Food trucks with hot beverages await you once you run for cover. Plunges happen at multiple bodies of water all over the city and are a wonderfully positive start to the new year. Brave souls can start the new year with a splash as part of the Polar Bear Plunge and dive into the new year invigorated if a little chilly. Of all the months in the year, January historically sees the most discounted prices on plane tickets.

Plan indoor activities, or bring your skis and head to the nearby mountains. January shuffles in with a hangover and occasional flurries of snow.

The festive season ramps up with Winterfest, the Christmas Ship Parade of Boats and New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Space Needle. Hotel prices continue to drop along with the temperatures. Seattle’s surrounding ski resorts open up in December, making the city an ideal urban base for snow-related activities. Most sights stay open and, with the low season kicking in, some hotels slash their prices to half the summer rates. Indoor spaces such as theaters and music venues come into their own during the low season the soggy weather is partly responsible for Seattle’s famously creative music scene and its vibrant coffee shop culture. November can be a dismal month for weather in Seattle but don’t let anyone convince you that this is the worst time to visit. When prices drop during the low season, it's time to break out your skis © Jakob Helbig / Getty Images November to March is the best time to get cozy in a coffee shop and explore the music scene

Seattle weather in august