Moving from San Francisco to Seattle
A climate comparison of two homes: California to Washington. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your growing season runs 109 days shorter, 356 days becomes 247 days.
San Francisco, CA to Seattle, WA
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 356 days | 247 days | 109 days shorter |
| Last spring frost | January 7 | March 13 | 65 days later |
| Coldest month | 50F in January | 42F in December | 8F colder |
| Warmest month | 65F in September | 68F in August | 3F hotter |
Moving from San Francisco to Seattle reshapes the home year. Winters get 8F colder. Summers get 3F hotter. Your growing season is 109 days shorter. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Heating: expect a longer or deeper heating season. Service the furnace or boiler before the first cold snap, and budget for higher heating bills.
- 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 shorter season favors transplants, short-season varieties, and cold frames. Wait for soil to warm before direct sowing.
Season by season
Spring starts later
Your last spring frost moves from January 7 to March 13, 65 days later. Delay tender planting and spring openings.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 65F in September to 68F in August. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn harsher
Winter coldest month goes from 50F in January to 42F in December. Budget for more heating, snow removal, and ice-dam prevention.
Tools for both places
Moving from San Francisco to Seattle, answered
What is the biggest climate change from San Francisco to Seattle?
Your growing season runs 109 days shorter, 356 days becomes 247 days. 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: Oakland Intl Ap 72493 near San Francisco 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 Oakland Intl Ap 72493 (near San Francisco, CA) 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.