We know the question on your mind, Seattleites — when’s it going to get cold? Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for December, January, and February.
While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.
Reminder: The first day of winter is on December 21.
Temperature
Think cold. This winter, Seattle has a 40-50% chance of temperatures being lower than normal.
Precipitation
Expect about above average precipitation. Seattle has a 33-40% chance of seeing higher than average snow and rainfall amounts this winter.
Decem-brrr
Seattle’s average high temperature in December is 43.7°, but with a La Niña weather pattern likely to breeze through, expect that temp (and average temps through the rest of the winter) to be a bit lower this year.
January is just cold
Seattle’s temperatures in January are usually a tick higher than the previous month, with an average high of 45° and an average low of 36°. The good news is that the days are starting to get longer, with a half hour more daylight on average than December typically has.
Freezing in February
Seattle’s average high temperature in February is 46.2° and the average low is 35.2°. This is also the month it usually snows the most, with an average accumulation of 0.71 in. That may not sound like much, but we’ve seen some big snowstorms over the past few years, and those winter wonderland vibes could continue.
Bonus: here are NOAA’s winter safety tips.
