If you’re checking the weather for Mount Vernon WA because you’re planning to visit the tulip fields or maybe move here, you’ve probably heard the same old story. It rains all the time. It’s grey. You’ll forget what the sun looks like by February.
Honestly? That's kinda true, but it's also a massive oversimplification.
Mount Vernon sits in this weirdly specific geographic pocket of the Skagit Valley. It’s not quite the "banana belt" of the islands, and it’s not the rain-battered foothills of the Cascades. It’s somewhere in between. Right now, as of January 16, 2026, it’s actually a crisp 41°F and partly sunny. Total shocker, right? Most people expect a deluge in mid-January, but today we’ve got an east wind at 1 mph and a humidity level of 85%. It’s cold, but it’s dry-ish.
The Skagit River factor nobody talks about
When locals talk about the weather, they aren't just looking at the sky. They’re looking at the river. The Skagit River defines life here. We just came off a pretty scary December. Back on December 12, 2025, the river was predicted to hit a record-breaking 41.54 feet. To put that in perspective, major flooding starts at 32 feet.
When the "Pineapple Express" atmospheric rivers hit, the weather in Mount Vernon becomes a game of inches. You’ll see the city crews out at the downtown waterfront, deploying the removable flood wall. It’s a sophisticated piece of engineering, but it’s a reminder that "rainy weather" here can occasionally mean "the downtown is a lake."
Fortunately, the current gage reading near Mount Vernon is well below the action stage of 23.5 feet. We’re safe for now. But that's the nuance—weather here isn't just about whether you need an umbrella; it's about the literal ground you’re standing on.
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What the forecast actually looks like right now
If you’re heading out this weekend, it’s actually looking beautiful.
- Friday, Jan 16: Sunny with a high of 50°F.
- Saturday, Jan 17: More sun, high of 50°F, low of 32°F.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Still sunny, holding steady at 50°F.
Basically, we’re in a "blue hole." That’s a local term for when the clouds part over the valley while Seattle and Bellingham are still getting hammered. It’s rare in January, so you’ve gotta enjoy it while it lasts.
The "Tulip Time" weather myth
Every April, thousands of people flood the valley for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. They expect spring. They expect "The Sound of Music" meadows.
What they get is usually 52 degrees and a horizontal mist that gets into your bones.
The weather for Mount Vernon WA in the spring is notoriously fickle. You can start a morning in the fields with clear views of Mount Baker—which is massive and gorgeous at 10,781 feet—and by noon, you’re stuck in a rain squall that turns the tulip rows into a mud pit. If you aren't wearing Muck boots, you’re doing it wrong.
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Interestingly, the valley has its own microclimate. The Olympic Mountains to the west create a rain shadow effect that occasionally protects us. But when the wind shifts and comes down from the Fraser River Valley in Canada (the "Fraser Outflow"), temperatures can plummet 20 degrees in a few hours.
Does it ever actually snow?
Snow in Mount Vernon is... weird. We don't get much. The annual average is only about 5 inches.
Compare that to the mountain passes just an hour east that get 400 inches.
Usually, "snow" in Mount Vernon means a "Wintry Mix." That’s the weather person’s way of saying it’s going to be 34 degrees and slushy. It’s the worst of both worlds. However, in early 2025, we did have a few days of heavy snow in February that shut down I-5. Because the city isn't really geared up for major plowing, three inches of snow can feel like a blizzard.
If you see the locals panic-buying milk at Haggen when the forecast shows a snowflake icon, now you know why.
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Survival tips for the Skagit climate
If you're trying to navigate the weather for Mount Vernon WA like a pro, stop looking at your phone's generic weather app. It's usually wrong. Those apps pull data from sea-level stations or airports that don't account for the valley floor's unique behavior.
Instead, check the Northwest River Forecast Center. If the Skagit is rising, the weather is serious.
Also, forget umbrellas. The wind here—currently just a whisper at 1 mph, but often gusting to 20+ in the winter—will just flip an umbrella inside out. Buy a high-quality shell with a hood.
Next steps for staying dry and safe:
- Monitor the River: If you live in the floodplain, bookmark the NOAA Skagit River gage. Anything over 28 feet (minor flood stage) means you should move your gear to high ground.
- Layer Up: We’re looking at a low of 31°F tonight. The humidity makes that feel much colder than 31 in a dry place like Denver. Use wool, not cotton.
- Check the Pass: If you're heading east on Highway 20, remember that the weather in Mount Vernon has zero correlation with the weather at Stevens or Snoqualmie Pass. Check the WSDOT cameras before you go.
The valley is beautiful, even when it’s grey. Just don't let the "partly sunny" forecast fool you into leaving your jacket at home.