Seattle · Month comparison
May vs July
July ranks #1 overall vs May at #3. The best month — 18mm rain, 25°C, 10 hours of sun, and the Bite of Seattle in full swing.
May
#3 of 12 months
Best match
Seattle at its spring best — SIFF launches, 18°C, and the city's outdoor life fully restored.
- ↑Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) launches in late May: the largest film festival in the US by attendance
- ↑Farmers markets at Capitol Hill, Fremont, and Ballard all at full operation with spring produce
July
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The best month — 18mm rain, 25°C, 10 hours of sun, and the Bite of Seattle in full swing.
- ↑Only 18mm rain: the driest month in the Pacific Northwest by far — nearly guaranteed blue-sky days
- ↑Bite of Seattle food festival (mid-July): 60+ restaurants serving the city's full culinary range in Seattle Center
| Factor | May | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 10 |
| Value score | 5 | 4 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 4 |
| Events score | 7 | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 18°C | 25°C |
| Monthly rain | 55mm | 18mm |
| Daily sunshine | 9.9hrs | 10hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓55mm rain — the month still brings regular showers between sunny spells
- ↓Hotel prices at moderate-high; SIFF draws visitors and competes for central accommodation
- ↓Crowds noticeably building: Pike Place Market weekends require patience
July trade-offs
- ↓Hotel prices at annual peak — downtown Seattle is expensive in July with no apology
- ↓Pike Place Market becomes a genuine struggle on summer weekends; arrive before 9am or after 4pm
- ↓Occasional smoke from Cascade wildfires can affect air quality and Mt Rainier visibility in late July
Scores compare months within Seattle. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →