Month guide · Seattle · United States
Seattle in December
What December is really like in Seattle: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: M.O. Stevens, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 19 rainy days and roughly 8.4 hours of daylight. Short, damp days brightened by holiday lights and decorated Christmas boats on the lakes and sound.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 19
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 9°C (48°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Seattle: days average 8°C (46°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 19 of its 31 days. Compared with November (11°C (52°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:51
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:18
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Sea
- 9°C (48°F)
Winter (December–February). Dark, damp and cool rather than cold; snow in the city is occasional, while the Cascade ski areas are in season.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas Ships, decorated boats with choirs, on Puget Sound and the lakes (usually December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Seattle Center
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Frank Gehry's crumpled metal building houses exhibitions on music, film and gaming, including permanent galleries on Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, both of whom came from the Seattle area.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
- History
Aquarium · Downtown and Pike Place
Seattle Aquarium
Check the day's feeding and talk times at the entrance and plan around the otters.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · Downtown and Pike Place
Seattle Art Museum
SAM's downtown building, marked by Jonathan Borofsky's giant Hammering Man outside, has strong collections of Northwest Coast Native art, African art, European paintings and contemporary work.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square and the Underground Tour
Do the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park museum first; it is free and gives useful context.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 8°C, lows near 2°C and 19 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Seattle?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Seattle in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Seattle?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Short, damp days brightened by holiday lights and decorated Christmas boats on the lakes and sound.
+How warm is Seattle in December?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Seattle in December?
Expect rain on about 19 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.