January in Seattle, WA: cool / cold season for golf — expect distance loss and stiff muscles. Best tee times: midday when temperatures are warmest.
| Average January Weather | |
|---|---|
| Avg daily high | 47°F |
| Avg daily low | 38°F |
| Rainy days | 23 / mo |
| Avg peak wind | 13.3 mph |
January sits at the wettest point of Seattle's golf year — 23 precipitation days, more than any other month. Coming out of December, the calendar barely moves: one extra wet day, one degree warmer on the high, and nearly identical wind at 13.3 mph. The change going into February is more meaningful, with three fewer rain days and a slight easing of wind, making January the trough before conditions begin their slow, incremental improvement.
On the course, expect highs of 47°F and lows of 38°F — a 9-degree daily swing that keeps mornings genuinely cold. Wind peaks at 13.3 mph, firmly in the moderate range, which adds chill and affects ball flight on exposed holes. Daylight is short, course hours are compressed, and soggy fairways are the norm rather than the exception. Playable, yes — but this is the hardest month on the Seattle golf calendar.
Book the latest morning slot available — closer to 10 or 11 AM — to let overnight frost clear from greens and tee boxes before you play. With 23 likely rain days this month, also identify courses that offer flexible cancellation, since conditions can shift fast and a morning window can close by the time you reach the back nine. See how conditions rate hour by hour on our playability scale.
January adds one precipitation day over December while gaining just one degree on the high end, making it marginally wetter with nearly the same temperature and wind (13.3 mph vs. December's 13.4 mph). The more noticeable shift happens heading into February, when rain days drop by three and peak wind eases to 12.9 mph — a real, if modest, sign that conditions are turning. January sits at the bottom of that arc, the wettest and effectively the most challenging month to schedule a round.
Climate normals show the long-term picture, but day-to-day weather varies. Check today's live golf weather score for Seattle, WA for the current playability rating, hourly wind, temperature, and the recommended tee time window.
← December in Seattle, WA • February in Seattle, WA →
Most public and municipal courses in Seattle stay open in January, but temporary closures after heavy rain are common given the month averages 23 precipitation days. Cart restrictions and soft-course rules are frequently in effect, so checking course conditions directly on the morning you plan to play is worthwhile.
Lows average 38°F and highs reach 47°F, creating a 9-degree daily swing that keeps mornings genuinely cold. Combined with a peak wind of 13.3 mph, the real-feel temperature on exposed holes can push well below the thermometer reading, so layering is essential given the combination of cold and wind.