Measured, not vibes
Best Time to Visit Seattle
By measured weather comfort, the top months for Seattle are July, August, September — and RouteVerdict's editorial pick, which also weighs crowds and prices, is June, July, August, September. The table below is computed from ERA5 reanalysis data for 2020–2024, measured at Seattle (56 m elevation).
Month by month
Seattle weather and comfort, 2020–2024
| Month | Avg high | Wet days | Comfort | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.4°C / 47°F | 17.2 | 18 | |
| February | 8.5°C / 47°F | 12.7 | 20 | |
| March | 10.9°C / 52°F | 12.3 | 31 | |
| April | 14°C / 57°F | 11.3 | 47 | |
| May | 17.9°C / 64°F | 9.8 | 69 | Shoulder |
| June | 21.3°C / 70°F | 7.5 | 84 | |
| July | 25.3°C / 78°F | 1.8 | 93 | Best |
| August | 25.5°C / 78°F | 4.2 | 88 | Best |
| September | 21.8°C / 71°F | 6.2 | 87 | Best |
| October | 15.9°C / 61°F | 11.5 | 56 | Shoulder |
| November | 10.2°C / 50°F | 13.7 | 26 | |
| December | 8°C / 46°F | 16.7 | 17 |
Comfort is RouteVerdict's 0–100 score: 100·exp(−(high−23)²/162) × (1 − min(0.35, wet days × 0.02)). The full method is on the methodology page. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (ERA5, CC BY 4.0), 2020–2024 normals. Wet day = ≥1 mm precipitation.
What the seasons are actually like
Traveling to Seattle month by month
Seattle's comfort score peaks in July at 93.3, with an average high of 25.3°C and just 1.8 wet days — the driest month by far — ahead of August's 88.1 and September's 86.8. Winter is the opposite extreme: January averages 17.2 wet days, the most of any month, with comfort at just 17.6. RouteVerdict's editorial pick spans June through September, the reliably dry stretch, while April, May, and October sit as shoulder months with comfort scores of 46.9, 68.5, and 56.4.
FAQ
Seattle timing questions
What is the best month to visit Seattle?
By measured weather comfort (ERA5 2020–2024), the top months are July, August, and September, with July scoring highest. RouteVerdict's editorial pick is June, July, August, and September, which also weighs crowds, prices, and events.
What is the hottest month in Seattle?
August, with an average daily high of 25.5°C (78°F).
What is the rainiest month in Seattle?
January, averaging 17.2 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation.
When is shoulder season in Seattle?
May and October — the best-scoring months outside both the measured top three and RouteVerdict's editorial peak-season pick.
What is Seattle's driest month?
July, averaging just 1.8 wet days — far fewer than any other month — and also its highest comfort score of the year at 93.3.
How wet does Seattle get in winter?
January averages 17.2 wet days, the most of any month, with comfort dropping to just 17.6.