Cheney, WA

Full City Profile · Washington · Spokane County County

2.4 /5.0
C Fair
12,830 Population 2,956/sq mi density
$47,039 Median Income $26,001 per capita
$330,300 Home Value $418,750 Zillow
$1,075 Median Rent 39.1% income on rent
45°F Avg Temperature
355 Violent Crime/100K 1,686 property/100K
C
Overall
2.4 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.0 / 5.0
$47,039 median income, 12.7% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.7 / 5.0
$330,300 home value, $1,075/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
355 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.9 / 5.0
36.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Cheney has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 18.3 inches. The area receives 45.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average45.0°F
17% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average64°F (18°C)

Geography

Elevation2,425 ft (739 m)
Area1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
Population Density2,956/sq mi
Coordinates47.4911°N, 117.5815°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountySpokane County County
Nearest AirportSpokane International (GEG)
9 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.3"
52% below US avg
Snowfall 45.4"
Wettest Month (Dec) 2.59"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.33"

Air Quality

AQI Median38.0
RatingGood
Good Days %76.5%
Unhealthy Days1

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0465 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability21.0 / 100
Community Resilience75.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very High
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Avalanche Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

99 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.5 on Feb 13, 2025.

Sep 1, 2015 15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington M4.2 140 km
Aug 17, 1994 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M4.1 136 km
Nov 11, 2001 3 km NE of Spokane, Washington M4.0 26 km
Jun 25, 2001 Washington M3.9 25 km
Apr 24, 2015 8 km WSW of Hope, Idaho M3.9 119 km
Jun 28, 1998 3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho M3.8 119 km
Apr 24, 2015 12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho M3.7 116 km
Mar 14, 1997 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 135 km
May 30, 1996 3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 133 km
Jan 20, 2000 21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho M3.5 103 km
Jun 25, 2001 2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington M3.4 27 km
Jan 13, 1994 11 km SW of Lind, Washington M3.4 108 km
Nov 2, 1996 4 km W of Trout Creek, Montana M3.4 149 km
Mar 8, 1994 32 km S of Wallace, Idaho M3.4 129 km
Jun 17, 2004 11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington M3.4 104 km
Jun 28, 1997 3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.4 133 km
May 11, 2001 4 km NNW of Moses Lake North, Washington M3.3 136 km
Apr 24, 2015 7 km SW of Hope, Idaho M3.3 120 km
Feb 11, 2025 2 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.3 133 km
May 10, 2000 Idaho-Montana border region M3.3 135 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

36 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 1 injury.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972 EF3 76 km 0
May 31, 1997 EF2 86 km 0
Apr 9, 1991 EF2 92 km 0
Jul 17, 1978 EF2 84 km 0
Aug 30, 1971 EF2 66 km 0
May 6, 1957 EF2 29 km 0
Jun 15, 1954 EF2 17 km 0
May 6, 2009 EF1 52 km 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 40 km 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 85 km 0
Apr 12, 1984 EF1 37 km 0
Oct 17, 1983 EF1 3 km 0
Jun 22, 1981 EF1 52 km 0
May 2, 1973 EF1 95 km 0
Jun 29, 1970 EF1 36 km 0
Apr 18, 2024 EF0 19 km 0
Mar 26, 2024 EF0 52 km 0
Jul 10, 2023 EF0 93 km 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 25 km 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 19 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

9 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 - 127 km
1949 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 19.8 m - 69 km
2024 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 14.3 m - 127 km
1944 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.1 m - 127 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.0 m - 49 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 4.8 m - 127 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 3.6 m - 62 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological - - 127 km
1952 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological - - 127 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: WHITNEY (127,930 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 WHITNEY 127,930 75 km
2015 CARPENTER RD. 62,488 73 km
2019 WILLIAMS FLATS 44,680 87 km
2012 APACHE PASS 25,101 75 km
1996 LINCOLN 19,376 85 km
2008 SWANSON LAKE 18,941 66 km
2021 FORD CORKSCREW 16,179 50 km
1991 UNNAMED 12,401 37 km
2020 KEWA FIELD 11,811 94 km
2023 OREGON 10,957 63 km
2003 RATTLESNAKE CANYON 10,655 75 km
2023 GRAY 10,096 8 km
2016 CAYUSE MTN 9,744 52 km
2014 WATERMELON HILL 9,321 23 km
2022 WAGNER ROAD 8,155 52 km
2003 HATTEN ROAD 7,247 73 km
2016 SPOKANE COMPLEX 6,839 22 km
1991 UNNAMED 6,024 67 km
2022 RIPARIA 5,631 97 km
2005 WALL LAKE 5,373 64 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 2.2 in
February 31°F (-1°C) 1.7 in
March 38°F (3°C) 2.1 in
April 44°F (7°C) 1.5 in
May 52°F (11°C) 1.7 in
June 57°F (14°C) 1.3 in
July 64°F (18°C) 0.3 in Warmest, Driest
August 63°F (17°C) 0.4 in
September 55°F (13°C) 0.5 in
October 44°F (7°C) 1.6 in
November 34°F (1°C) 2.4 in
December 28°F (-2°C) 2.6 in Coldest, Wettest

Cheney has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 28°F in December to 64°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 18.3 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.6") and July the driest (0.3").

View full weather details →