January is Seattle’s gloomiest month
The gloomiest month in Seattle is January, a fact supported by diligent research. This prevalent gloominess significantly affects the local population’s psychology.
Why it matters:
The daylight slowly returns after the winter solstice. However, January, marked by an unrelenting stretch of gray skies, extends the psychological effects of winter beyond the holiday season.
State of Play:
With factors such as cloud cover, averaging at 71% of the time, January is recognized as Seattle’s darkest month.
- A decreased number of sunshine hours in January.
- January sees a combination of lingering darkness and peak cloud cover.
The intrigue:
While November takes the reigns as the wettest month in Western Washington, January maintains the title for the grayer skies.
What’s next:
NWS Seattle meteorologist Kayla Mazurkiewicz reports a forecast for two impending rainstorms, including their projected impacts.
The bottom line:
Despite the increasing length of days, the uplift in mood typically doesn’t occur until daylight saving time in March.





