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Elma, WA

Full City Profile · Washington · Grays Harbor County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
3,452 Population 1,251/sq mi density
$66,194 Median Income $30,412 per capita
$379,200 Home Value $360,464 Zillow
$987 Median Rent 30.4% income on rent
52°F Avg Temperature 226 sunny days/yr
299 Violent Crime/100K 4,084 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$66,194 median income, 3.0% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.4 / 5.0
$379,200 home value, $987/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
299 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.5 / 5.0
18.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Elma experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 226 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 72.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 28.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 65°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average52.3°F
3% below US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average65°F (18°C)
Sunny Days226 days/yr

Geography

Elevation55 ft (17 m)
Area1.0 sq mi (2.6 km²)
Population Density1,251/sq mi
Coordinates47.0052°N, 123.4108°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyGrays Harbor County County
Nearest AirportOlympia Regional (OLM)
24 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 72.0"
90% above US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 12.05"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.38"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score97.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability67.2 / 100
Community Resilience62.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Very Low
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Coastal Flood Very High
Tsunami Very High
Volcano No Rating
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1,297 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Aug 10, 2025.

Feb 28, 2001 7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington M6.8 54 km
Jul 3, 1999 8 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.8 9 km
May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 143 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 90 km
Jun 10, 2001 18 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.0 19 km
Jun 23, 1997 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington M4.9 92 km
Apr 25, 2003 26 km W of Brinnon, Washington M4.8 75 km
Jan 30, 2009 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington M4.7 107 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 143 km
Feb 14, 2011 31 km S of Morton, Washington M4.3 122 km
Jul 22, 2001 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington M4.3 56 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 113 km
Feb 23, 2017 11 km NE of Hoodsport, Washington M4.1 60 km
Jun 15, 1994 1 km WNW of Hoodsport, Washington M4.0 49 km
Jul 1, 2009 4 km SE of Coupeville, Washington M4.0 144 km
Aug 8, 2023 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.9 140 km
Sep 10, 1994 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington M3.9 111 km
Jun 27, 1997 3 km SW of Bainbridge Island, Washington M3.9 93 km
Jun 25, 2004 17 km W of Packwood, Washington M3.9 123 km
Oct 1, 2004 37 km NNE of Amboy, Washington M3.9 129 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Dec 12, 1969 EF3 94 km 0
Dec 18, 2018 EF2 81 km 0
Nov 10, 1965 EF2 52 km 0
Oct 10, 2020 EF1 57 km 0
Oct 18, 2019 EF1 46 km 0
Jan 18, 2015 EF1 72 km 0
Sep 30, 2013 EF1 80 km 0
Sep 6, 2009 EF1 98 km 0
May 27, 2004 EF1 41 km 0
Jun 27, 2001 EF1 95 km 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 77 km 0
Mar 28, 1985 EF1 100 km 0
Jun 12, 1978 EF1 80 km 0
Dec 22, 1971 EF1 93 km 0
Mar 19, 2021 EF0 89 km 0
Apr 27, 2014 EF0 89 km 0
May 27, 2011 EF0 62 km 0
Oct 25, 2010 EF0 78 km 0
Jan 28, 2006 EF0 52 km 0
Oct 15, 2003 EF0 62 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

6 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 61 130 km
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 79 km
1891 WASHINGTON Eruption + Earthquake 2.4 m — 111 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m — 74 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Eruption + Earthquake — 8 63 km
1820 CAMANO ISLAND, WA Meteorological — — 141 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rainier (127 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 127 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 130 km
West Crater Volcanic field 1,329 m (4,360 ft) -5750 161 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 171 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 172 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

7 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: DELABARRE (4,176 ac, 2023).

Year Name Acres Distance
2023 DELABARRE 4,176 86 km
2018 MAPLE 3,547 67 km
2015 PARADISE 2,818 83 km
2016 HAYES TWO 2,679 89 km
2011 BIG HUMP 1,400 80 km
1985 BEAVER 1,107 60 km
2006 BEAR GULCH II 1,037 56 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 11.5 in
February 42°F (6°C) 9.1 in
March 45°F (7°C) 8.2 in
April 48°F (9°C) 5.2 in
May 53°F (12°C) 3.2 in
June 57°F (14°C) 2.3 in
July 65°F (18°C) 1.4 in Warmest, Driest
August 62°F (17°C) 1.7 in
September 58°F (15°C) 3.3 in
October 51°F (11°C) 6.6 in
November 44°F (7°C) 11.0 in
December 40°F (4°C) 12.1 in Coldest, Wettest

Elma has a seasonal temperature swing of 25°F / from 40°F in December to 65°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 75.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (12.1") and July the driest (1.4").

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