Moving from Seattle to Los Angeles
A climate comparison of two homes: Washington to California. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your last spring frost moves from March 13 to December 31, 293 days later.
Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost | March 13 | December 31 | 293 days later |
| Frost-free season | 247 days | 365 days | 118 days longer |
| Coldest month | 42F in December | 56F in December | 14F warmer |
| Warmest month | 68F in August | 79F in August | 11F hotter |
Moving from Seattle to Los Angeles reshapes the home year. Winters get 14F warmer. Summers get 11F hotter. Your growing season is 118 days longer. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
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.
- 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 March 13 to December 31, 293 days later. Delay tender planting and spring openings.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 68F in August to 79F in August. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winters turn milder
Winter coldest month goes from 42F in December to 56F in December. Heating loads drop, but frozen-pipe and ice-storm prep may still apply.
Tools for both places
Moving from Seattle to Los Angeles, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Seattle to Los Angeles?
Your last spring frost moves from March 13 to December 31, 293 days later. 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: Seattle Boeing Fld near Seattle and Van Nuys Ap near Los Angeles. 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 Seattle Boeing Fld (near Seattle, WA) and Van Nuys Ap (near Los Angeles, CA). 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.