Despite being world-known as the " rainy city" Seattle receives substantially less rain yearly than most east coast US cities. The reputation comes from the fact that it is cloudy of Seattle for more than 60% of the year, it only looks like rain. Overcast skies are common in the winter, spring, and late fall. Winters are wet and cool, but not cold typically, while the summer months are sunny and dry. September in particular is a great time to visit Seattle.
Due to Seattle's unique position between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, any climate activity in Seattle is generally mild. The El Niño weather pattern causes much drier summer and winters, and can result in substandard skiing and water rationing. Most Seattle residents are accustomed to any inclement weather, typically going without a bumbershoot (umbrella) celebrated by the synonymous music and arts festival.
Weather information for the Seattle area is provided below. Average temperatures, climate details and current forecasts are included.
Climate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg. High | 45 | 48 | 52 | 57 | 64 | 68 | 75 | 75 | 68 | 58 | 50 | 45 |
| Avg. Low | 35 | 37 | 38 | 41 | 46 | 51 | 55 | 55 | 51 | 45 | 40 | 35 |
| Avg. Precip. | 5.4 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 5.9 |
