Typical weather conditions for Bellingham, Washington, are characterised by average temperatures and vital rainfall. Information compiled over a few years reveals patterns indicating comparatively delicate winters and funky summers, influenced by the town’s proximity to the Puget Sound. For instance, common January temperatures usually hover round 40F (4C), whereas July averages are close to 65F (18C). Precipitation is a defining attribute, with annual totals usually exceeding 30 inches. This knowledge is commonly offered in tabular format, exhibiting month-to-month and annual averages for temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and sunshine.
Understanding these long-term local weather patterns offers helpful insights for residents, companies, and guests. This info informs selections associated to agriculture, infrastructure improvement, tourism planning, and even private apparel decisions. Historic climate knowledge allows development evaluation, contributing to a deeper comprehension of native local weather change impacts and aiding within the improvement of methods for adaptation and mitigation. These data additionally play a significant position in analysis throughout varied disciplines, from environmental science to city planning.
Additional exploration of Bellingham’s local weather can delve into particular features like differences due to the season, excessive climate occasions, and microclimates. An examination of those aspects will present a extra complete image of the world’s distinctive meteorological traits.
1. Temperature
Temperature performs an important position in defining Bellingham, Washington’s local weather. Evaluation of temperature knowledge, together with common highs, lows, and every day means, offers important context for understanding the area’s general climate patterns. This info has vital implications for varied sectors, together with agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure planning.
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Common Highs and Lows
Common excessive and low temperatures present a normal overview of every day temperature fluctuations. In Bellingham, these averages fluctuate seasonally, with summer time highs usually within the mid-60s Fahrenheit (round 18C) and winter lows not often dipping under freezing. This average temperature vary contributes to the area’s comparatively delicate local weather.
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Each day Imply Temperature
The every day imply temperature, calculated by averaging the excessive and low for a given day, offers a helpful single-point metric for understanding typical every day situations. Monitoring every day imply temperatures over time reveals seasonal tendencies and permits for comparisons throughout completely different years, contributing to a deeper understanding of long-term local weather patterns.
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Excessive Temperatures
Whereas Bellingham experiences a average local weather general, occasional excessive temperature occasions, resembling warmth waves or chilly snaps, can happen. Analyzing the frequency and depth of those occasions helps assess potential dangers and inform methods for local weather change adaptation and mitigation.
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Affect on Native Ecosystems
Temperature considerably influences the native ecosystem, affecting plant progress, animal habits, and general biodiversity. Bellingham’s average temperatures help a various vary of wildlife, together with temperate rainforests and marine life. Understanding temperature tendencies helps predict and handle potential impacts of local weather change on these delicate ecosystems.
By contemplating these varied aspects of temperature knowledge, a complete image of Bellingham’s local weather emerges. This understanding is prime for informing selections associated to useful resource administration, city planning, and group preparedness.
2. Precipitation
Precipitation considerably influences Bellingham, Washington’s local weather, shaping its ecosystems and impacting every day life. Analyzing precipitation patterns, together with rainfall quantities, frequency, and seasonal distribution, offers vital insights into the area’s general climate traits. Understanding these patterns is important for water useful resource administration, infrastructure planning, and agricultural practices.
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Common Annual Rainfall
Bellingham experiences a comparatively excessive common annual rainfall, usually exceeding 30 inches. This substantial rainfall contributes to the area’s lush vegetation and plentiful water sources. Correct measurement and evaluation of annual rainfall totals are essential for managing water provides and predicting potential flood dangers.
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Seasonal Distribution
Rainfall in Bellingham just isn’t evenly distributed all year long. The wettest months usually happen throughout the fall and winter, whereas summers are typically drier. This seasonal variation influences agricultural practices, requiring cautious irrigation methods throughout drier intervals. Understanding these seasonal patterns can also be important for tourism planning and outside leisure actions.
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Rainfall Depth and Frequency
Analyzing rainfall depth and frequency offers insights into the character of precipitation occasions. Whereas Bellingham usually experiences frequent mild to average rainfall, occasional heavy downpours can happen. Understanding the frequency and depth of those occasions helps assess potential dangers related to flooding and landslides.
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Types of Precipitation
Whereas rain dominates Bellingham’s precipitation, different varieties, together with snow and hail, may happen, significantly throughout the colder months. Analyzing the frequency and depth of those completely different precipitation sorts contributes to a extra full understanding of the area’s local weather and its potential impacts on infrastructure and transportation.
A complete understanding of precipitation patterns is integral to characterizing Bellingham’s local weather. This information informs sensible selections throughout varied sectors, from agriculture and concrete planning to emergency preparedness and environmental conservation. By analyzing historic precipitation knowledge and contemplating future local weather projections, efficient methods may be developed for sustainable useful resource administration and local weather change adaptation.
3. Sunshine
Sunshine length considerably influences Bellingham, Washington’s local weather and general character. The town’s location within the Pacific Northwest, identified for its cloudy skies, leads to a novel sunshine profile distinct from different areas. Understanding common sunshine hours, differences due to the season, and the impression on native ecosystems offers helpful context for appreciating the world’s local weather.
Annual sunshine totals in Bellingham are typically decrease in comparison with areas additional east in Washington State. The presence of the Cascade Mountains to the east creates a rain shadow impact, rising cloud cowl and decreasing direct daylight, particularly throughout the fall and winter months. Conversely, summers are inclined to expertise longer intervals of sunshine, though nonetheless topic to occasional cloud cowl. This sample creates distinct differences due to the season in mild availability, influencing plant progress, animal habits, and human actions. For instance, the lowered daylight throughout winter can impression vitamin D ranges in residents, whereas the prolonged sunlight hours in summer time present ample alternative for outside recreation. The interaction of sunshine and cloud cowl contributes to the area’s attribute lush inexperienced landscapes and average temperatures.
Analyzing sunshine knowledge together with different local weather variables, resembling temperature and precipitation, offers a complete understanding of Bellingham’s climate patterns. This info informs varied sectors, together with agriculture, tourism, and renewable power. Farmers depend on sunshine knowledge to optimize crop progress and yields, whereas tourism companies leverage details about sunny intervals to draw guests. Moreover, understanding sunshine patterns is essential for assessing the potential of photo voltaic power technology within the area. Recognizing the challenges and alternatives offered by Bellingham’s distinctive sunshine profile permits for efficient planning and useful resource administration, supporting each financial improvement and environmental sustainability.
4. Snowfall
Snowfall, whereas not a dominant characteristic of Bellingham, Washington’s local weather, performs a noteworthy position in shaping the area’s general climate patterns and impacting every day life. Understanding typical snowfall quantities, frequency, and related challenges offers helpful context for residents, companies, and guests. Analyzing snowfall knowledge alongside different local weather variables contributes to a complete image of Bellingham’s climate averages.
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Common Annual Snowfall
Bellingham receives a modest common annual snowfall, usually lower than 10 inches. This comparatively low quantity distinguishes the town from different areas in Washington State, significantly these at larger elevations or additional inland. Whereas vital accumulations are rare, snowfall occasions can nonetheless disrupt transportation, impression infrastructure, and affect native ecosystems.
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Seasonal Distribution of Snowfall
Snowfall in Bellingham primarily happens throughout the winter months, usually between December and February. Nonetheless, occasional snow occasions can happen outdoors of this era, although they’re normally short-lived and fewer impactful. The seasonal focus of snowfall necessitates preparedness measures throughout winter, together with snow removing methods and changes to transportation schedules.
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Affect on Infrastructure and Transportation
Even comparatively small quantities of snowfall can create challenges for transportation and infrastructure in Bellingham. Highway situations can turn out to be hazardous, requiring the usage of snow tires or chains. Public transportation schedules might expertise delays or cancellations. Understanding typical snowfall patterns permits for proactive planning and useful resource allocation for snow removing and highway upkeep.
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Snowfall and Native Ecosystems
Snowfall, although restricted, contributes to the hydrological cycle in Bellingham, offering a supply of freshwater throughout the winter months. The insulating impact of snow cowl may defend delicate crops and animals from excessive chilly temperatures. Analyzing snowfall patterns together with different local weather variables offers insights into the advanced interaction between climate and the native ecosystem.
Integrating snowfall knowledge with different local weather metrics enhances the understanding of Bellingham’s climate averages. Recognizing the potential impacts of snowfall, even in a comparatively delicate local weather, permits for proactive planning and adaptation methods, guaranteeing group preparedness and minimizing disruptions to every day life. This complete understanding contributes to a extra nuanced appreciation of the area’s local weather and its affect on the native surroundings.
5. Humidity
Humidity performs a major position in shaping the general local weather expertise of Bellingham, Washington. The town’s proximity to the Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean contributes to constantly elevated humidity ranges all year long. This atmospheric moisture content material influences perceived temperatures, affecting consolation ranges and impacting varied features of every day life, from outside actions to infrastructure upkeep. Excessive humidity can exacerbate warmth situations throughout hotter months, making temperatures really feel hotter than the precise air temperature. Conversely, throughout cooler intervals, excessive humidity can contribute to a moist, chilly sensation. Understanding humidity patterns is essential for decoding Bellingham’s climate averages and anticipating their sensible implications.
The first driver of Bellingham’s excessive humidity is the plentiful moisture supply offered by the encompassing our bodies of water. Evaporation from the Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean introduces vital moisture into the ambiance. This impact is additional amplified by the prevailing westerly winds, which transport moist air inland. Consequently, even in periods with out rainfall, the air stays saturated with water vapor. This persistent humidity influences varied features of the native surroundings, together with fog formation, dew level, and the general notion of temperature. As an illustration, frequent fog occurrences, particularly throughout cooler months, are a direct consequence of excessive humidity ranges. Furthermore, the elevated moisture content material within the air can speed up corrosion and weathering of infrastructure, requiring particular upkeep concerns. Understanding the interaction between humidity and different climatic components offers a extra nuanced understanding of Bellingham’s surroundings.
In abstract, humidity is a key element of Bellingham, Washington’s climate averages. The town’s coastal location and prevailing wind patterns contribute to constantly excessive humidity ranges, influencing perceived temperatures and impacting varied features of every day life and the native surroundings. Integrating humidity knowledge with temperature, precipitation, and different local weather variables offers a complete understanding of the area’s local weather, enabling knowledgeable decision-making for residents, companies, and guests. This understanding helps adaptation methods for managing the results of humidity and guaranteeing group resilience within the face of fixing local weather situations.
6. Wind
Wind patterns contribute considerably to Bellingham, Washington’s climate averages. Located between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, Bellingham experiences a fancy interaction of marine and terrestrial wind influences. Prevailing westerly winds, originating over the Pacific Ocean, transport moist air inland, contributing to the area’s excessive humidity and average temperatures. These winds additionally affect precipitation patterns, bringing frequent rainfall, significantly throughout the fall and winter months. The Cascade Mountains, appearing as a barrier, create a rain shadow impact, decreasing precipitation and rising sunshine east of Bellingham. Channeling results by means of mountain passes may speed up wind speeds, creating localized gusts. Sometimes, easterly winds originating from inland areas carry drier and colder air lots throughout winter, doubtlessly resulting in snowfall or freezing temperatures. Understanding these wind patterns is essential for decoding noticed climate averages and predicting future situations.
Analyzing wind knowledge offers helpful insights into Bellingham’s local weather dynamics. Wind pace and route knowledge, collected over time, reveal prevailing wind patterns and differences due to the season. This info informs varied sectors, from aviation and maritime operations to renewable power planning. For instance, the constant westerly winds make Bellingham an acceptable location for wind power technology. Moreover, understanding wind patterns helps predict the dispersion of air pollution and the motion of wildfire smoke, contributing to public well being and security measures. The affect of wind on native microclimates can also be vital. Areas close to the coast expertise stronger winds and larger publicity to marine air, whereas inland areas are extra sheltered and topic to temperature inversions. Recognizing these microclimate variations is important for city planning and agricultural practices.
In abstract, wind is an integral element of Bellingham, Washington’s climate averages. The advanced interplay of marine and terrestrial wind influences shapes the area’s temperature, precipitation, and humidity patterns. Analyzing wind knowledge offers helpful insights for varied sectors, contributing to knowledgeable decision-making associated to renewable power, air high quality administration, and public security. Integrating wind knowledge with different local weather metrics enhances the understanding of Bellingham’s local weather dynamics and helps the event of efficient adaptation methods for a altering local weather.
7. Seasonal Variations
Differences due to the season are integral to understanding Bellingham, Washington’s climate averages. The town’s local weather experiences distinct shifts all year long, influenced by its geographic location and the interaction of regional climate patterns. Analyzing these seasonal modifications offers essential insights into the world’s general local weather dynamics and their impression on native ecosystems, industries, and every day life.
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Temperature Fluctuations
Temperature experiences vital seasonal shifts in Bellingham. Summers are characterised by delicate temperatures, not often exceeding 80F (27C), whereas winters stay comparatively delicate, with common lows hovering round freezing. This average temperature vary is influenced by the proximity to the Puget Sound, which moderates temperature extremes. These temperature fluctuations drive seasonal modifications in plant progress, animal habits, and human actions, impacting agriculture, tourism, and power consumption.
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Precipitation Patterns
Bellingham’s precipitation reveals distinct seasonal patterns. The wettest months usually happen between October and March, with rainfall contributing considerably to the area’s annual precipitation whole. Summers, conversely, expertise drier situations, though occasional rainfall occasions nonetheless happen. These seasonal precipitation patterns affect water useful resource administration, agricultural practices, and the chance of flooding and landslides.
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Sunshine Period
Sunshine length varies significantly all year long in Bellingham. Summers get pleasure from longer sunlight hours and extra sunshine in comparison with winters, which expertise shorter days and elevated cloud cowl. This seasonal variation in daylight influences plant progress, vitamin D ranges in residents, and the potential for photo voltaic power technology. The lowered daylight throughout winter can impression temper and general well-being, whereas the prolonged sunlight hours in summer time present ample alternative for outside recreation.
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Snowfall Prevalence
Snowfall in Bellingham is primarily a winter phenomenon, usually occurring between December and February. Whereas the town receives comparatively low annual snowfall in comparison with different areas in Washington State, winter snow occasions can nonetheless disrupt transportation, impression infrastructure, and affect native ecosystems. The frequency and depth of snowfall occasions fluctuate from 12 months to 12 months, contributing to the dynamic nature of Bellingham’s winter local weather.
Understanding these differences due to the season is prime to comprehending Bellingham’s climate averages. These cyclical modifications in temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and snowfall form the area’s surroundings, influencing native industries, leisure alternatives, and every day life. Analyzing these patterns offers helpful insights for long-term planning, useful resource administration, and local weather change adaptation methods.
Incessantly Requested Questions on Bellingham, WA Climate
This part addresses frequent inquiries relating to Bellingham, Washington’s local weather, offering concise and informative responses primarily based on obtainable meteorological knowledge.
Query 1: What’s the common annual rainfall in Bellingham, WA?
Bellingham usually receives over 30 inches of rain yearly.
Query 2: How a lot snow does Bellingham usually obtain annually?
Common annual snowfall in Bellingham is mostly lower than 10 inches.
Query 3: What are the warmest and coldest months in Bellingham?
July and August are usually the warmest months, whereas December and January are the coldest.
Query 4: How does Bellingham’s local weather evaluate to different areas in Washington State?
Bellingham experiences milder winters and cooler summers than many areas east of the Cascade Mountains attributable to its coastal location. It additionally receives extra precipitation than japanese Washington.
Query 5: How does the proximity to the Puget Sound have an effect on Bellingham’s climate?
The Puget Sound moderates temperatures, resulting in milder winters and cooler summers. It additionally contributes to larger humidity ranges.
Query 6: Are there microclimates inside Bellingham?
Sure, variations in elevation and proximity to the water create microclimates. Areas nearer to the coast are typically cooler and windier, whereas areas additional inland might expertise hotter temperatures and fewer wind.
Understanding these key features of Bellingham’s climate offers a basis for knowledgeable selections relating to residing, working, or visiting the world.
Additional exploration of particular local weather knowledge and historic tendencies can present a extra complete understanding of Bellingham’s climate patterns.
Suggestions for Using Bellingham, WA Local weather Information
Efficient use of historic climate info allows knowledgeable decision-making relating to varied actions and planning methods in Bellingham, Washington.
Tip 1: Planning Outside Actions: Seek the advice of historic climate knowledge to find out optimum occasions for outside pursuits. Common temperature and precipitation patterns inform applicable clothes decisions and exercise scheduling. For instance, hikers ought to verify common rainfall for his or her meant climbing dates and pack accordingly.
Tip 2: Gardening and Landscaping: Understanding common frost dates and typical rising season lengths permits for efficient backyard planning. Deciding on applicable crops primarily based on Bellingham’s local weather ensures profitable cultivation. Consulting historic daylight knowledge can additional optimize plant placement and progress.
Tip 3: Residence Upkeep and Building: Historic precipitation and temperature knowledge inform selections relating to roofing supplies, insulation, and drainage techniques. Understanding typical wind patterns aids in structural design and tree placement to attenuate storm harm.
Tip 4: Enterprise Operations: Companies, significantly these in tourism, agriculture, or development, profit from understanding seasonal climate variations. Historic knowledge informs staffing selections, stock administration, and operational schedules, maximizing effectivity and minimizing weather-related disruptions.
Tip 5: Occasion Planning: When planning outside occasions, analyzing historic climate knowledge for the particular time of 12 months helps decide applicable venue choice, contingency plans, and crucial tools leases. Consciousness of typical wind and rainfall patterns informs selections relating to tenting, seating preparations, and potential occasion postponement.
Tip 6: Understanding Power Consumption: Historic temperature knowledge facilitates predicting seasonal power wants for heating and cooling. This info aids in budgeting and implementing energy-saving methods. Analyzing historic sunshine knowledge can inform selections relating to photo voltaic panel set up and anticipated power output.
Leveraging historic climate knowledge empowers people and organizations to make knowledgeable selections, optimize useful resource allocation, and improve preparedness for varied climate situations in Bellingham, Washington.
By understanding and making use of these insights, residents and guests can higher adapt to the distinctive traits of Bellingham’s local weather.
Conclusion
Typical climate patterns in Bellingham, Washington, characterised by average temperatures, vital rainfall, and distinct differences due to the season, form the area’s surroundings and affect quite a few human actions. Proximity to the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains creates a novel local weather characterised by delicate winters, cool summers, and comparatively excessive humidity. Annual precipitation, primarily within the type of rainfall, exceeds 30 inches, whereas snowfall stays modest. Sunshine length varies seasonally, with longer days and elevated sunshine throughout summer time months. Wind patterns, influenced by each marine and terrestrial components, contribute to the area’s general climate dynamics. Understanding these climatic components offers important context for knowledgeable decision-making throughout varied sectors, from city planning and agriculture to tourism and infrastructure improvement.
A complete understanding of Bellingham’s climate averages offers a basis for adapting to and mitigating potential local weather change impacts. Continued monitoring and evaluation of climate knowledge will contribute to sophisticated predictive fashions and enhanced group preparedness. This information empowers knowledgeable decision-making relating to useful resource administration, infrastructure improvement, and long-term sustainability efforts. Correct evaluation of Bellingham’s local weather patterns stays essential for navigating future environmental challenges and guaranteeing the area’s continued resilience.
