Month guide · Seattle · United States
Seattle in January
What January is really like in Seattle: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown Photographer / US Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain
Quick answer
January 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 8.8 hours of daylight. Grey and damp with short days; good for museums, coffee shops and low hotel rates. Snow in the city is occasional.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 19
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 8°C (46°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest 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 December (8°C (46°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:52
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:44
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
- Sea
- 8°C (46°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, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Lunar New Year celebrations in the Chinatown-International District (late January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Gallery · Seattle Center
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Visit late in the day when the glasshouse and garden pieces are lit, or buy a combined ticket with the Space Needle.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Art
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Rainy day
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
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 January 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 January a good time to visit Seattle?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Grey and damp with short days; good for museums, coffee shops and low hotel rates. Snow in the city is occasional.
+How warm is Seattle in January?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Seattle in January?
Expect rain on about 19 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.