University of Washington - Weather

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Seattle has a very mellow marine climate, and Seattlites have a relatively limited view of seasons. There’s plenty of rainfall, and it comes in long, dull drizzles, rarely in concentrated downpours. But the surroundings definitely benefit from the rain, with plenty of lush, year-round greenery. Snowfall is such an event here that it becomes first priority on all the local news channels. Local high schools close for as little as a couple inches. But many say Seattle summers come pretty close to perfection, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures around the 70s and 80s.

Some in-state students enjoy the constant drizzle, and there are many who don’t tolerate it well. But if you’re from a sunnier, more southern state like California, beware of the potential winter blues. Plenty of students from locales with less rain absolutely detest the rainfall that Seattle sees day after day for much of the fall and winter, and some out-of-staters accustomed to more extreme seasons feel that Seattle can get very dreary during the middle of the year. So it depends on your temperament, but one piece of advice is to stay in Seattle during the summer. It definitely makes up for the rest of the year.

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Students Speak Out

jacew says: University of Washington 2015 Architecture and Planning

You will have never appreciated a... You will have never appreciated a sunny day properly until you have spent a fall/winter/spring in Seattle. 12345 Weather: February 04, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

If you like the Northwest’s... If you like the Northwest’s weather, you’ll love Seattle. There is plenty of rain and good sun during the summer. Bring winter, rain, summer, and spring clothes. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

Bring various stuff, not just cold... Bring various stuff, not just cold winter gear, unless you plan to go camping in the winter or skiing. It doesn’t rain as much as people say, but it can get cold and occasionally snowy. But the summers in Seattle are beautiful. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

Contrary to what people say, it... Contrary to what people say, it doesn’t rain all the time. T-shirts and jeans are the best, but bring an umbrella, just in case. I usually wear flip-flops, but on rainy days, beware of Red Square—it’s slippery! 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

It is not as rainy as everyone... It is not as rainy as everyone thinks! You might need an umbrella in your bag just in case, but it is nice out most of the time—a little chilly, though. 12345 Weather Report

Did You Know?

Seattle gets an average of 38 inches of rain per year and about 200 days that are designated as cloudy annually.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Emily Sugiyama
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major: English/Women's Studies

There's a strong likelihood that Emily will be teaching ESL in Korea next year.

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