Moving from Vancouver to Seattle
A climate comparison of two homes: British Columbia to Washington. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your coldest month goes 4F warmer, from 38F in December to 42F in December.
Vancouver, BC to Seattle, WA
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coldest month | 38F in December | 42F in December | 4F warmer |
| Warmest month | 64F in July | 68F in August | 3F hotter |
| Frost-free season | 237 days | 247 days | 10 days longer |
| Last spring frost | March 18 | March 13 | 5 days earlier |
Moving from Vancouver to Seattle reshapes the home year. Winters get 4F warmer. Summers get 3F hotter. Your growing season is 10 days longer. Most of your routine carries over.
What changes about the house
- Cooling: hotter peaks make air conditioning or shading more important. Check attic insulation and window sealing so the house does not trap heat.
- Garden: a longer frost-free season opens more crop choices and succession sowings. Raised beds warm earlier in spring.
Season by season
Spring starts earlier
Your last spring frost moves from March 18 to March 13, 5 days earlier. Start planting and outdoor prep sooner.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 64F in July to 68F in August. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from 38F in December to 42F in December. Heating loads drop, but frozen-pipe and ice-storm prep may still apply.
Tools for both places
Moving from Vancouver to Seattle, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Vancouver to Seattle?
Your coldest month goes 4F warmer, from 38F in December to 42F in December. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Vancouver Intl Airport near Vancouver and Seattle Boeing Fld near Seattle. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Vancouver Intl Airport (near Vancouver, BC) and Seattle Boeing Fld (near Seattle, WA). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See the methodology page for the full calculation.