Choose Seattle for a drier summer; choose Boston for warmer summers, vivid autumns and colder, snowier winters. The same comparison helps with travel dates: average temperatures and rainfall describe a city's usual seasons better than a short-range forecast.
City weather comparisons
| City comparison | Typical climate | What to plan around |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle vs Boston | Seattle has mild, dry summers and a long, cloudy wet season. Boston has warmer, humid summers and colder winters. | Seattle is easiest for outdoor plans in July and August; Boston offers autumn colour but more winter snow. |
| Chicago vs Denver | Chicago is humid in summer and cold in winter. Denver is sunnier and drier, with larger elevation effects and fast weather changes. | Pack for lake wind and summer humidity in Chicago; bring layers for Denver's temperature swings and spring snow. |
| Austin vs Phoenix | Both have very hot summers. Phoenix is drier and hotter; Austin is more humid and gets more rain. | For either city, schedule long outdoor walks outside peak summer heat. Austin's humidity changes how hot it feels. |
| New York City vs San Francisco | New York has stronger seasonal swings and humid summers. San Francisco stays milder, with cool marine air and neighbourhood fog. | New York is more predictable by season; San Francisco often needs a layer even on a sunny afternoon. |
| Miami vs Phoenix | Miami is hot and humid with a pronounced wet season. Phoenix is arid, with extreme summer heat and a summer monsoon period. | Choose Miami for warm coastal winters; plan Phoenix outdoor time for cooler months and early mornings. |
| Los Angeles vs Denver | Los Angeles has a mild Mediterranean climate with dry summers. Denver has colder winters, more snow and a dry, high-altitude climate. | Coastal and inland Los Angeles can feel different; Denver's elevation and quick temperature changes matter year-round. |
| Portland vs Chicago | Portland's winters are cool and wet, with drier summers. Chicago has more humid summer heat and colder, snowier winters. | For Portland, check rain and cloud cover; for Chicago, check both heat and wind chill by season. |
| Dallas vs Atlanta | Both have hot summers. Dallas has wider temperature swings and less year-round rain; Atlanta is humid with a longer growing season. | Dallas heat can persist into autumn. Atlanta's humidity and frequent warm-season rain can affect outdoor plans. |
| Washington, DC vs Boston | Both have four seasons. DC is hotter and more humid in summer; Boston is colder and snowier in winter. | Spring and autumn are comfortable in both, but their peak foliage and warm-weather windows differ. |
Compare averages before you choose dates
A forecast helps with the next few days. Climate averages help you choose a month, pack for a season and decide how much of the trip should happen outdoors. They cannot predict a particular week, so check the forecast again as the trip approaches.
For an official U.S. reference, NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals provide monthly temperature and precipitation averages. Eranorms compares historical temperature and precipitation patterns too; look at monthly highs, lows, rain and humidity together, because a single annual average can hide the season that matters to your trip.