Vancouver vs Bellingham: which is sunnier?
🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇺🇸 United States · 65 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Bellingham is the sunnier overall: about 2,005 hours of sunshine a year to Vancouver's 1,739. Bellingham has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months; the other 6 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Vancouver | Bellingham | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,739 | 2,005 |
| Sunniest month | July (84/100) | July (85/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 1/100 | 1/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 80/100 | 83/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,285 mm | 1,403 mm |
| Warmest sea | 20°C / 68°F | 18°C / 64°F |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 7 (high) |
Vancouver vs Bellingham month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Bellingham | Vancouver | Bellingham | Vancouver | Bellingham | Vancouver | Bellingham | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 6° | 6° | 194 | 207 | 6° | 8° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 7° | 7° | 103 | 114 | 7° | 8° |
| March | 5 | 10 | 9° | 10° | 142 | 157 | 8° | 9° |
| April | 24 | 30 | 12° | 13° | 87 | 97 | 10° | 10° |
| May | 52 | 64 | 16° | 18° | 60 | 71 | 13° | 12° |
| June | 74 | 80 | 19° | 20° | 46 | 56 | 16° | 15° |
| July | 84 | 85 | 22° | 23° | 26 | 29 | 20° | 18° |
| August | 83 | 84 | 22° | 23° | 33 | 36 | 20° | 18° |
| September | 63 | 76 | 18° | 20° | 71 | 77 | 18° | 16° |
| October | 26 | 31 | 13° | 14° | 140 | 153 | 13° | 12° |
| November | 5 | 5 | 9° | 9° | 206 | 222 | 9° | 10° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 6° | 5° | 177 | 184 | 8° | 9° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Bellingham · Apr Bellingham · May Bellingham · Jun Bellingham · Jul even · Aug even · Sep Bellingham · Oct Bellingham · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Vancouver averages 1/100, Bellingham 1/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 7°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Bellingham (average score 35/100 vs 27). Bellingham is the warmer, around 14°C daytime highs vs 12°C.
- June–August: Bellingham (average score 83/100 vs 80). Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 22°C).
- September–October: Bellingham (average score 54/100 vs 45). Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 17°C).
Sea temperature
Vancouver's sea gets warmer: 20°C / 68°F at its peak vs 18°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Vancouver never, Bellingham never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Vancouver weather by month · Bellingham weather by month · Best time to visit Canada · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Vancouver vs Victoria · Vancouver vs Abbotsford · Vancouver vs Kelowna · Bellingham vs Seattle · Bellingham vs Victoria · Bellingham vs Abbotsford · all head-to-heads