University Place in Spring

In spring (March, April and May), University Place sees average daytime highs around 57°F and overnight lows near 45°F, with 11.5 in of precipitation over about 40 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.

Over the season highs climb from about 50°F in early March to 65°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 17% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.

Spring is University Place's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see University Place's year-round climate.

Avg daytime high
57°F
3rd-warmest season
Avg overnight low
45°F
Precipitation
11.5 in
40 wet days
Avg wind
6 mph
Travel score
3.8
3rd-best season
Months
Mar · Apr · May

Temperature in University Place in Spring

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Over the season highs climb from about 50°F in early March to 65°F by late May.

A typical spring day in University Place reaches about 57°F and drops to 45°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.

30°40°50°60°70°80°MarAprMay

University Place weather by month

How the three spring months (March, April and May) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan46° / 39°6.517.11.58.71.1
Feb49° / 40°4.513.41.3101.6
Mar52° / 41°5.216.50.411.62.3
Apr57° / 45°3.913.6013.33.6
May63° / 50°2.410.1014.85.5
Jun68° / 54°1.67015.66.7
Jul74° / 58°0.62.9015.38.3
Aug75° / 59°0.940148.2
Sep69° / 55°2.07.1012.47.0
Oct60° / 49°4.412.6010.64.4
Nov51° / 43°7.2170.39.12.0
Dec46° / 39°6.816.61.38.31.0

Cloud cover in Spring

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 17% of the time across spring.

0%25%50%75%100%MarAprMay

Chance of precipitation in Spring

Any precipitationSnow

University Place gets around 11.5 in of rain and snow over 40 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

0%20%40%60%MarAprMay

Humidity in Spring

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

0%25%50%75%100%MarAprMay

Wind in Spring

Winds average 6 mph across spring.

0246810MarAprMay

Sunrise & sunset in Spring

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min in early March to 15 h 24 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AMMarAprMay

Solar energy in Spring

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 4.3 kWh/m².

0246MarAprMay
Planning a trip in spring

Hazard calendar for University Place

In seasonPeak

In spring, University Place overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

University Place's rainy season runs October–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is spring a good time to visit University Place?

Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.

3.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
0.5
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

spring is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in University Place.

What to pack for University Place in Spring

From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In spring, University Place sees daytime highs around 57°F and nights near 45°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 40 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gearsun protection

UV index in University Place in Spring

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in University Place peaks around July 17 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 17UV 8Dec 18UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb1Low
Mar4Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May7Very high
Jun6High
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep4Moderate
Oct3Moderate
Nov1Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in University Place in Spring

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in University Place is worst in September — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodGoodModerateGoodSep 1322 µg/m³Dec 177 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar12Moderate
Apr12Good
May11Good
Jun10Good
Jul10Good
Aug18Moderate
Sep22Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is University Place?

University Place sits at 47.2°N, 122.6°W, 207 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Lakewood, 4.3 mi away.

Topography around University Place

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of University Place.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around University Place has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 502 ft around an average of 197 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 558 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 14,403 ft.

The land around University Place is covered by trees (37%), water (33%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 2 miles, trees (41%) and water (34%) within 10 miles, and trees (77%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
502 ft
10 miles
558 ft
50 miles
14,403 ft
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
Spring weather nearby: Lakewood 4.3 mi · Tacoma 5.0 mi · Parkland 8.1 mi · Spanaway 11 mi · Puyallup 12 mi · Federal Way 12 mi · Frederickson 13 mi · South Hill 15 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for University Place (47.2356°, -122.5504°, elevation 207 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.