AI-generatedSeattle at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 24°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 11.8°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,990 h
- Rain a year
- 1,377 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC−8 / UTC−7
- Elevation
- 56 m
Climate in Seattle
Seattle has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 24 °C, while December is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,990 hours of sunshine a year, Seattle is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 9.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: July – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 8°
- Midday, 13:00: about 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
07:2618:24
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:07–08:08 · evening 17:42–18:43
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:55–07:07 · evening 18:43–18:55
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Seattle in October?
In October, Seattle is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 146 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Seattle.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 57 min07:26 – 18:24
- UV index
- 3 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 65 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−7America/Los_Angeles
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %67 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %23 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %21 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Seattle
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 9.8 – 10.7 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Seattle ranges from 8.0 °C in February to 11.8 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From December to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 10.8 and 13.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 8.1° | 7.6° | 8.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 8.0° | 7.4° | 8.8° | cold |
| MarchMar | 8.2° | 7.6° | 8.8° | cold |
| AprilApr | 8.9° | 8.3° | 9.5° | cold |
| MayMay | 9.8° | 9.2° | 10.5° | cold |
| JuneJun | 10.7° | 9.9° | 11.5° | cold |
| JulyJul | 11.4° | 10.4° | 12.4° | cold |
| AugustAug | 11.8° | 10.8° | 13.0° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 11.3° | 10.7° | 11.7° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 10.2° | 9.8° | 10.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 9.4° | 9.0° | 10.1° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 8.6° | 8.1° | 9.2° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Seattle
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.4 of 11.0 hours of daylight in Seattle, 40 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Seattle
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 3 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 8).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 50 min
- Fair skin
- about 65 min
- Light brown skin
- about 90 min
- Olive skin
- about 115 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Seattle: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Seattle has about 15 rainy days with 146 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Seattle
How breezy and how cloudy Seattle is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Seattle typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 65 % of the sky over Seattle: variable cloud, with about 4.4 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Seattle
How often the day gets hot in Seattle (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Seattle has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 15 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Seattle
Snow is possible in Seattle, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Seattle.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Seattle
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in February (1°), the warmest in August (14°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 0 | 7° | 2° | 8.1° | 2.5 h | 19 | 183 |
| FebruaryFeb | 8 | 8° | 1° | 8.0° | 3.6 h | 16 | 125 |
| MarchMar | 17 | 11° | 3° | 8.2° | 4.3 h | 18 | 141 |
| AprilApr | 43 | 13° | 5° | 8.9° | 5.9 h | 15 | 106 |
| MayMay | 68 | 17° | 8° | 9.8° | 6.7 h | 13 | 83 |
| JuneJun | 81 | 20° | 11° | 10.7° | 7.5 h | 11 | 68 |
| JulyJul | 97 | 24° | 14° | 11.4° | 9.7 h | 5 | 28 |
| AugustAug | 96 | 24° | 14° | 11.8° | 8.7 h | 5 | 37 |
| SeptemberSep | 82 | 21° | 11° | 11.3° | 6.8 h | 9 | 72 |
| OctoberOct | 44 | 15° | 7° | 10.2° | 4.4 h | 15 | 146 |
| NovemberNov | 9 | 10° | 4° | 9.4° | 2.8 h | 18 | 199 |
| DecemberDec | 0 | 7° | 2° | 8.6° | 2.2 h | 19 | 189 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
47.61° N, 122.33° W · 56 m · America/Los_Angeles
Best time to visit Seattle
The best time to visit Seattle is from July to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 11.8 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent from October to May; the wettest month is November with 199 mm.
Seattle through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Seattle in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 11–17 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 46 rainy days in all
Seattle in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 20–24 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 21 rainy days in all
Seattle in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 10–21 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
Seattle in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 7–8 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 53 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Seattle for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Seattle
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Seattle: score 97 against 44. In July, days are 9 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in July. July has 10 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 5 hours longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 44 | 97better |
| Day high | 15° | 24° |
| Night low | 7° | 14° |
| Sea | 10.2° | 11.4° |
| Sunshine | 4.4 h | 9.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 15 | 5better |
| Rainfall | 146 mm | 28 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – May
12 or more rainy days
Seattle month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
0January7° · Sea 8° · 3 h
In January, Seattle is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 8.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 183 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in January8February8° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In February, Seattle is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 8.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 125 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in February17March11° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In March, Seattle is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 141 mm. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in March43April13° · Sea 9° · 6 h
In April, Seattle is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 8.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 106 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in April68May17° · Sea 10° · 7 h
In May, Seattle is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 9.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in May81June20° · Sea 11° · 8 h
In June, Seattle is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 10.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 68 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in June97July24° · Sea 11° · 10 h
In July, Seattle is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 11.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 28 mm. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in July96August24° · Sea 12° · 9 h
In August, Seattle is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 11.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 37 mm. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in August82September21° · Sea 11° · 7 h
In September, Seattle is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 11.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 72 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in September44October15° · Sea 10° · 4 h
In October, Seattle is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 146 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in October9November10° · Sea 9° · 3 h
In November, Seattle is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 199 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in November0December7° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In December, Seattle is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 8.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 189 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Seattle.
Seattle in DecemberSeattle compared
Put Seattle side by side with another destination.
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Seattle vs. Victoria
In October Seattle has the better holiday weather (score 44 vs. 39). During the day Victoria is 2 °C cooler than Seattle. The sea is about equally warm. Victoria gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Seattle | Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 44 | 39 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 13° |
| Sea | 10° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 15 | 13 |
| Best time | Jul – Sep | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Seattle ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Las Vegas26°99
- 2Mariposa (Yosemite)23°98
- 3Sacramento25°96
- 4San Jose23°96
- 5Reno19°95
- 6Napa Valley24°95
- 7Oakland21°14°95
- 8San Francisco21°14°95
- 25SeattleThis page15°10°44
Planning a trip to Seattle
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Seattle in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Seattle has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 96) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0).
- 35
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 71
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 96
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 24 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 9.0 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 44
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 0
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 2.4 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 45 min
- Distance
- 7,690 km
- Time zone
- UTC−7
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (8 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Seattle
When is the best time to visit Seattle?
The best time to visit Seattle is from July to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Seattle?
The sea temperature in Seattle ranges from 8.0 °C in February to 11.8 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Seattle in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 10.2 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Seattle?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C and nights around 14 °C. December is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Seattle?
Rain is most frequent from October to May; the wettest month is November with 199 mm. The driest month is July with 28 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Seattle get?
Seattle gets around 1,990 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 9.7 hours a day; in December there are 2.2 hours a day.
What time zone is Seattle in?
Seattle uses the time zone America/Los_Angeles: UTC−8 in January and UTC−7 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Seattle?
A nonstop flight from London to Seattle takes about 9 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,690 km.
Which school holidays are best for Seattle?
Seattle has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 96) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 35, May half-term 71, Summer holidays 96, October half-term 44, Christmas holidays 0.
Near Seattle
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Seattle
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Seattle's – good alternatives.