Seattle, a chief city of Washington, is surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests. It ideates of being a rainy city, but you may wonder if it ever snows with such consistent rainfall in autumn, winter, and occasionally even spring. Does it snow in Washington? Especially Seattle? A big YES is the answer to this question. However, it may or may not snow as much as you think. The blog post will inform you well about the linking of snow and Seattle.
It’s no surprise that Seattle is known for its rain, but it has made headlines with some of the highest snowfall amounts in over 70 years. Ironically, the accumulation of snow serves to enhance the already frigid weather.
Snow In Seattle: How Much And When?
The post talks much more than just “Does it snow in Seattle?”. Get to know the city in-depth to plan either your vacation or work accordingly. Seattle and its neighborhood experience snow dustings or thin sheets because of occasional snowfall. Come on! Seattleites and gain enough insight about your city to enjoy the cold breeze with snow flurry to set the winter mood absolutely right. You will come across the amount of snow, along with the months that witness it. Keep reading the post and satisfy your curiousness.
Winter Forecast of Seattle
The behavior of the Pacific Ocean generally determines the weather in Seattle. When cold air advances from the ocean’s heart toward the Puget Sound region (including Seattle) and lingers, snow and ice episodes occasionally occur. Severe winters are not uncommon in Seattle. The city sees temperature remaining below freezing for days at a time.
Compared to other cities of the United States that continue to operate despite greater snow situations, this may come as a surprise that snow causes the city of Seattle to shut down. It’s crucial not to underestimate the significance of a little snowfall in Seattle. The fact is that with only inches of snow, the city frequently slows down. What’s different for Seattle is that it is encircled by hills where the temperatures regularly drop below freezing point. It implies that the melting snow freezes overnight, making the majority of city streets impassable. During wintertime, the chief city of Washington, Seattle, witnesses these weather conditions.
Months welcoming Snow in Seattle
Seattleites get really excited to see the snow, as they do not often get to see it. Snow showers bring joy and cheers to localites. The festive cold months welcome snow specks covering the roof and pavements. It puts an end to your ever-cropping questions like, “does it snow in Seattle in December” or “does it snow in Seattle in January”?.
You aren’t looking for heavy snowfall, but the months of December, January, and February see snow showers. Snow blankets are barely more than an inch thick, and most of them melt in a day. Snow will not generally stand much over the ground during a blizzard. Snow may flaunt around two inches off the ground when blizzards strike Seattle. Every five years or so, heavy snowfalls in the city.
The most freezing month in Seattle
A little, is the clear answer to “does it snow in Seattle in November?”, even when there is a cool breeze around. But, December is one of the coldest and also the wettest month in Seattle, with an approximate average of nearly nine days featuring 0.8 inches of rainfall annually. The Christmassy season is tagged with snow showers adding to the aesthetic of the festivity. The natives enjoy the snow sheets that incorporate value to their Christmas holiday season vibes. However, this keeps shifting between two more months: January and February.
All these months fall in the wintertime in Seattle, and the temperature is almost similar in all three. Therefore, if you plan to visit Seattle to enjoy the snow, visiting in December would be the most suitable time.
Places to witness snow in Seattle
So, while the city of Seattle may not guarantee much snow (or it’s unlikely!), there are plenty of locations around it that do receive a lot of snow. There are still many areas farther away that will get some excellent snowfall, like Queen Anne and Beacon Hill, which are among the highest parts of the city where it is most likely to fall.
If you’re searching for a pearly white snow blanket, the areas like Lake Wenatchee Sno-Park, Hyak Sno-Park, Leavenworth Ski Hill, White Pass etc. are the ones!. These locations are all within a 1-3 hour drive of the city and are ideal for a snowy day trip or a cold weekend getaway for you to enjoy winter activities.
Adventurous winter activities in Seattle
The city is seen in full adventurous spirit during the snowy winter wonderland. The excitement is doubled as localites get to play all the winter sports.
- Ice-Skating: Enjoying the snow and winter season is incomplete without indulging in the exciting activity of Ice-skating. Visit the City of Bellevue near Seattle and hone your eight swirls. The outdoor skate rink provides free lessons for new skaters from Thanksgiving through January.
- Snowboarding: Crystal Mountain is located in the southeast region of Washington, approximately 2 hours from Seattle. In less than an hour’s drive from the city is Snoqualmie Pass, where you can snowboard and ski along with enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. It will undoubtedly be a thrilling winter experience, whichever location you pick.
- Snowshoeing: Pack your snowshoes, Seattleites, enjoy the rare snow months. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also options at the Stevens Pass Nordic Center. The park includes separate tubing and snow play areas that are quite popular with young families. Lights on the slopes of Steven’s Pass ski resort illuminate the slopes for an excellent way to keep the late winter evenings active.
- Warm beverages in Coffee shops: Beat the chilly winds by sipping hot drinks. The aroma of roast coffee beans complements a snowy Seattle day exceptionally well. It’s not only the combined fragrance of espresso and snowflakes that make Seattle a coffeehouse metropolis. Feel the much-needed warmth during your excursions for unmatched energy. Yes! So much for just, “Does it Snow in Seattle?”
Snowing Up!
Seattle is Snowlicious during winter times. Add to your travel diaries the special timing of visiting Seattle, which many have not experienced. Plan your trip or winter adventures to enjoy the pearly white snow sheets during the three months. Indulge in the adrenaline-boosting snow activities to make your travel worthwhile. This detailed, informative post is enough to end your question, “why doesn’t it snow in Seattle?”.
Go through all the key details thoroughly, and we assure you of witnessing the sparkling, chilly side of Seattle. Apart from the consistent rains, snow is something attractive for not only tourists but the people who hail from the beautiful land of Seattle.
Also check out – Waterfalls near Seattle
