Weather in Renton, Washington
Shoots and Sprouts Rise in Ranks. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Drizzle49%56°45°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—63°42°
- MondayMay 18Overcast—68°49°
- TuesdayMay 19Light Drizzle—62°50°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—69°46°
- ThursdayMay 21Mostly Clear—78°48°
- FridayMay 22Overcast—73°53°
- PM 2.5
- 2.8 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 3.3 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 2.9 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 82.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 2.5 Low
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 11:50 AM
- Moonset
- 3:03 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Shoots and Sprouts Rise in Ranks
Renton at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 9°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 31 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Cool-season window is open
As of May 16, the cool-season window is open or about to open. Direct-sow peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and brassicas now. Hold off on warm-season crops until 1–2 weeks after the last spring frost (around May).
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Renton's warmest month is August (~67°F mean) and its coldest is December (~42°F). Rainfall peaks in November (5.8 inches) and bottoms out in July (0.8 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 5.1″ | 12 |
| February | 43° | 3.5″ | 9 |
| March | 47° | 3.9″ | 11 |
| April | 51° | 3.0″ | 9 |
| May | 57° | 2.2″ | 6 |
| June | 61° | 1.6″ | 5 |
| July | 67° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| August | 67° | 1.0″ | 3 |
| September | 62° | 1.7″ | 5 |
| October | 54° | 3.6″ | 9 |
| November | 46° | 5.8″ | 12 |
| December | 42° | 5.5″ | 12 |
Regional context
Renton belongs to a warm-summer Mediterranean climate region — a group that shares comparable temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with neighboring cities.
Similar climates: Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA, Kennewick, WA, Bremerton, WA, Tacoma, WA.
Naturalist notes
By late spring, bigleaf maples along the Cedar River are fully leafed out and shedding winged samaras that spiral down onto trails and sidewalks.
Western tiger swallowtails appear in residential gardens through late May and June, nectaring on lilacs and rhododendrons as the days stretch toward the solstice.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Renton?
- Renton's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Renton?
- November is the wettest month with about 5.8 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 38 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Renton?
- August is typically warmest, averaging about 67°F.
- What is the coldest month in Renton?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 42°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Renton?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-May); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Renton get?
- Renton averages about 95 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Renton?
- Renton's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Renton, Washington falls under a warm-summer Mediterranean climate classification. January temperatures hold near 42°F, while July averages 67°F — a seasonal swing of 24°F.
Throughout the year, the city receives roughly 38 inches of precipitation distributed across about 95 rainy days.
Latitude (47.5°N), nearby water, and elevation set the cadence of the year. Together they shape what can be grown, when frost is likely, and the daily weather pattern.