Climateby Month

Anchorage vs Seattle weather

Anchorage, AK and Seattle, WA · 1435 mi apart

July highs: 66°F in Anchorage, 77°F in Seattle (Seattle is 11°F warmer). January highs: 23°F and 47°F (Seattle is 24°F warmer). Anchorage has about 115 wet days a year, Seattle about 163. Snow: 77.9 in a year in Anchorage, 3.8 in in Seattle.

Anchorage, AK

0°20°40°60°80° January: normal high 23°F (-5°C), low 11°F (-12°C) 23° 11° February: normal high 27°F (-3°C), low 15°F (-9°C) March: normal high 33°F (1°C), low 19°F (-7°C) April: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 30°F (-1°C) May: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 40°F (4°C) June: normal high 63°F (17°C), low 48°F (9°C) July: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 53°F (12°C) 66° 53° August: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 51°F (11°C) September: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 43°F (6°C) October: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 31°F (-1°C) November: normal high 29°F (-2°C), low 18°F (-8°C) December: normal high 25°F (-4°C), low 14°F (-10°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: July

Seattle, WA

0°20°40°60°80° January: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 37°F (3°C) 47° 37° February: normal high 50°F (10°C), low 37°F (3°C) March: normal high 54°F (12°C), low 39°F (4°C) April: normal high 59°F (15°C), low 43°F (6°C) May: normal high 65°F (18°C), low 48°F (9°C) June: normal high 70°F (21°C), low 53°F (12°C) July: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 57°F (14°C) 77° 57° August: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 57°F (14°C) September: normal high 71°F (22°C), low 53°F (12°C) October: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 47°F (8°C) November: normal high 52°F (11°C), low 41°F (5°C) December: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 37°F (3°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: June, July, August

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Seattle (January high 47°F vs January high 23°F)
  • Cooler summers: Anchorage (July high 66°F vs July high 77°F)
  • Fewer wet days: Anchorage (115 a year vs 163 a year)
  • Less snow: Seattle (3.8 in vs 77.9 in)
  • Longer growing season: Seattle (259 frost-free days vs 147 frost-free days)
  • More comfortable days: Seattle (117 a year vs 51 a year)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high AnchorageAvg high SeattleWet days AnchorageWet days Seattle
Winter (Dec-Feb)25°F48°F2753
Spring (Mar-May)45°F59°F1746
Summer (Jun-Aug)65°F75°F3522
Fall (Sep-Nov)42°F61°F3642

Side by side over a year

AnchorageSeattle
Hot days (90°F+)02
Freezing nights18725
Muggy days00
Comfortable days51117
Precipitation16.4 in37.8 in
Snowfall77.9 in3.8 in
Frost dateslast May 5, first Oct 1last Mar 8, first Nov 23
Daylight in June / December19.2 h / 5.6 h15.9 h / 8.5 h
Best monthsJulyJune, July, August

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh AnchorageHigh SeattleWet days AnchorageWet days Seattle
January23°F47°F819
February27°F50°F816
March33°F54°F618
April45°F59°F516
May56°F65°F712
June63°F70°F911
July66°F77°F125
August64°F77°F146
September56°F71°F159
October42°F61°F1215
November29°F52°F1019
December25°F47°F1119

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Anchorage, AK: temperature from Anchorage Intl Airport (USW00026451), 5.4 mi SW of the city center; precipitation from Anchorage Intl Airport (USW00026451). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Seattle, WA: temperature from Seattle Sand Pt WSFO (USW00094290), 6.6 mi NNE of the city center; precipitation from Seattle Sand Pt WSFO (USW00094290). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.