Weather in Olympia, Washington
Shoots and Sprouts Rise in Ranks. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Drizzle46%58°45°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—65°40°
- MondayMay 18Overcast—70°46°
- TuesdayMay 19Light Drizzle—67°46°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—73°43°
- ThursdayMay 21Mostly Clear—79°44°
- FridayMay 22Overcast—71°46°
- PM 2.5
- 1.8 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 2.6 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 1.2 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 69.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 1.6 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 12:34 PM
- Moonset
- 4:28 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Shoots and Sprouts Rise in Ranks
Olympia at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 9°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 28 (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 17, 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
August brings Olympia's peak warmth with mean temperatures around 64°F, while December delivers the coldest conditions at roughly 39°F. Rain follows a Mediterranean pattern, with November's heavy downpours averaging 8.2 inches and July's dry spell dropping to just 0.5 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 7.8″ | 14 |
| February | 41° | 5.1″ | 11 |
| March | 44° | 5.7″ | 13 |
| April | 48° | 3.7″ | 10 |
| May | 55° | 2.3″ | 7 |
| June | 59° | 1.5″ | 4 |
| July | 64° | 0.5″ | 2 |
| August | 64° | 1.0″ | 2 |
| September | 59° | 2.0″ | 5 |
| October | 50° | 5.1″ | 10 |
| November | 43° | 8.2″ | 14 |
| December | 39° | 7.8″ | 14 |
Regional context
Olympia falls within the warm-summer Mediterranean climate zone, sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with other regional cities.
Similar climates: Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA, Kennewick, WA, Bremerton, WA, Tacoma, WA.
Naturalist notes
Pacific madrone trees begin their distinctive bark shedding in late May, revealing smooth reddish-brown inner bark beneath the peeling outer layers.
American robins start their second nesting cycle around mid-May, with males resuming territorial singing after completing their first brood of the season.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Olympia?
- Spring's final frost usually occurs around mid-May in Olympia, while fall's first frost typically arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Olympia?
- November brings the heaviest rainfall, averaging about 8.2 inches, while Olympia receives roughly 51 inches total annually.
- What is the warmest month in Olympia?
- August typically records the warmest temperatures, averaging about 64°F.
- What is the coldest month in Olympia?
- December usually brings the coldest weather, averaging about 39°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Olympia?
- Cool-season vegetables like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-May, but warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Olympia get?
- Olympia experiences about 105 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Olympia?
- Olympia's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperatures; use the USDA's online zone lookup tool with the city ZIP code for current zone information.
Climate
Olympia, Washington experiences a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. Winters see January temperatures hovering near 40°F, while summers bring July averages of 64°F — creating a 25°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 51 inches, falling across roughly 105 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography drives Olympia's weather patterns through its latitude of 47.0°N, nearby large water bodies, and local elevation. These factors determine what plants thrive, when frost threatens, and how daily weather unfolds.