Today in Seattle, USA, the sun rises at 5:20 AM and sets at 9:09 PM, giving the city exactly 15h 48m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Seattle is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Seattle
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Seattle runs from N/A to 6:08 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 8:22 PM and lasts until 9:09 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. At its temperate latitude, Seattle experiences strong seasonal contrast. Today's 15h 48m of daylight differs significantly from its winter minimum.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Seattle falls exactly at 1:15 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -3.49 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Seattle, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Seattle?
At Seattle's latitude of 47.6038321°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 230.37° (SW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Seattle are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 47.6038321, -122.330062. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Seattle (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Seattle versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:20 AM | 9:09 PM | 15h 48m |
| 2025 | 5:21 AM | 9:09 PM | 15h 48m |
| 2021 | 5:21 AM | 9:09 PM | 15h 48m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Seattle today?
In Seattle, the sun rises at exactly 5:20 AM and sets at 9:09 PM today. This gives the city a total of 15h 48m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Seattle today?
Today, morning golden hour in Seattle runs from N/A to 6:08 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 8:22 PM and lasts until 9:05 PM.
Why does sunrise in Seattle shift every day?
At Seattle's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 230.37° (SW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Seattle at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:15 PM when the sun reaches -3.49. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Seattle, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Seattle changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 5:21 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:21 AM.