Climate Comfort Score
68/100
Good
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 51°F annual avg 2 stations
Bellingham, WA Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 51°F
- Avg annual temp
- 68/100
- Comfort score
- 34.7"
- Annual precip
- 213d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 2 weather stations (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington averages 51°F a year and scores 68/100 on the comfort index - good, milder than 58% of U.S. cities.
- 51°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 68/100
- comfort score, milder than 58% of U.S. cities
- 34.7"
- precipitation, annual total
- 213 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
51°F (11°C)
Avg High
59°F
Avg Low
43°F
Annual Precip
34.7"
Comfort Score
68/100
Good
Avg Annual Temperature
51°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
34.7"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Bellingham) 68.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Bellingham area.
How Bellingham compares to every U.S. city
Bellingham's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
68 Top 42% higher than 58% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Bellingham
MethodologyHow the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for Bellingham captures average conditions across the spread shown, the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46°F (8°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 40°F (5°C) | 4.5" | N/A | 13.3 | 0.0 |
| February | 49°F (9°C) | 35°F (1°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 2.9" | N/A | 12.2 | 0.0 |
| March | 53°F (12°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4" | N/A | 7.4 | 0.0 |
| April | 58°F (14°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 2.8" | N/A | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| May | 64°F (18°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.2" | N/A | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 1.6" | N/A | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.9" | N/A | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1" | N/A | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| September | 68°F (20°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.0" | N/A | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| October | 59°F (15°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 3.9" | N/A | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| November | 51°F (11°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 5.2" | N/A | 8.6 | 0.0 |
| December | 46°F (8°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 4.3" | N/A | 13.2 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 4.5"
18.9 days with precipitation
February 2.9"
15.8 days with precipitation
March 3.4"
17.9 days with precipitation
April 2.8"
15.5 days with precipitation
May 2.2"
12.3 days with precipitation
June 1.6"
10.2 days with precipitation
July 0.9"
5.7 days with precipitation
August 1.1"
6.2 days with precipitation
September 2.0"
11.0 days with precipitation
October 3.9"
16.1 days with precipitation
November 5.2"
19.6 days with precipitation
December 4.3"
19.3 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 30
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
March 31
50% probability date
Growing Season
213 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
5,110
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
75
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
December
Humidity & Wind
Monthly averages from hourly observations
| Month | Humidity | Wind (mph) | Clear Sky % | Overcast % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77% | 7.8 | 29% | 46% |
| February | 72% | 7.9 | 31% | 43% |
| March | 73% | 7.4 | 31% | 39% |
| April | 72% | 6.9 | 37% | 33% |
| May | 73% | 7.1 | 38% | 33% |
| June | 73% | 7.3 | 47% | 26% |
| July | 74% | 7.3 | 61% | 16% |
| August | 76% | 5.9 | 52% | 21% |
| September | 80% | 5.3 | 51% | 25% |
| October | 79% | 6.6 | 33% | 41% |
| November | 78% | 8.2 | 30% | 49% |
| December | 79% | 8.3 | 27% | 52% |
What Bellingham's climate means for you
Bellingham runs 51°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in December.
- Gardeners get about 213 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near March 31 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 5,110 heating and 75 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Bellingham, WA
In Bellingham, Washington, the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals put the annual average temperature at 51°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 59°F to a mean daily low of 43°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while December is the coldest. As thirty-year averages computed from 2 weather stations, these numbers smooth out year-to-year noise into a working baseline for a typical month.
Beyond temperature, Bellingham averages 34.7 inches of precipitation annually, with seasonal snowfall possible - a real factor for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. The frost-free season averages 213 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near March 31 and the first fall freeze near October 30. Turning to energy use, 5,110 heating degree days and 75 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Bellingham scores 68/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. The monthly tables above are the practical planning tool: mild highs and lows land in the shoulder seasons, July-driven heat peaks in summer, and December-driven cold sets in over deep winter. These are thirty-year averages, not a forecast - any single year can run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Bellingham, WA? ▼
The average annual temperature in Bellingham, Washington is 51°F. The warmest month averages 73°F (23°C) and the coldest averages 34°F (1°C).
How much rain does Bellingham get? ▼
Bellingham receives 34.7 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Bellingham? ▼
Bellingham has a climate comfort score of 68/100 (Good), milder than 58% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Bellingham? ▼
Bellingham has approximately 213 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around March 31 and the first fall freeze around October 30.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Bellingham? ▼
Bellingham has 5,110 heating degree days and 75 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Bellingham climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from 2 weather stations near Bellingham.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USW00024217. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.