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Climate in Freeland · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Freeland’s winters are milder and less snowy than most of the U.S.

A typical July afternoon reaches 74°, a January night drops to 35°, and snow is almost unheard of.

Milder January nights than 81% of U.S. towns#112Mildest winters  of 266 in WA
Cooler July afternoons than all but 155 U.S. towns#26Coolest summers  of 266 in WA
All WA rankings →

A year in Freeland at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan46°35°
Feb49°35°
Mar53°37° Last frost ~Mar 17
Apr58°41°
May64°46°
Jun68°50°
Jul74°53°
Aug74°54°
Sep69°50°
Oct59°44°
Nov now51°38° First frost ~Nov 11Wettest
Dec45°35°

What stands out about Freeland’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Freeland’s place in Washington beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Freeland feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
47° / 35°
Snow is rare
Spring
58° / 41°
Last frost around Mar 17
Summer
72° / 52°
90° days are rare
Fall
59° / 44°
First frost around Nov 11
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 237 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 17 and the first by November 11. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Coupeville 1 S, WA, 14 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.

32
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
71st fewest of 266 in Washington
Fewer freezing nights than 84% of U.S. towns
0
nights at or below 0°
None in a normal year
<1
days that reach 90°
27th fewest of 266 in Washington
Fewer 90° days than all but 180 U.S. towns
0
days that reach 100°
None in a normal year
8bUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 8b

The 2023 USDA map puts Freeland’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 17°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

8
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 27 inches of rain a year

November is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain falls on about 141 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.6" in a normal year at Port Townsend, WA, so most winters see none.

27"
Rain + melted snow a year
69th driest of 266 in Washington
Drier than 87% of U.S. towns
0.6"
Snow in a normal winter
Less snow than 81% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.0"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Freeland

Nearly all of the work is heating: a normal year has almost no cooling days. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.

5,402 heating degree daysMore heating than 52% of U.S. towns
22 cooling degree daysLess cooling than all but 63 U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Coupeville 1 S, WA.

Living here

Living with Freeland’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

237 frost-free days in zone 8b. The last frost comes by Mar 17 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 11.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September. 5.0 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Freeland from natural hazards, earthquakes are the largest share (44%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 3%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door & far away

Freeland and similar climates

TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Freeland yet.

Climates most like Freeland’s, farther away

TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.

TownJan. lowJuly highPrecip.Snow
Freeland, WA35°74°27"0.6"
Watsonville, CA41°73°22"0.0"
Makawao, HI53°75°23"0.0"
Cedar Mill, OR36°81°39"3.6"
Nantucket, MA26°76°44"25"

Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Freeland averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.4°).

+1.1°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 72% of U.S. towns.

Winter+1.2°now 41°, was 40°
Spring+1.0°now 50°, was 49°
Summer+1.4°now 62°, was 61°
Fall+0.7°now 52°, was 51°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Freeland compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Freeland’s place among Washington’s.

Summer heat74° July high
Cooler July afternoons than all but 155 U.S. towns26th coolest of 266 in Washington
Winter cold35° January low
Milder January nights than 81% of U.S. towns112th mildest of 266 in Washington
Precipitation27" a year
Drier than 87% of U.S. towns69th driest of 266 in Washington
Snow0.6" a winter
Less snow than 81% of U.S. townsNot ranked: under an inch a year
Hot days<1 days at 90°+
Fewer 90° days than all but 180 U.S. towns27th fewest of 266 in Washington
Freezing nights32 a year
Fewer freezing nights than 84% of U.S. towns71st fewest of 266 in Washington
Growing season237 frost-free days
A longer frost-free season than 87% of U.S. towns68th longest of 266 in Washington
Month by month

Freeland weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Freeland’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Port Townsend, WA. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January46°35°3.3"0.0"16036° – 45°
February49°35°2.5"0.2"12034° – 47°
March53°37°2.8"0.0"15041° – 49°
April58°41°2.1"0.0"13045° – 54°
May64°46°1.7"0.0"11051° – 58°
June68°50°1.4"0.0"9056° – 63°
July74°53°0.8"0.0"6061° – 67°
August74°54°0.8"0.0"6060° – 66°
September69°50°1.4"0.0"7057° – 62°
October59°44°2.7"0.0"13048° – 56°
November51°38°4.0"0.0"17041° – 49°
December45°35°3.6"0.4"16036° – 43°
Year59°43°27.1"0.6"1411
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 34° to 47°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Freeland’s numbers come from

Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →

  • Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Freeland’s center.
  • Snow: Port Townsend, WA.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Coupeville 1 S, WA, 14 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
  • Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  • Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
  • Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).

Common questions about Freeland’s climate

What is the weather like in Freeland?

A typical July afternoon reaches 74°, a January night drops to 35°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 81% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than all but 155 U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Freeland in winter?

December nights average 35°. About 32 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 36°.

How much snow does Freeland get?

About 0.6 inches in a normal winter at Port Townsend, WA, so most winters see none.

How hot does it get in Freeland?

July, with a typical high of 74°. 90° days are rare: none in a normal year at Coupeville 1 S, WA.

When is the first and last frost in Freeland?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 17 and the first fall frost by November 11, about 237 frost-free days, at Coupeville 1 S, WA.

What growing zone is Freeland in?

Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 17°.

What is the best time of year to visit Freeland?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Freeland getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.1° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 72% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Freeland.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.