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Best time to visit Seattle

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Best time to visit Seattle, United States

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

Month	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	3-8°C, overcast with frequent rain	low	low	• Winter hiking in nearby mountains (snowshoeing) ⚠ Short daylight hours.
February	4-9°C, overcast with frequent rain	low	low	• Seattle Museum Month ⚠ Still very wet and dark.
March	7-12°C, intermittent rain and clouds	low	low	• Early cherry blossoms in some parks ⚠ Weather can be unpredictable.
April	9-15°C, mix of clouds and sun, occasional showers	moderate	moderate	• Tulip Festival (Skagit Valley, day trip) • Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival ⚠ Spring bloom begins.
May	12-18°C, mostly sunny with some clouds	moderate	moderate	• Rooftop bars open • Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) ⚠ Pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds than summer.
June	15-21°C, mostly sunny with occasional fog near the coast	high	high	• Seafair Summer Festival begins • Outdoor concerts and markets ⚠ Longest daylight hours of the year.
July	17-23°C, generally sunny and dry	peak	peak	• Seafair Air Show and Torchlight Parade • Olympic National Park is at its best ⚠ Peak tourist season, book accommodations well in advance.
August	18-24°C, consistently sunny and warm	peak	peak	• Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival • Best time for whale watching tours ⚠ Hottest and driest month, ideal for outdoor activities.
September	15-21°C, sunny with crisp autumn air	high	high	• Fall colors start appearing • Seattle Mariners baseball season in full swing ⚠ Weather remains excellent, crowds begin to thin slightly after Labor Day.
October	10-16°C, cloudy with increasing chances of rain	moderate	moderate	• Oktoberfest celebrations • Halloween events ⚠ Transition to wetter weather.
November	7-12°C, frequent rain and overcast skies	moderate	moderate	• Thanksgiving parades and events ⚠ Rainy season begins in earnest.
December	4-9°C, very rainy and often overcast	high	high	• Holiday lights and markets • Winter sports in nearby mountains ⚠ Short daylight hours and significant rainfall.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

April

Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival

Celebrates the blooming cherry trees with parades and cultural events.

May

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)

One of the largest and most respected film festivals in North America.

July

Seafair

A month-long summer festival featuring air shows, parades, and boat races.

August

Bumbershoot

A major music and arts festival held annually over Labor Day weekend.

October

Oktoberfest Northwest

A local celebration of German culture with beer, food, and music.

December

Winterfest at Seattle Center

Festive holiday decorations, ice skating, and entertainment.

Insider timing tips

•Seattle's 'dry season' is a relative term; even in summer, expect occasional coastal fog, especially in the mornings.
•While summer (July-August) offers the most reliable sunshine, the shoulder months of May and September provide a good balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
•The PNW's notorious rain is most prevalent from October through March, impacting outdoor activities and daylight hours significantly.
•Many local festivals, like Bumbershoot, occur over Labor Day weekend, which can extend summer crowds and prices into early September.
•Day trips to areas like the Olympic Peninsula or Mount Rainier are best undertaken between June and September due to snow levels and accessibility.