PHOTOS: Seattle area blossoms into spring

Spring has sprung in Western Washington, and the sun is officially setting after 8 p.m. KUOW's Megan Farmer and Juan Pablo Chiquiza set out to document the essence, feeling, and hues of springtime in our region.

Western Washington is notorious for having a "false spring" in late February into early March, followed by a return to colder temperatures before spring officially bursts through in full force.

Farmers and gardeners typically judge the arrival of spring by the last frost and the first day of warm weather, generally when daytime temperatures reach 75 degrees or warmer, according to the Washington State Climate Office.

Because Washington state includes such varied elevations and climates, spring arrives at different times depending on where you live. For example, the average date of the last frost at SeaTac over the past century was March 16 and the typical first 75 degree day is May 4.

In contrast, Vancouver, Washington, typically has its final frost on March 30, two weeks later than SeaTac, but it's first 75 degree day two weeks earlier on April 17.

Climatologists explain that those differences, even on the same side of the mountains, relate to how sheltered locations are from Puget Sound. The more sheltered they are, the more quickly they warm during fair weather.

Locations with more marine influence — such as Seattle and Bellingham — typically have their last frost earlier in the year, while Eastern Washington locations are prone to later frosts.

With all that variation, it's important to note that Friday, March 20, was officially the first day of spring for everyone, regardless of the weather.

Despite that official seasonal change, Seattle has yet to hit 75 degrees in 2026, but highs in the upper 60s are expected this weekend.