If you are thinking of traveling to Seattle in January, think and plan carefully. The average daytime high temperature is usually around +46°F, and there are only about 2 sunny days in total throughout the whole month. Pack for extremes to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+46°F
Avg. max. temperature
+14°F
Min.
+59°F
Max.
173 mm
Total precipitation
86%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
8 ⛅️
Cloudy
19 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Seattle has uncomfortable weather in January.
Average temperature in Seattle in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Seattle for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +57°F during the day to a minimum of +27°F during the night, the temperature in January averages around +48°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 24% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +48°F to +41°F.
Is Seattle warm or cold in January?
Seattle is typically chill in January.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +45°F to +46°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +39°F to +39°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
January is one of the coolest months in Seattle, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Seattle in January
Water in Seattle in January is Cold. It varies from +44°F to +47°F, with an average of +46°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +46°F.
The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Seattle are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +53°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +45°F.
Can you swim in Seattle in January?
We would not recommend swimming in Seattle in January, the water is very cold (+46°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Travel to Seattle
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✈️
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Flights per week
$343
Min. Price
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Climate in Seattle in January
Seattle weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+45°F
+46°F
+48°F
Min. temperature
+9°F
+14°F
+10°F
Max. temperature
+59°F
+59°F
+63°F
Rainfall
166 mm
173 mm
116 mm
Wind
2 m/s
2 m/s
2 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+47°F
+46°F
+45°F
Humidity
86%
86%
83%
Air pressure
1016 HPa
1016 HPa
1016 HPa
Sunny days
1
2
2
Cloudy days
8
8
7
Rainy days
20
19
17
Snowy days
2
2
2
January weather is still as bad as in December.It’s getting warmer as January arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +45°F to +46°F during the day.Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 166 mm to 173 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 86%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 2 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in January, from 1 to 2.
But maybe it is worth considering traveling in February as the weather gets better.
Wind speed in Seattle in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 4 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.
The average wind speed in Seattle is gradually increasing during January, going from 1 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Seattle based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 97% chance of rain on an average day in January, with total rainfall of approximately 189 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 20 mm, which is considered light rain.January is a pretty wet month with over 30 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
January is one of the rainiest months in Seattle, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Seattle wettest month is November, where a typical day has a 70% chance of precipitation and 177 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 29% chance of precipitation and 28 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during January in Seattle based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 0% chance of snow on an average day in January, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 0 mm.
January is one of the snowiest months in Seattle.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last January in Seattle?
This is the weather in Seattle in January 2023:
1 January
🌧️
+47°F
2 January
☁️
+47°F
3 January
🌧️
+46°F
4 January
☁️
+48°F
5 January
🌧️
+55°F
6 January
🌧️
+54°F
7 January
🌧️
+50°F
8 January
🌧️
+48°F
9 January
🌧️
+51°F
10 January
🌧️
+52°F
11 January
🌧️
+55°F
12 January
🌧️
+52°F
13 January
🌧️
+52°F
14 January
🌧️
+56°F
15 January
🌧️
+54°F
16 January
🌧️
+50°F
17 January
☁️
+48°F
18 January
🌧️
+47°F
19 January
🌧️
+44°F
20 January
☁️
+46°F
21 January
☁️
+44°F
22 January
🌧️
+43°F
23 January
☁️
+46°F
24 January
☁️
+45°F
25 January
☁️
+46°F
26 January
☁️
+46°F
27 January
🌧️
+47°F
28 January
🌧️
+47°F
29 January
☀️
+44°F
30 January
☀️
+39°F
31 January
☁️
+40°F
In January 2023 Seattle had 2 sunny days, 10 cloudy days, and 19 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +48°F, with an absolute maximum of +57°F and a minimum of +39°F. The average humidity was 85%, with a maximum of 94% and a minimum of 52%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 8 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Seattle climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Seattle in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 2011 (+57°F) and the highest in 2014 (+62°F). The driest year was 1985 with only 714 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 2549 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Seattle in January:
Is January a good time to visit Seattle?
There is never a bad time to go to Seattle, but the weather isn’t the best in January, so plan on enjoying the great indoor attractions of Seattle and pack for the extremes in weather.
Can you sunbathe in Seattle in January?
Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Seattle in January?
Swimming in Seattle in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Seattle rainy in January?
Seattle is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Seattle in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Seattle in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
How much does it cost to fly to Seattle in January?
The normal prices to fly to Seattle is $343 - $343. It means that the majority of our users have picked flights in this range. To find the best price we recommend you search early, using our flexible dates feature.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Seattle, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
