Seoul, South Korea Climate & Monthly Averages

South Korea 🇰🇷 · humid subtropical climate
Annual avg
53°
Hottest month
August
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
98
Sunshine
8.6 h/day
Right now: 79° and overcast - see live conditions

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

Monthly averages for Seoul based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 36° 20° 3 0.7 in 7.8 h/day 58%
February 41° 23° 4 1.0 in 8.4 h/day 61%
March 53° 32° 6 1.6 in 9.1 h/day 66%
April 64° 44° 7 2.5 in 9.3 h/day 65%
May 73° 53° 8 4.2 in 10.0 h/day 68%
June 81° 64° 10 4.7 in 9.8 h/day 72%
July 84° 72° 18 12.2 in 8.2 h/day 82%
August 85° 72° 16 10.2 in 9.2 h/day 82%
September 78° 63° 9 5.2 in 8.6 h/day 77%
October 65° 49° 6 3.0 in 8.3 h/day 74%
November 52° 35° 7 2.3 in 7.2 h/day 71%
December 38° 23° 4 1.0 in 7.2 h/day 63%

Seoul month by month

Seoul weather in January

January brings highs around 36°F (2°C), lows near 20°F (-7°C), about 3 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days - typically the coldest month and the driest month of the year in Seoul.

Seoul weather in February

February brings highs around 41°F (5°C), lows near 23°F (-5°C), about 4 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.

Seoul weather in March

March brings highs around 53°F (12°C), lows near 32°F (0°C), about 6 wet days.

Seoul weather in April

April brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 44°F (6°C), about 7 wet days.

Seoul weather in May

May brings highs around 73°F (23°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 8 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Seoul.

Seoul weather in June

June brings highs around 81°F (27°C), lows near 64°F (18°C), about 10 wet days.

Seoul weather in July

July brings highs around 84°F (29°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 18 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Seoul.

Seoul weather in August

August brings highs around 85°F (29°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 16 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Seoul.

Seoul weather in September

September brings highs around 78°F (25°C), lows near 63°F (17°C), about 9 wet days.

Seoul weather in October

October brings highs around 65°F (19°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 6 wet days.

Seoul weather in November

November brings highs around 52°F (11°C), lows near 35°F (2°C), about 7 wet days.

Seoul weather in December

December brings highs around 38°F (3°C), lows near 23°F (-5°C), about 4 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.

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?
August averages 85°F (29°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
How much sun does Seoul get?
8.6 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in May at 10.0 hours.
What should I pack for Seoul?
It depends on the month: August runs to 85°F (29°C) while January holds at 36°F (2°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
What is the average temperature in Seoul?
53°F (12°C) across all twelve months - about 62°F (17°C) by day and 46°F (8°C) after dark.
How many rainy days does Seoul get in a year?
About 98 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 48.7 inches (1236 mm). That works out at roughly 12.6 mm on an average wet day.
When does Seoul drop below freezing?
Average overnight lows sit at or below 0°C in 4 months of the year, December through March.

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)

Highest recorded
97°
in August
Lowest recorded
-3°
in January
Annual precipitation
48.7"
Snowy days / yr
5

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