Last verified: June 1, 2026. Climate norms below are long-term averages, not a forecast — for current conditions, watches, or warnings, always confirm time-sensitive details at the official National Weather Service links provided throughout this page.
Tacoma weather at a glance
- Live Tacoma forecast comes from the NWS Seattle/Tacoma forecast office (WFO SEW), which issues the official 7-day outlook, watches, and warnings for Pierce County. Check live forecast →
- Climate type: Tacoma has a mild, marine-influenced climate — cool, wet, cloudy winters and short, warm, notably dry summers, moderated by Puget Sound. (Weather Spark climate summary)
- Warmest month: August, with average highs around the upper 70s°F and overnight lows in the mid-50s°F. (US Climate Data)
- Coldest month: December, with average highs near the mid-40s°F and lows in the upper 30s°F; hard freezes and snow are occasional, not routine.
- Wettest stretch: November and December are the rainiest months; the driest month is July (often under an inch of rain). (Tacoma rainfall by month)
- Best window for sun: the dry season runs roughly early May through mid-October, peaking in July when skies are clearest.
What is the weather like in Tacoma year-round?
If you are new to Pierce County, the single most useful thing to understand is that Tacoma’s reputation for rain is half-right. The region is genuinely wet — but the rain is concentrated in the cooler half of the year and arrives as long stretches of light drizzle and gray overcast rather than heavy downpours. Total annual precipitation falls in roughly the 39-to-50-inch range depending on the measuring station and the source, which is wetter than the national average but spread across far more days of light rain.
Temperatures are mild and stable by U.S. standards. Puget Sound acts as a giant thermal buffer, so Tacoma rarely sees the brutal summer heat or deep winter cold common inland. Summer highs typically sit in the 70s°F, and genuine heat waves into the 90s°F are short-lived events, not the norm. Winter lows seldom drop far below freezing. For the authoritative current reading and the official 7-day outlook for the Tacoma area, use the NWS point forecast (check live).
Tacoma weather by season
Winter (December–February): Expect overcast skies, frequent light rain, and highs in the mid-40s°F. January is statistically the cloudiest month of the year. Lowland snow does happen — usually a few inches across a handful of days — but it rarely sticks for long. When cold air slides down from the Fraser Valley or a Pacific system collides with it, snow and ice can briefly snarl the South Sound; that is exactly when you should be watching the NWS Seattle/Tacoma office (check live) for winter weather advisories.
Spring (March–May): A gradual dry-out. March and April remain showery, but by May the rain tapers sharply and sunny breaks become common. Highs climb from the 50s°F into the 60s°F. This is the transition into Tacoma’s signature dry summer.
Summer (June–September): The payoff for residents. From late June through mid-September, Tacoma is warm, dry, and often spectacularly clear. July is the driest and sunniest month, frequently logging under an inch of rain. Highs run in the mid-to-upper 70s°F, with comfortable low humidity. The main summer caveat is wildfire smoke drifting in from regional fires, which can degrade air quality for days at a time — another reason to check official advisories before planning extended outdoor time.
Fall (October–November): The wet season returns, usually arriving in mid-October. November is one of the rainiest months of the year, with shortening days and steadily falling temperatures. Atmospheric-river events can deliver heavy multi-day rain and minor flooding along area rivers.
Where to get the official live forecast for Tacoma
Tacoma and all of Pierce County are served by the National Weather Service forecast office in Seattle/Tacoma (WFO SEW), headquartered at 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. This is the government office that issues every official forecast, watch, and warning for the South Sound — the source meteorologists, emergency managers, and local media all build from.
For the current conditions and hour-by-hour outlook specific to the city, the NWS point forecast for downtown Tacoma (check live) is the page to bookmark. Because weather is volatile and changes by the hour, this guide deliberately does not print today’s numbers — the live link always carries the most current, authoritative data straight from the source.
How Tacoma’s weather differs from Seattle
Tacoma and Seattle share the same forecast office and a nearly identical climate signature, so day-to-day differences are small. Tacoma sits about 30 miles south of downtown Seattle and a little farther from the open water of the central Sound, which can mean marginally warmer summer afternoons and slightly different snow outcomes during borderline winter events. The practical takeaway: a Seattle forecast is a reasonable proxy for Tacoma, but for anything time-sensitive you should pull the Tacoma-specific point forecast rather than relying on a Seattle headline number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Tacoma, WA?
Tacoma has a mild marine climate: cool, gray, wet winters and short, warm, dry summers, all moderated by Puget Sound. Summer highs are typically in the 70s°F and winter highs in the mid-40s°F, with rain concentrated from November through March. For current conditions, check the official NWS Tacoma forecast (live).
What is the Tacoma weather forecast for today?
Today’s forecast changes by the hour, so this page does not print it. Get the official, up-to-the-minute 7-day outlook from the National Weather Service point forecast for Tacoma (check live).
How much does it rain in Tacoma?
Tacoma averages roughly 39 to 50 inches of precipitation per year, spread across a large number of light-rain days. The wettest months are November and December; July is the driest, often under an inch. See Tacoma rainfall by month.
When is the best weather in Tacoma, Washington?
The dry season runs from about early May through mid-October, with July and August offering the warmest, sunniest, and driest conditions of the year — the best window for outdoor plans in Pierce County.
Does it snow in Tacoma?
Snow is occasional, not routine. Tacoma averages only a few inches of snow per year, mostly in December and January, and it rarely lingers. Significant accumulation or ice usually comes with specific cold-air events, so watch the NWS Seattle/Tacoma office (check live) for winter weather advisories.
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