SEATTLE – Decades ago, Seattle saw its first, and only, day with a recorded temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit. While a brutal arctic freeze hit the Emerald City on Jan. 31, 1950, today we saw the city reach a near record high.
Seattle area residents enjoyed an unusually mild winter’s day on Jan. 31, 2026. Temperatures are forecast to hit just under 60 degrees. With 59 degrees expected at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, we are just shy of the 61 degree record set in 1960.
The backstory: — Some 76 years after generations past dealt with an unprecedented cold, residents in western Washington will get to enjoy the day in city sites not even in the forethought of those living in the area during the winter of 1950.
Seattle has had no snow for the 2025-2026 winter so far, creating challenges for Washington ski resorts, but during the 1950 storms, fresh snow lined the streets and rooftops the Evergreen State.…