Bellingham, WA: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Bellingham
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:00 am and sets at 4:16 pm: 8h 16m of daylight, a dark winter. The longest day of summer has 16h 10m, so the swing is 7h 54m.
When it gets better in Bellingham
- Earliest sunset: 4:13 pm on Dec 11, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:03 am on Dec 31.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 12.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 3.5 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 118 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 75. 74 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 48.8°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.
What to do about it in Bellingham
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 83 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 25 to Mar 26, so set it up before Sep 25.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 74 weekdays start and end in the dark. Use it in the morning, and if winter low mood is the reason, ask a doctor before you rely on one.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Feb 12: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Bellingham, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 8h 16m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:30 am | 9:02 pm | 15h 32m |
| August 2026 | 6:12 am | 8:13 pm | 14h 02m |
| September 2026 | 6:55 am | 7:09 pm | 12h 14m |
| October 2026 | 7:40 am | 6:08 pm | 10h 29m |
| November 2026 | 7:28 am | 4:23 pm | 8h 55m |
| December 2026 | 8:00 am | 4:16 pm | 8h 16m |
| January 2027 | 7:53 am | 4:50 pm | 8h 58m |
| February 2027 | 7:07 am | 5:41 pm | 10h 34m |
| March 2027 | 7:11 am | 7:24 pm | 12h 14m |
| April 2027 | 6:08 am | 8:10 pm | 14h 03m |
| May 2027 | 5:21 am | 8:52 pm | 15h 31m |
| June 2027 | 5:07 am | 9:17 pm | 16h 10m |
Bellingham against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Bellingham (8h 16m, sunset 4:16 pm):
- Ferndale, WA, 9 mi away: 8h 15m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:16 pm (0 min).
- Lynden, WA, 14 mi away: 8h 14m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:15 pm (-1 min).
- Anacortes, WA, 20 mi away: 8h 18m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:18 pm (+2 min).
- Sedro-Woolley, WA, 20 mi away: 8h 18m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:16 pm (0 min).
- Burlington, WA, 21 mi away: 8h 18m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 4:17 pm (+1 min).