Cle Elum, WA

Full City Profile · Washington · Kittitas County County

2.5 /5.0
C+ Fair
2,078 Population 463/sq mi density
$56,912 Median Income $39,050 per capita
$379,300 Home Value $608,590 Zillow
$1,075 Median Rent 24.3% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature
126 Violent Crime/100K 1,701 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$56,912 median income, 0.6% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.9 / 5.0
$379,300 home value, $1,075/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
126 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Cle Elum experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 24.7 inches. The area receives 80.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 23.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average46.5°F
14% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)

Geography

Elevation2,015 ft (614 m)
Area0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Population Density463/sq mi
Coordinates47.1946°N, 120.9528°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKittitas County County
Nearest AirportSeattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
66 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 24.7"
35% below US avg
Snowfall 80.2"
Wettest Month (Nov) 4.07"
Driest Month (Aug) 0.47"

Air Quality

AQI Median23.0
RatingGood
Good Days %87.4%
Unhealthy Days0

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)6.5 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score89.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability40.2 / 100
Community Resilience64.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

1,361 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.8. Most recent: M2.9 on Aug 2, 2025.

Feb 28, 2001 7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington M6.8 134 km
May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 94 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 109 km
Jun 23, 1997 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington M4.9 130 km
Jan 30, 2009 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington M4.7 139 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 110 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 53 km
Feb 14, 2011 31 km S of Morton, Washington M4.3 140 km
Jul 22, 2001 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington M4.3 132 km
Jun 27, 2013 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington M4.3 73 km
Jun 17, 2010 30 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.2 122 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 16 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 83 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 70 km
Oct 9, 1998 20 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.0 112 km
Aug 8, 2023 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.9 77 km
Sep 10, 1994 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington M3.9 77 km
Oct 1, 2004 37 km NNE of Amboy, Washington M3.9 146 km
Jun 25, 2004 17 km W of Packwood, Washington M3.9 95 km
Jun 27, 1997 3 km SW of Bainbridge Island, Washington M3.9 128 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

13 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 30, 1957 EF2 75 km 0
Sep 6, 2009 EF1 90 km 0
Jun 27, 2001 EF1 93 km 0
May 1, 2024 EF0 69 km 0
Apr 7, 2008 EF0 77 km 0
Jun 16, 2006 EF0 95 km 0
May 9, 2005 EF0 73 km 0
May 19, 2004 EF0 57 km 0
May 15, 2000 EF0 99 km 0
May 9, 1999 EF0 64 km 0
Aug 26, 1997 EF0 92 km 0
Jul 4, 1992 EF0 82 km 0
Aug 18, 1964 EF0 93 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 250.0 m (820 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1980 WASHINGTON Explosion 250.0 m 61 145 km
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 113 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m - 120 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Eruption + Earthquake - 8 126 km
1820 CAMANO ISLAND, WA Meteorological - - 143 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

7 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rainier (72 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 72 km
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 103 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 117 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 145 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 156 km
West Crater Volcanic field 1,329 m (4,360 ft) -5750 170 km
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 187 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: TYEE CREEK (123,618 ac, 1994).

Year Name Acres Distance
1994 TYEE CREEK 123,618 82 km
2021 SCHNEIDER SPRINGS 114,743 41 km
2013 COLOCKUM TARPS 79,279 62 km
2020 EVANS CANYON 76,288 47 km
1996 COLD CREEK 72,859 89 km
2018 BOYLSTON 66,292 75 km
2012 TABLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX 65,887 34 km
2017 NORSE PEAK 51,017 41 km
2024 RETREAT 44,681 55 km
2018 COUGAR CREEK 42,681 78 km
2017 JOLLY MOUNTAIN 38,159 16 km
2004 POT PEAK-SISI RIDGE COMPLEX 37,603 98 km
1988 DINKELMAN 36,246 66 km
2003 UMTANUM RIDGE 34,351 88 km
2017 SUTHERLAND CANYON 29,492 80 km
2022 VANTAGE HIGHWAY 29,299 68 km
1994 HATCHERY COMPLEX (RAT) 27,265 42 km
2017 400 27,218 92 km
2012 TAYLOR BRIDGE 23,987 21 km
2021 TWENTYFIVE MILE 23,379 96 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 3.4 in
February 32°F (0°C) 2.5 in
March 38°F (4°C) 2.7 in
April 45°F (7°C) 1.4 in
May 53°F (12°C) 1.6 in
June 59°F (15°C) 1.1 in
July 67°F (19°C) 0.5 in Warmest
August 66°F (19°C) 0.5 in Driest
September 58°F (14°C) 0.9 in
October 46°F (8°C) 2.4 in
November 35°F (2°C) 4.1 in Wettest
December 28°F (-2°C) 3.5 in Coldest

Cle Elum has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 28°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.7 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.1") and August the driest (0.5").

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