Sixty miles southwest of Seattle, on the southern end of the Puget Sound, sits Washingtonโs capital city of Olympia. Named after the Olympic Mountains that can be seen to the northwest of the city, Olympia is home to about 50,836 people. Overall, the weather in western Washington is largely affected by the cold, moist weather systems near the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The area surrounding Olympia is categorized as having a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, but Olympia itself has a specific microclimate that consists of wet winters and cooler, dry summers.
People often think that an areaโs climate and weather are the same things. Though the two are connected, theyโre very different. Weather is the day-to-day conditions of an area, while climate is the average weather conditions over a longer period of time. So when youโre considering a move to a new area, itโs important to look at both. Overall, Olympiaโs climate is pleasant.
Olympia Seasons
Olympia has a reputation for being cloudy and rainy, but there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy beautiful weather! The city offers four distinct seasons and milder temperatures throughout the year. Hereโs a look at what to expect during each season in Olympia:
Winter in Olympia
Winters in Olympia are overcast, wet, and cold. Daily high temperatures during Olympiaโs winters rarely go above 51ยฐF. You can expect very little sunshine in December and January – Olympia only receives about 2 hours of sunshine a day during these months. Olympia receives about 10.8โ of snow across 6.3 days during the winter. The majority of the rainfall Olympia receives occurs during the winter too, and the cityโs streets and creeks may experience some flooding. Winter is also the most humid time of year in Olympia, with an average relative humidity of 89.1%.
Spring in Olympia
The wetter season in Olympia continues into spring but tapers off significantly from an average of 5.3โ of rain in March to 3.5โ in April. The wet season officially ends on April 29. Humidity lessens in the spring, dropping to around 72.9% in May.
Summer in Olympia
Summers in Olympia are dry, with average temperatures topping 77.7ยฐF in August. Though skies are generally clearer during the summer, temperatures rarely go above 80ยฐF from June through early September. Summers are the least humid time of year in Olympia, the lowest being in July (70.8% relative humidity). Even though the temperatures are not exceptionally high, the UV index reaches up to 7 from June through August, so precaution should be taken if youโre planning on being in the sun during these months.
Autumn in Olympia
Autumn starts out cool in Olympia, with average September highs of 71.8ยฐF. By the time November rolls around, average high temperatures drop to 50.2ยฐF. Olympiaโs wetter season starts up again in October, when the area experiences 14.2 rainy days. In November, there are about 20 rainy days, and you may even see some snow! The year ends with December being the coldest, most humid month of the year. Temperatures top out around 44.2ยฐF, and humidity reaches 89.1%.
Monthly Weather in Olympia
The weather in Olympia can change a lot from one month to the next! Wondering what the monthly temperatures in Olympia are like? Hereโs what you can expect:
January
With average highs of 45.9ยฐF and average lows of 33.6ยฐF, January is one of the coldest months in Olympia. Donโt expect much sunshine – Olympia only receives about 2 hours of sun in January.
February
The weather stays chilly in February, with average highs of 49.3ยฐF and average lows of 32.7ยฐF. Though February is the snowiest month in Olympia (the city receives 4.7โ on average), the snowy season ends in mid-February.
March
The weather stays about the same in March, with an average high of 54ยฐF and evening low of a cool 35.1ยฐF. There is about a 50% chance of rain throughout the month of March.
April
Temperatures rise a bit in April in Olympia. High temperatures average out at 58.8ยฐF and drop to about 37.8ยฐF. April 29 is the end of the wetter season in Olympia.
May
May is relatively enjoyable in Olympia. Temperatures rise to 63.5ยฐF highs and 43.2ยฐF lows. The chance of rain in Olympia in May falls below 30%.
June
June is a very pleasant month for weather in Olympia! Temperatures range from 47.7ยฐF to 70.5ยฐF. Olympia enjoys its longest days in June, with about 15.8 hours of daylight. Olympiaโs UV index is at its highest beginning in June, with an average maximum UV index of 7.
July
July sees a rise in temperatures in Olympia, with average highs of 76.8ยฐF and lows of 50.7ยฐF. July is Olympiaโs driest, least humid month, with an average relative humidity of 70.8%. Itโs also the month with the most overall sunshine – Olympia receives an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day in July.
August
August is the hottest month of the year in Olympia, with average highs of 77.7ยฐF and average lows of 50.5ยฐF. The chance of rain is very low in August.
September
Though September brings the end of summer, itโs still a very pleasant month in Olympia. Temperatures drop to 46ยฐF, but the average daily high is an enjoyable 71.8ยฐF. September 15 is the end of the warmer season in Olympia.
October
Temperatures continue to cool in October in Olympia. The highs average 60.3ยฐF and lows fall to around 40.5ยฐF. October sees the start of the wet season in Olympia.
November
Grab an umbrella if youโll be in Olympia in November! The cityโs rainiest month sees 20.1 days of rain that accumulates to 8.6โ of precipitation. Temperatures top out at an average of 50.2ยฐF and cool off to about 36.3ยฐF.ย
December
December is Olympiaโs coldest month when highs reach only 44.2ยฐF and lows average 32.5ยฐF. Olympia experiences the least amount of sunshine during December too – only about 2 hours a day. Itโs also the most humid month in Olympia, with an average relative humidity of 89.1%.
Annual
- Number of rainy days in Olympia: Olympia averages 168.2 rainy days a year
- Annual rainfall in Olympia: Olympia receives about 50โ of precipitation annually, well above the continental US average of 30.2โ.
- Annual snowfall in Olympia: Olympia receives about 10.8โ of snow annually
Olympia Weather Hazards
If youโre relocating to Olympia, you donโt have to worry about much hazardous weather. However, the rivers and creeks can overflow during the wetter season, causing flooding in the cityโs streets. If itโs necessary for you to drive during these conditions, itโs important to stay alert to avoid getting stuck or hydroplaning.
Though earthquakes are more common in Washington state than the national average, Olympia itself is no more susceptible to them than the rest of the country.
Olympia Weather Extremes
- Coldest month: December is the coldest month in Olympia, with an average high temperature of 44.2ยฐF and average low of 32.5ยฐF
- Hottest month: August is Olympiaโs hottest month. Temperatures average 77.7ยฐF highs and 50.5ยฐF lows.
- Wettest month: November is the wettest month in Olympia, when the city receives around 8.6โ of rain across 20.1 rainy days
- Driest month: July is the driest month in Olympia. The city receives around .6โ of rain over 4.6 rainy days
- Most humid month: December is the most humid month in Olympia, with an average of 89.1% relative humidity
- Sunniest month: Olympiaโs sunniest month is July, when the sun shines for about 10 hours.
- City record high temperature: 104ยฐF
- City record low temperature: -8ยฐF
Best time to visit Olympia
Planning a trip to Olympia? The best time to visit Olympia is July through August, most notably the last week of July. During these weeks, high temperatures stay around 77ยฐF, and average lows are about 50.5ยฐF. These temperatures are perfect for enjoying all the parks and green spaces Olympia has to offer!
Does Olympiaโs mild climate sound ideal to you? If youโre planning a move to Olympia, make sure youโre working with the best professional Olympia moving company, All Ready Moving. Our trustworthy, expert team of movers is ready to help get you relocated! Call us today for your free quote!