Honestly, if you're asking about the weather in Seattle, you're probably expecting a lecture on GORE-TEX and SAD lamps. Everyone thinks they know the drill: gray, wet, depressing, repeat. But today is Sunday, January 18, 2026, and if you actually look out a window in the Emerald City right now, the reality is kind of a shock to the system.
It’s clear. Like, actually clear.
Right now, the mercury is sitting at a crisp 36°F. The humidity is pinned at 96%, which sounds like you’re walking through a cloud, but since the sky is currently clear at night, it just feels like that biting, sharp Pacific Northwest chill. There’s a tiny 2 mph breeze coming out of the east. Basically, it’s a perfect, frozen January night.
What is the weather for seattle today?
If you’re planning your Sunday, forget the umbrella. No, seriously.
The forecast for the rest of today, January 18, 2026, is calling for straight-up sunny skies. We’re looking at a high of 50°F and a low of 36°F. That’s a massive win for mid-January. Usually, we’re dodging puddles, but today the chance of precipitation is a flat 0%. Even the wind is keeping it chill at 4 mph from the north.
It’s one of those rare "Sunbreak Sundays" where the whole city collectively forgets how to act and floods the Burke-Gilman trail.
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The "Rainy Seattle" Myth is Kind of a Lie
We need to talk about the reputation. People act like Seattle is an underwater city.
The truth? Seattle actually gets less annual rainfall than Miami, Houston, or even New York City. The difference is the delivery. While a place like Atlanta might get a massive, dramatic downpour that clears up in an hour, Seattle does the "Big Mist." It’s a constant, fine drizzle that lasts for six days.
Locals don't use umbrellas because an umbrella doesn't stop mist. Mist is emotional. Mist is everywhere. You just wear a hood and accept your fate.
But 2026 is feeling a little different. We’ve been seeing a transition from a weak La Niña toward ENSO-neutral conditions. What that means for your weekend is that we’re getting these high-pressure ridges that trap the cold air but keep the sky blue. It's called "Blue Friday" (or Sunday, in this case), and it’s the only thing that keeps us sane until May.
Winter in the Emerald City: 2026 Edition
January is usually our coldest month, with averages hanging around 41°F. But "average" is a dangerous word in Washington. You’ve got microclimates everywhere. You could be standing in a sunny spot in Ballard while someone in Issaquah is dealing with "convergence zone" snow.
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Speaking of snow, the "Seattle Snow Myth" is my favorite.
The city doesn't shut down because we’re wimps. It shuts down because the city is basically a series of vertical ice skating rinks. We have hills that would make a mountain goat nervous. Combine an inch of slush with a city that owns exactly three snowplows, and you’ve got a recipe for viral videos of buses sliding sideways down Queen Anne Hill.
For the record, there’s 0% chance of snow today. So your car is safe on the curb.
Dealing with the "Grey"
If it isn't the rain that gets you, it's the light—or the lack of it.
In the dead of winter, the sun doesn't even bother showing up until nearly 8:00 AM, and it checks out by 4:30 PM. That’s the real Seattle weather tax. You go into work in the dark, you leave in the dark, and in between, the sky is the color of a wet sidewalk.
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That’s why a day like today—with a UV index of 1 and actual visible sun—is such a big deal.
Expert Tips for Surrounding the Seattle Climate
If you're visiting or new to the area, stop trying to fight the weather and just lean into it. Here is the move:
- The Shell over the Fleece: Don't buy a giant "puffer" coat. You'll sweat. Wear a light fleece and put a waterproof shell over it. Layers are the only way to survive a day that starts at 36°F and hits 50°F.
- Vitamin D is Non-Negotiable: Most doctors in the PNW will tell you that we’re all basically mushrooms. Take a supplement.
- Ignore the Forecast After 48 Hours: The Olympic Mountains and the Cascades make weather prediction a nightmare. If the app says it’ll rain on Thursday, check again on Wednesday. It probably changed three times.
- Accept the "Seattle Wash": Your car will never be clean. Just let the rain (or the lack of it today) do its thing.
Honestly, today is as good as it gets for January. Take the win. Get some coffee, hit the waterfront, and soak up the 50-degree "heatwave" while it lasts. The mist will be back soon enough.
Next Steps for Today:
Since the forecast is staying clear and dry with a high of 50°F, it is the perfect window for outdoor activities that usually get rained out. You should prioritize visiting Pike Place Market or the Olympic Sculpture Park before the clouds return later this week. If you're driving, be mindful of patchy fog in the lower-lying areas toward the South Sound where that 96% humidity might settle as the sun comes up.