Frost dates for Bellingham Intl Airport, WA
At Bellingham Intl Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 31 and the median first fall frost is Oct 30, for a typical growing season of 211 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 18. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- Mar 31Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 18Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 30First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 211 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Apr 25 | May 12 |
| 32°F | Mar 10 | Mar 31 | Apr 18 |
| 28°F | Feb 9 | Mar 4 | Mar 25 |
| 24°F | Jan 3 | Feb 10 | Mar 4 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F | Oct 12 | Oct 30 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F | Oct 27 | Nov 16 | Dec 8 |
| 24°F | Nov 10 | Dec 3 | Jan 4 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 150 days | 172 days | 196 days |
| 32°F | 187 days | 211 days | 240 days |
| 28°F | 229 days | 255 days | 290 days |
| 24°F | 266 days | 303 days | 345 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 98% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98226 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 98248 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 10 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00024217, at 48.7939, -122.5372, elevation 45 m (149 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 59.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Bellingham 3 SSW (9 km)
- Clearbrook (25 km)
- Blaine (28 km)
- Olga 2 SE (28 km)
- Anacortes (32 km)
- Sedro-Woolley (40 km)
- Mount Vernon 3 WNW (41 km)
- Friday Harbor Airport (47 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.