Blaine Live Cam

Blaine is the northwest cornerstone of Washington State. Our northern city limit borders on Canada, and our homes and businesses overlook Puget Sound on the Pacific Ocean. We are centrally located between the Cascade Mountains and San Juan and Gulf Islands, where recreational opportunities abound. Skiing, hiking, boating, and ferry services to the islands and Alaska all just minutes away. Blaine is an ideal place to visit while exploring this beautiful corner of the world. It's small town aura, seaside parks, marina, and excellent school system make it a wonderful place to live and work.

What are schools like in Blaine? The Blaine School District is recognized nationally for excellence in education. We have state of the art facilities, including a brand new performing arts center and athletics complex. Whatcom Community College has a branch in Blaine. Western Washington University, City University, and several colleges and universities near Vancouver, B.C., are within an easy commute.

Geography of Blaine, Washington

Blaine is located in the northwest corner of Washington State on the border of British Columbia, Canada. Its close proximity to Puget Sound waterways, the Alaska ferry, Mt. Baker, the Gulf Islands, ski and recreation areas make it a wonderful place to stay or visit. It is on Interstate-5, 108 miles north of Seattle and 35 miles south of Vancouver, B.C. It is on a major bike route as well.

The city is a 5.5 square mile area, mostly flat and near sea level except for the hilly Semiahmoo area. It has the unique characteristic of being split by the waterway leading into Drayton Harbor and the phenomenal distinction of having approximately 8.7 miles of shoreline on Puget Sound.

The city is a blend of homes from the late 1800's to the recent luxury homes of Semiahmoo with its Arnold Palmer designed golf course.

Average housing costs vary from $100,000 in central Blaine to $350,000 plus in the Semiahmoo area. Rental units within central Blaine average $500 to $800 per month.

The harbor and marina are filled with an interesting mix of the fishing fleet and numerous pleasure crafts of all sizes. Drayton Harbor is well-protected and provides safe year-round boat moorage.

Blaine is located in the northwest corner of Whatcom County (population 145,000) directly south of the Vancouver, B.C. metropolitan area (population 2,000,000). Canada lies on the northern city limit of Blaine, while the western edge of the city limit is in Puget Sound. While Blaine's full-time population is approximately 3,500, the combination of Interstate Five and two of the busiest Customs Ports of Entry on the Canadian border brings an average daily population of 75,000 visitors each day through the community for shopping, eating and traveling. This provides the unusual convenience, for small city residents, of being able to shop 24 hours a day for groceries and gasoline. A new shopping center, within walking distance of the airport, also provides a wide array of shops not usually available in small communities.

Climate

The circulating air flow created by the Georgia Straits and the nearby Cascade Mountains provide a sunnier than average climate.

Based on daily readings taken in Blaine, mean high temperature in '94 was 60 degrees, mean low was 46 degrees. Average annual precipitation over the past 10 years is 36 inches. In 1994 it was 32.3 inches.

Compare this with 30 year averages for Houston, TX, mean high 78.6, mean low 57.3, precipitation average of 46.07"; Portland, ME mean high 45.4, mean low 35.8, precipitation average of 44.34"; or Denver, CO mean high of 64.2, mean low 36.2 and average precipitation of 15.40".