Trip to Seattle in January
 

I am planning a trip to Seattle for this coming January, but kind of weary about the winter strorm/rain in Seattle. Please give me some ideas how wet I am getting into. What to look forward. I like the rain and come from Southern California,so rain is rare. Thanks.

According to weather.com, it will be very wet and cold.
Seattle recieves 5+ inches of rain in January and the highs are in the 40's.

The Pacific Northwest rainy season is in full gear right now and will not let up for quite a while.

I've been to Seattle in January and it rained every day I was there. I was miserable there. Before anyone jumps on me, I also visited Seattle in June and September during the dry season and it was very nice there.

It is likely rain, but rain here is seldom a downpour.

You will not need to bring an overcoat, hat, gloves, scarves, overshoes, etc. as you would if you were going to, say, New York City.

I checked weather statistics at weather.com and learned that in January Seattle is about 20 degrees cooler than LA and that, on the average, it has 5.1 inches of rain, compare to 3.3 inches in LA

Man, I would sure bring an overcoat and gloves! Was there last Jan. and never got warm.

I haven't owned a traditional winter overcoat since I moved out here from NYC 20 years ago, but I agree, gloves are a necessity ;-). It's cold, yes, but rarely below freezing so you just don't need most of the winter outerwear you would for, say, a NE winter.

I generally wear a leather jacket in the winter unless I'm going out for a long walk or something and it's raining or drizzling, in which case I wear a goretex jacket layered over a fleece vest.

Just be prepared for rain and you won't be disappointed--but who knows, you may get a bit of sun--we actually have had a pretty nice early November so far and that's rare!

Some people do wear gloves and hats here in the winter. It no doubt depends how warm blooded one is and on how fast one walks.

Winter 2004-2005 I wore cloves one day for about 15 minutes before my hands warmed up. Winter 2005-2006, I never wore cloves.

For an overcoat, I wear an unlined Gortex shell (with layers underneath on the rare occasion that is necessary).

When I moved here from NYC, I had a huge sweater collection, but now I don't own a sweater--I find no use for them in Seattle.

Others find the need for sweaters.

Thanks for your input. If I move the trip to February, mid-month or end of month, would it be better? Any suggestions for romantic places in Sleepless in Seattle? I will be in Whidbey Island too.

It rains in Southern California, too. Seattle will be cooler than you are used to, but it seldom freezes.

That said, when we first moved here from back east, I smugly told my friends that I did not own a snow shovel, and had no intention of buying one. Of course, during our third winter a norther came busting in and dropped two feet of that nasty white stuff in my drive.

:-(

Where on Whidbey Island?

:-)

January and February have similar weather, doesn't really matter between the two.

In a typical week in Seattle in wintertime you will likely find: some sun, some drizzle or rain, some overcast skies, some clear days. Temps 35's-45's F.

With it's constant rain and gloom coupled with a mere 6 or so hours of daylight, January is my least favorite month here. However, it's not the Arctic. FWIW, I live here sans automobile and am out in the elements every day. I lost my gloves 3 years ago and haven't felt the need to replace them. On the rare occasions when it rains hard enough to require an umbrella, I have to go searching for mine because it's so seldom. I've also never owned a winter overcoat. To be fair, I am acclimatized to the winter weather here, so what's just a little chilly to me will probably be very cold to you.

I do think February is a better month to visit. Not nearly as wet and cold and more daylight. For some reason, the past couple of years, we've gotten a few February days that hit 70. That's not the norm and there's definitely no guarantee, but it's happened.