Seattle in October: a seasonal travel plan
Seattle, United States. In october, the average daytime high is 15.5 °C and the night-time low is 7.6 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: October
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Seattle
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 15.5 °C
- Nighttime low
- 7.6 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 134.7 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 15.5
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 17.3 | 8.9 | 4.0 |
| Days 11–20 | 16.1 | 8.0 | 5.5 |
| From day 21 | 13.2 | 6.2 | 6.0 |
What this month is like
Seattle, United States. In october, the average daytime high is 15.5 °C and the night-time low is 7.6 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 15.5 wet days on average, with about 134.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 10.9 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 20.5 °C, October — 15.5 °C, next month — 10.1 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 9.1, 15.5 and 19.9.
Things to do
Seattle sits between Puget Sound and Lake Washington on hills that open onto Mount Rainier on clear days. The centre is compact but steep, so the light rail and buses save energy on the climbs between the waterfront and Capitol Hill.
Pike Place Market
Reach Pike Place Market at opening, when fishmongers lay out the catch and bakeries have not yet built a queue. Walk down to the waterfront, pass the Ferris wheel and continue to Pioneer Square.
Seattle Center
Go up the Space Needle, then look at the Chihuly glass sculptures in the garden beside it. From there cross the park to MoPOP and ride the monorail back into the centre.
The Bainbridge ferry
The ferry from Pier 52 crosses to Bainbridge Island in about half an hour. Walk from the landing along the main street to the bakeries and wine rooms, and leave the return crossing for the evening.
Where to stay
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill suits bars, bookshops and coffee rooms away from the tourist centre. Pike Place Market is within walking distance, but the slopes are steep and the streets stay loud at night.
Ballard
Ballard is an old fishing district with breweries, a market and workshops. It offers calm rooms away from downtown, though museums are half an hour away by bus. The locks are worth a separate stop.
Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is built of nineteenth-century brick and stands next to the stadiums. The location works for the station and the waterfront, but few cafés stay open in the evening.
Getting to and around Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma airport connects to the centre on the Link light rail, about forty minutes to Westlake station. Buses and the same Link line cover the city, and a short monorail links downtown with Seattle Center. Streets climb over hills, so use transit for longer hops and walk the downtown blocks.
Three days in Seattle
Pike Place and the waterfront
Start at Pike Place Market, drop to the water and walk past the Ferris wheel to Pioneer Square. Return downtown in the afternoon and visit the art museum. The museum has rooms of modern art.
Seattle Center and Queen Anne
Give the morning to the Space Needle and the Chihuly garden, then look through MoPOP. In the evening climb Queen Anne to Kerry Park for the skyline and Mount Rainier.
Ballard and the ferry
Ride to Ballard, walk the market and breweries, then take the ferry to Bainbridge. Hire a bike on the island to reach the beach, and come back for dinner and a stroll along the Elliott Bay waterfront.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.7 | 2.3 | 186.4 | 19.5 | 8.9 |
| February | 7.8 | 1.9 | 137.8 | 18.9 | 10.2 |
| March | 10.9 | 3.3 | 115.5 | 17.3 | 11.9 |
| April | 13.7 | 5.2 | 92.5 | 16.5 | 13.6 |
| May | 18.0 | 8.7 | 61.3 | 11.7 | 15.1 |
| June | 20.5 | 10.9 | 55.3 | 10.3 | 15.9 |
| July | 23.7 | 13.5 | 14.2 | 3.1 | 15.6 |
| August | 24.2 | 13.8 | 22.4 | 4.4 | 14.3 |
| September | 20.5 | 11.2 | 58.1 | 9.1 | 12.6 |
| October | 15.5 | 7.6 | 134.7 | 15.5 | 10.9 |
| November | 10.1 | 4.2 | 192.5 | 19.9 | 9.4 |
| December | 6.7 | 1.9 | 201.7 | 20.8 | 8.5 |
Frequently asked questions
Seattle: what is the temperature in October?
The average daytime high is 15.5 °C and the night-time low is 7.6 °C. Fit the main walking route into daylight hours; bring an extra layer for the evening.
How many days with precipitation are there in October?
On average, there are 15.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 134.7 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in October?
Pack a light jacket, a jumper, long trousers and comfortable closed shoes. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 17.3 °C; 11–20 — 16.1 °C; 21 to month-end — 13.2 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in October?
The average is 10.9 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Seattle worth visiting in October?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 15.5 °C and nights around 7.6 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Seattle on a wet day in October?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Seattle in October?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 10.9 hours.