📅 When to Visit

Seattle By Season

What each month in Seattle actually feels like — weather, daylight, what's open, what's in bloom, and what to plan around.

🗓️ Plan Your Visit

Summer 2026 at a Glance

Five months of extraordinary Seattle — each one different. Here's what to expect, month by month, so you can time your visit right.

🌡️
Temperature
50–65°F
10–18°C · Bring a layer
🌧️
Rainfall
Moderate
~14 rain days typical
👥 Crowd Level
Low–Moderate · Shoulder season · Best prices
What's on in May
  • 🚢
    Alaska Cruise Season Opens
    First sailings depart Pier 91 and Pier 66 — the waterfront is energised, ferries and whale-watching boats back in full swing.
  • 🌸
    Pike Place Market in Full Bloom
    Local flower farmers fill the market with tulips and peonies. Shoulder season means no queues. The first Pacific Northwest strawberries arrive.
  • 🏔️
    Mountain Access Returns
    Mount Rainier's Paradise road typically opens late May. Bainbridge ferry is busier than it's been since last summer.
🧭 Local Verdict
Best value month of the summer. The city is fully awake, everything is open, prices haven't peaked, and you won't be fighting crowds at the waterfront. Pack a waterproof jacket — Seattle's May can turn fast — but on clear days, this is one of the most beautiful cities on earth.
🌡️
Temperature
55–72°F
13–22°C · Seattle's driest month
☀️
Rainfall
Light
~9 rain days · Most sunshine
👥 Crowd Level
⚠️ Extreme from June 15 — FIFA World Cup opens
What's on in June
  • ⚽
    FIFA World Cup Opens — June 15
    Seattle matches: Belgium vs Egypt (June 15), USA vs Australia (June 19), Qatar vs UEFA Playoff Winner (June 24). All at Lumen Field, 12pm PT.
  • 🚢
    Peak Alaska Cruise Season
    Multiple weekly departures from Pier 91 and Pier 66. Downtown waterfront at capacity on embarkation days.
  • 🎉
    Seafair Season Begins
    Seattle's summer-long festival circuit kicks off — community events, parades, and the lead-up to the August hydroplane races.
🧭 Local Verdict
June 15 divides the month in two. Pre-match week is calm, beautiful, and relatively affordable — arguably the best combination of good weather and manageable crowds. From June 15 onwards, the city is electric but infrastructure is strained. Book transit, hotels, and restaurants well in advance.
☀️
Temperature
62–78°F
17–26°C · Warmest month
🌤️
Rainfall
Very Low
~5 rain days · Sunniest month
👥 Crowd Level
Peak — most expensive, most crowded month of the year
What's on in July
  • ⚽
    Last Seattle FIFA Matches — July 1 & 6
    Round of 32 (July 1, 1pm) and Round of 16 (July 6, 5pm) at Lumen Field. Teams determined by group stage results.
  • 🎆
    4th of July — Lake Union Fireworks
    One of the best urban fireworks shows in the country. Gas Works Park and the Ship Canal Bridge are the prime viewing spots.
  • 🚤
    Seafair Hydroplanes & Blue Angels — July 25–26
    Hydroplane boats hit 200mph on Lake Washington while the Blue Angels fly overhead. Seward Park is the place to be.
🧭 Local Verdict
The most spectacular and most demanding month. Warmest weather, most sun, most events — and highest prices, fewest hotel rooms, most crowds. If you're here for the World Cup knockout stage or the 4th of July fireworks, you've made the right call. Book everything months in advance.
☀️
Temperature
62–78°F
17–26°C · Still summer-warm
🌤️
Rainfall
Very Low
~6 rain days · Long sunny days
👥 Crowd Level
High · Post-FIFA drop in rates — better hotel availability
What's on in August
  • 🎵
    Bumbershoot Music Festival
    Labor Day weekend at Seattle Center. Multi-stage festival spanning music, comedy, and arts — one of the country's longest-running urban festivals.
  • 🚢
    Cruise Season Still Running Strong
    Peak Alaska sailings continue through late August. Waterfront and Pike Place still lively — but calmer than July.
  • 🏔️
    Mount Rainier Wildflower Peak
    Paradise meadows at their best mid-July through August. The bloom is short — this is the window. Go early on weekdays.
🧭 Local Verdict
Post-FIFA, the city exhales. Weather is identical to July, hotel rates drop noticeably, and Seattle feels more like itself again. Rainier is spectacular, the waterfront is still lively, and Bumbershoot caps the summer properly. The best month if you want great weather without peak-season prices.
🍂
Temperature
55–68°F
13–20°C · Crisp and clear
🌧️
Rainfall
Light–Mod
~8 rain days · Returns late month
👥 Crowd Level
Low–Moderate · Drops sharply after Labor Day
What's on in September
  • 🎵
    Bumbershoot — Labor Day Weekend
    Seattle Center becomes a city-wide festival. Final big crowd event of the summer — then the city breathes again.
  • 🍎
    Apple Season & Farmers Markets
    Eastern Washington apple harvest hits Pike Place. The best produce of the year — peaches, corn, tomatoes, and the first fall apples.
  • 🍁
    Fall Colours Begin
    Late September brings the first colour changes in the Cascades. Snow Lake and Colchuck Lake offer fall colour plus reflections in dead-calm water.
🧭 Local Verdict
Seattle's best-kept secret. The crowds are gone, prices are at their lowest since May, and the city is beautiful in crisp autumn light. Trails are quiet, the Bainbridge ferry is peaceful, and Pike Place is finally approachable. The rain returns eventually — but September has a habit of being surprisingly kind.