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New York vs Seattle weather: climate comparison
New York is the warmer of the two, averaging 54°F (12°C) over the year against 52°F (11°C) in Seattle. Seattle is wetter, with 50.2 in (1275 mm) of precipitation a year to New York's 46.2 in (1172 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 12.1°C New York
10.9°C Seattle - Annual precipitation
- 1172.4 mm New York
1274.6 mm Seattle - Rainy days a year
- 120 New York
154 Seattle - Sunshine per day
- 8.7 h New York
8.3 h Seattle
Month by month
| Month | New York | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3.5°C | 7.3°C |
| February | 5.0°C | 8.4°C |
| March | 9.4°C | 10.6°C |
| April | 15.4°C | 13.4°C |
| May | 20.7°C | 16.9°C |
| June | 25.9°C | 20.0°C |
| July | 29.0°C | 24.0°C |
| August | 27.9°C | 24.2°C |
| September | 24.1°C | 20.4°C |
| October | 17.8°C | 14.6°C |
| November | 11.6°C | 9.8°C |
| December | 6.3°C | 6.9°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | New York | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 12.1°C | 10.9°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 29°C | Aug · 24°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -4°C | Feb · 2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 33°C | 22°C |
| Annual precipitation | 1172.4 mm | 1274.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 120 | 154 |
| Wettest / driest month | Mar / Nov | Nov / Jul |
| Average sunshine per day | 8.7 h | 8.3 h |
In short: New York is the warmest overall (12.1°C mean); Seattle gets the most precipitation (1274.6 mm a year); New York is the sunniest (8.7 h a day on average); Seattle has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: New York 40.4°C (2025-06-24), Seattle 37.9°C (2021-06-28). Record low: New York -23.8°C (1996-02-05), Seattle -14.5°C (1996-01-30).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest New York (40.74, -74.04) and Seattle (47.63, -122.32).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in June, when New York runs 11°F / 6°C warmer, and narrowest in December (1°F / 1°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in November: Seattle gets 4.6 in (117 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the New York climate and Seattle climate pages.
Compare New York or Seattle with another city
Questions people ask
Is New York warmer than Seattle?
New York is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 54°F (12°C) against 52°F (11°C) in Seattle (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, New York or Seattle?
Seattle, with about 50.2 in (1275 mm) of precipitation a year and 154 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 46.2 in (1172 mm) and 120 days in New York.
Which is sunnier, New York or Seattle?
New York averages more sunshine: 8.7 h a day against 8.3 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.