Seattle is starting Wednesday, May 13 under a steady blanket of light rain, with an 84% chance of precipitation and a high near 62°F — keep a packable rain jacket within reach before you head out the door.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says an upper-level low moved south of the region overnight, leaving a trough parked over Western Washington that keeps light rain falling through the morning and into early afternoon. Expect mostly cloudy skies all day with south-southwest winds of 7 to 16 mph and gusts near 22 mph — noticeable along the waterfront and Elliott Bay. Temperatures top out near 62°F before nudging back toward 60 by afternoon.
Here’s some fun context from the NWS forecasters: Tuesday’s rain at Sea-Tac broke a 13-day dry streak — and it was only the 12th day with measurable rain since the first full day of spring on March 21, when the normal count would be 25. Today feels like a classic Seattle day, but this has actually been an unusually dry spring.
Best Window To Be Outside
Showers should gradually ease through the late afternoon. If you want a walk at Green Lake or along the Burke-Gilman Trail, aim for after 3 PM when coverage thins. Morning commuters in Capitol Hill and South Lake Union will want to dress for steady drizzle.
Rain and Wind Risk
No serious weather concerns today. The Weather Prediction Center puts excessive rainfall risk below 5%, and the Storm Prediction Center has no convective outlook for the Seattle area. No thunder expected either — the NWS confirms the storm’s instability has weakened enough to rule it out. This is manageable, everyday Pacific Northwest rain.
Events Tonight and This Week
Tonight is a great night to stay indoors with purpose. The Demi Lovato: It’s Not That Deep Tour hits Climate Pledge Arena — a perfect rainy-Wednesday outing. Grab a Demi Lovato hoodie to wear to the show, and if you still need seats, Find tickets on StubHub. Also at WAMU Theater tonight: the Baby Keem - The Ca$ino Tour for hip-hop fans.
Looking ahead to Thursday, May 14: Seattle Sounders FC host San Jose Earthquakes at Lumen Field. Thursday brings the week’s best conditions — partly sunny with a high near 62°F and rain not returning until after 5 PM. A Seattle Sounders FC scarf doubles as game-day style and an extra layer for an evening kick-off. Lock in your seats with Get tickets on SeatGeek before they’re gone.
Dinner Idea for a Rainy Day
This is exactly the weather for a slow-simmered pot of chili or beef stew. Set a programmable slow cooker going before you leave this morning, or go the stovetop route with an enameled cast iron Dutch oven tonight. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Wednesday night clears up quickly — showers taper before 7 PM, with a low near 50°F and mostly cloudy skies. Thursday is the pick of the week: partly sunny with a high near 62°F before a slight rain chance returns after 5 PM. The weekend turns unsettled again as another front and upper-level trough move through Friday into Saturday. Check the Seattle weather forecast for updated weekend details as conditions develop.
