Seattle has a **warm-summer Mediterranean climate with strong marine influence**, commonly classified as **Köppen Csb**. Winters are generally cool, wet, and cloudy, while summers are usually mild to warm and much drier. The city's weather is heavily shaped by the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound, which moderate extremes compared with much of the United States.
| Climate factor | Typical pattern | |---|---| | Summer highs | Commonly in the 70s °F (low to mid-20s °C) | | Winter highs | Often in the 40s °F (5-10 °C) | | Rainfall | Concentrated from autumn through spring | | Snowfall | Usually light and intermittent, though occasional stronger winter storms occur | | Humidity | Often moderate to high, especially in cooler months | | Sunshine | Summers are notably sunnier than the rest of the year |
Seattle is famous for rainy weather, though many rainy days involve light drizzle or overcast skies rather than heavy downpours. Annual precipitation is lower than in some other Pacific Northwest locations because the city sits in a partial rain shadow from the Olympic Mountains.
The best time to visit is often **late spring through early fall**, especially July through September, when days are longer, drier, and clearer. Natural hazards include winter windstorms, occasional snow and ice events, wildfire smoke drifting from regional fires, heat waves that have become more serious in recent years, and earthquake risk. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are uncommon compared with many other parts of the country.
