Your nature year
Bellingham, Washingtonthrough the year
Also for Mount Vernon, WA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Bellingham?
Expect about 215 frost-free days in Bellingham: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 1, the first fall one around Nov 2, going by NOAA's Bellingham 3 SSW station 3.2 miles away. At roughly 64 feet, Bellingham is about as low as towns get. Leaves usually come out around Feb 26 and the first flowers around Apr 18. Spring takes about 7 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Head southwest for the closest of the 6 places we follow around Bellingham. Sequim, 55 miles from Bellingham, is the nearest lavender spot on this site, Jul 1–Aug 10 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Mountain Loop Highway (56 mi, usually well under way by late October (statewide)). Statewide, Washington's fall color is usually well under way by late October.
Updated Sep 28. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Best this weekend nearby
- Washington Pass · 85 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Sep 21–Oct 10
Sat Oct 3: Mostly Sunny, 57°F · Sun Oct 4: Mostly Sunny, 58°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Bellingham's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 1 to ~Nov 2
- First leaf ~Feb 26
- First bloom ~Apr 18
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (WA)
- Today
Near Bellingham right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in WashingtonStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 2 · last spring frost around Apr 1NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bellingham 3 SSW (3.2 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Washington Pass · 85 mi · usually Sep 21–Oct 10Fall foliage · in its window now
- Mount Rainier · 140 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Cherry blossoms · Seattle · 77 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Bellingham's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Cherry blossoms · SeattleMar–Apr
- Last spring frostApr
- Lavender · SequimJul–Aug
- Wildflowers · Mountain Loop HighwayJul–Aug
- Fall color (WA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Seattle · 77 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Fall foliage
- Mountain Loop Highway · 56 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Washington Pass · 85 miusually Sep 21–Oct 10
- Mount Rainier · 140 miLocal timing: Sep 1–30
Wildflowers
- Mountain Loop Highway · 56 miLocal timing: Jul 1–Aug 31~9 months
- North Cascades · 67 miLocal timing: Feb 21–Sep 10~5 months
- Mount Rainier · 140 miusually Jul 21–Aug 10~10 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 1
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 2
About 215 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 26
First bloom around Apr 18
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Bellingham 3 SSW (3.2 mi from Bellingham), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Bellingham?
On average around Nov 2, and the last spring frost around Apr 1: about 215 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Bellingham 3 SSW, 3.2 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Bellingham?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 26 and first bloom around Apr 18, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Bellingham?
Seattle, 77 miles (local timing: Mar 21–Apr 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Bellingham?
Mountain Loop Highway, 56 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Washington Pass, 85 miles (usually Sep 21–Oct 10); Mount Rainier, 140 miles (local timing: Sep 1–30). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)