rainy days) · Sunniest: May (10.0 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 28°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 9°C
- Snow: about 5 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 4
- Average humidity: 70%
Temperatures through the year
January bottoms out at 36°F (2°C) in daylight, 20°F (-7°C) after dark. August is the warm end of the year, averaging 85°F (29°C) by day and 72°F (22°C) overnight. Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is May through June.
Rain, sun and snow
The wettest month is July (12.2 inches (310 mm) across 18 days) and the driest January. Snow falls on roughly 5 days a year, mostly December through March. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 97°F (36°C) and the lowest daily minimum -3°F (-20°C).
How Seoul compares
- Its warmest and coolest months are 28°C apart - a wider seasonal swing than 95% of the 3496 cities we track.
- 57% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 88% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 20° | 3 | 0.7 in | 7.8 h/day | 9.8 h | 10% | 58% |
| February | 41° | 23° | 4 | 1.0 in | 8.4 h/day | 10.8 h | 16% | 61% |
| March | 53° | 32° | 6 | 1.6 in | 9.1 h/day | 11.9 h | 19% | 66% |
| April | 64° | 44° | 7 | 2.5 in | 9.3 h/day | 13.1 h | 24% | 65% |
| May | 73° | 53° | 8 | 4.2 in | 10.0 h/day | 14.2 h | 26% | 68% |
| June | 81° | 64° | 10 | 4.7 in | 9.8 h/day | 14.7 h | 33% | 72% |
| July | 84° | 72° | 18 | 12.2 in | 8.2 h/day | 14.5 h | 57% | 82% |
| August | 85° | 72° | 16 | 10.2 in | 9.2 h/day | 13.6 h | 51% | 82% |
| September | 78° | 63° | 9 | 5.2 in | 8.6 h/day | 12.4 h | 29% | 77% |
| October | 65° | 49° | 6 | 3.0 in | 8.3 h/day | 11.1 h | 20% | 74% |
| November | 52° | 35° | 7 | 2.3 in | 7.2 h/day | 10.1 h | 24% | 71% |
| December | 38° | 23° | 4 | 1.0 in | 7.2 h/day | 9.6 h | 15% | 63% |
Seoul month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Seoul's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
February
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
March
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
May
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
June
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.8 h
- Daylight
- 14.7 h
July
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
August
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.6 h
September
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
November
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 7.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.1 h
December
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 7.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
- Snow
- 1 day
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Seoul
Spring (March through May)
Spring stays on the cool side of mild here - highs near 63°F (17°C), nights near 43°F (6°C), and expect showers on roughly 21 days across the season.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Seoul sits firmly in the heat: 83°F (28°C) by day, 69°F (21°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 43 of the 90 days. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is crisp but comfortable here - highs near 65°F (18°C), nights near 49°F (9°C), and expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter runs to hard cold here - highs near 38°F (3°C), nights near 22°F (-6°C), and rain comes on about 12 days over the three months, plus about 4 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
How hot does Seoul get in summer?
How much sun does Seoul get?
What should I pack for Seoul?
What is the average temperature in Seoul?
How many rainy days does Seoul get in a year?
When does Seoul drop below freezing?
Best time to visit Seoul
Aim for April to June and September to October if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 72°F (22°C) against roughly 8 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Seoul with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: August pairs 85°F (29°C) with 72°F (22°C).
Seoul temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.