Balfour, BC

Full City Profile · British Columbia

493 Population 1/sq mi density
40°F Avg Temperature
Balfour has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (4°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 59°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.4 inches. The area receives 19.5 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

23°F Jan (-5°C) 59°F Jul (15°C)
Annual Average40.3°F
25% below US avg
January Average23°F (-5°C)
July Average59°F (15°C)

Geography

Elevation1,742 ft (531 m)
Area623.6 sq mi (1,615.1 km²)
Population Density1/sq mi
Coordinates49.6166°N, 116.9689°W
TimezoneAmerica/Vancouver

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 36.4"
4% below US avg
Snowfall 19.5"
Wettest Month (Nov) 4.69"
Driest Month (Aug) 2.01"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

26 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.9. Most recent: M2.7 on Sep 30, 2024.

Feb 5, 2023 British Columbia, Canada M3.9 53 km
Mar 3, 1998 16 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada M3.8 112 km
Aug 20, 1990 23 km NW of Nelson, Canada M3.3 42 km
Oct 27, 1991 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada M3.3 48 km
Mar 3, 1998 15 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada M3.2 111 km
Feb 15, 2020 37 km ESE of Nelson, Canada M3.2 29 km
Aug 29, 1997 12 km N of Troy, Montana M3.1 140 km
Mar 19, 1998 31 km SSW of Nakusp, Canada M3.0 78 km
Oct 23, 1991 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada M3.0 48 km
Apr 10, 2011 16 km SE of Invermere, Canada M2.9 121 km
Jan 23, 2015 31 km N of Nelson, Canada M2.8 29 km
May 1, 2003 14 km NE of Kootenai, Idaho M2.8 142 km
Sep 26, 2004 32 km ENE of Nelson, Canada M2.8 6 km
Feb 10, 2016 29 km NNW of Kimberley, Canada M2.8 72 km
Feb 24, 2016 26 km NNW of Kimberley, Canada M2.8 68 km
Sep 4, 1999 10 km N of Castlegar, Canada M2.7 54 km
May 6, 1995 35 km NNW of Creston, Canada M2.7 32 km
May 15, 2004 4 km NNW of Grand Forks, Canada M2.7 124 km
Sep 30, 2024 19 km NNE of Kootenai, Idaho M2.7 131 km
Aug 23, 1990 30 km ESE of Ellison, Canada M2.7 146 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tsunami History

6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 19.8 m (65 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1952 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 19.8 m - 145 km
2024 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 14.3 m - 144 km
1944 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.1 m - 145 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 4.8 m - 145 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological - - 145 km
1952 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological - - 145 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

10 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: RUSSELL MOUNTAIN (26,130 ac, 2022).

Year Name Acres Distance
2022 RUSSELL MOUNTAIN 26,130 94 km
2017 NOISY CREEK 5,452 92 km
2015 PARKER RIDGE 4,773 84 km
2017 NORTH FORK HUGHES 4,628 80 km
2006 HUGHES 32 COMPLEX 4,536 83 km
2003 BLACK CANYON 2,403 97 km
2022 THOR 2,099 90 km
1988 UNNAMED 1,909 94 km
2022 SLATE CREEK 1,263 77 km
2018 SMITH CREEK 1,114 93 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 23°F (-5°C) 4.4 in Coldest
February 27°F (-3°C) 3.0 in
March 32°F (-0°C) 3.0 in
April 39°F (4°C) 2.4 in
May 47°F (8°C) 2.6 in
June 53°F (12°C) 3.0 in
July 59°F (15°C) 2.1 in
August 60°F (15°C) 2.0 in Warmest, Driest
September 51°F (11°C) 2.0 in
October 41°F (5°C) 2.8 in
November 30°F (-1°C) 4.7 in Wettest
December 23°F (-5°C) 4.5 in

Balfour has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 23°F in January to 60°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 36.4 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.7") and August the driest (2.0").

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