What to Wear in Seattle
USA · 8 monthly packing guides
Seattle is PNW casual with an outdoorsy lean — Birkenstocks, Patagonia fleeces, and the occasional bright color meant to contrast with the gray. Summer is actually dry and mild (July averages only 5 rain days), but morning cool near Elliott Bay and AC-aggressive restaurants mean a layer is always useful. The city dresses for function first, polish second.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 3°C / 37°F in January; average highs reach 25°C / 77°F in July.
Compare Seattle by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 3°C / 37°F | 9°C / 48°F | 19 | 8h 50m |
| May packing guide | 9°C / 48°F | 19°C / 66°F | 11 | 15h 15m |
| June packing guide | 12°C / 54°F | 22°C / 72°F | 9 | 16h |
| July packing guide | 14°C / 57°F | 25°C / 77°F | 5 | 15h 45m |
| August packing guide | 14°C / 57°F | 25°C / 77°F | 5 | 14h 15m |
| October packing guide | 8°C / 46°F | 16°C / 61°F | 14 | 10h 50m |
| November packing guide | 5°C / 41°F | 11°C / 52°F | 18 | 9h 10m |
| December packing guide | 3°C / 37°F | 8°C / 46°F | 18 | 8h 25m |
Choose your Seattle packing list
Seattle in January: 9°C / 48°F afternoons, 3°C / 37°F nights, rain on about 19 days, the most of any month, and an hour more daylight by the 31st.
In this capsule: Coral-red hooded rain shell; Black glossy down jacket, stand collar; Navy Nordic wool sweater, red-and-white yoke.
Seattle in May: 19°C / 66°F afternoons, 9°C / 48°F mornings, 11 rain days, 254 sunshine hours — drizzle, not torrential.
In this capsule: Packable rain shell; Merino long-sleeve + short-sleeve tee; Light quarter-zip or cashmere crew.
Seattle in June: 22°C / 72°F afternoons, 12°C / 54°F mornings, 9 rain days, 268 sunshine hours — 'June Gloom' lingers early, back half turns sunny.
In this capsule: Camel oversized trench coat; Short-sleeve tee + linen shirt combo; Cream crew-neck sweatshirt.
Seattle in July: 25°C / 77°F afternoons, 14°C / 57°F mornings, just 5 rain days, 312 sunshine hours — the driest, sunniest month.
In this capsule: Light linen midi dress or sundress; Tank + linen shirt combo; Tailored cotton shorts + linen trousers.
Seattle in August: 25°C / 77°F afternoons, 14°C / 57°F mornings, 5 rain days, 281 sunshine hours — secret best month alongside July.
In this capsule: Rust brown cutout midi dress; Cream cotton sundress; Light blue striped button-down.
Seattle in October: 16°C / 61°F days, 8°C / 46°F nights, and rain on 14 days — but only 8 of them deliver more than a tenth of an inch.
In this capsule: Olive hooded packable rain shell; Wool-blend flannel overshirt in muted charcoal and forest check; Fine merino long-sleeve crew in oatmeal or charcoal.
Seattle in November: 11°C / 52°F days, 5°C / 41°F nights, and the wettest month of the year — 18 rain days, 13 of them properly wet.
In this capsule: Bottle green waxed hooded mackintosh; Warm stone mid-weight wool crew; Cream cotton-wool long-sleeve base.
Seattle in December: 8°C / 46°F afternoons, 3°C / 37°F nights, rain on about 18 days, 1.7 inches of lowland snow, and the lowest temperatures of the year.
In this capsule: Deep navy insulated waterproof hooded parka, thigh length; Kelly-green cable-knit crew sweater; Charcoal ribbed V-neck cardigan, cropped.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- May: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- June: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- July: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- August: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- October: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- November: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
- December: NOAA · Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) · 1991–2020 normals
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 8 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 3°C / 37°F, while July has the highest average high at 25°C / 77°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.