Arlington, WA climate
Arlington has mild winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 75°, a January night drops to 36°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Arlington feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Arlington weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 36° | 7.4" | 0.6" | 20 | 2 | 35° – 45° |
| February | 49° | 35° | 5.2" | 0.2" | 17 | 0 | 34° – 47° |
| March | 54° | 38° | 5.8" | 0.4" | 20 | 0 | 41° – 50° |
| April | 59° | 41° | 4.7" | 0 | 17 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| May | 65° | 46° | 3.5" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 52° – 60° |
| June | 69° | 51° | 2.8" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 57° – 64° |
| July | 75° | 54° | 1.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 61° – 68° |
| August | 76° | 54° | 1.5" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 60° – 67° |
| September | 70° | 50° | 3.0" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 57° – 63° |
| October | 59° | 44° | 5.7" | 0.1" | 18 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| November | 50° | 38° | 8.4" | 0.7" | 21 | 1 | 40° – 49° |
| December | 45° | 35° | 7.0" | 3.7" | 21 | 1 | 36° – 43° |
| Year | 60° | 43° | 56.3" | 5.7" | 186 | 4 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Arlington
Arlington gets 56 inches of rain and melted snow a year. November is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 186 days a year.
About 223 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 24 and the first one by November 2. That leaves about 223 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 83% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Arlington
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Arlington, 97% of that work is heating and 3% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Arlington and its neighbors
Arlington borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.3°. Sisco Heights has the coldest January nights (35°) and Marysville the hottest July afternoons (75°). Arlington’s January low is 36° and its July high 75°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Arlington compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Arlington averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.9°). The shift is smaller than in 61% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Arlington’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 34° to 47°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Arlington’s climate
What is the coldest month in Arlington?
December, with a typical high of 45° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in Arlington?
August, with a typical high of 76° and a low of 54°.
How much snow does Arlington get?
About 6 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Arlington?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 2, and the last spring frost by March 24.
What is the rainiest month in Arlington?
November, with 8.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 56 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Arlington itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Sedro-woolley, WA (23 mi, snow) and Everett, WA (14 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.