Methow, WA

Full City Profile · Washington · Douglas County County

2.1 /5.0
C Fair
91 Population 134/sq mi density
$39,219 Median Income $24,568 per capita
50°F Avg Temperature
C
Overall
2.1 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.6 / 5.0
$39,219 median income, 20.8% unemployment
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Methow experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 10.8 inches. The area receives 27.9 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

27°F Jan (-3°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average50.0°F
7% below US avg
January Average27°F (-3°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation1,155 ft (352 m)
Area0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Population Density134/sq mi
Coordinates48.1311°N, 120.0052°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyDouglas County County
Nearest AirportGrant County International (MWH)
71 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 10.8"
72% below US avg
Snowfall 27.9"
Wettest Month (Dec) 2.01"
Driest Month (Aug) 0.22"

Air Quality

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score74.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability62.5 / 100
Community Resilience19.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

332 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.4. Most recent: M2.6 on Aug 10, 2025.

May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 145 km
Jun 24, 1997 16 km WNW of Malott, Washington M4.6 27 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 110 km
Jun 27, 2013 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington M4.3 61 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 113 km
Sep 1, 2015 15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington M4.2 76 km
Aug 8, 2023 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.9 144 km
Sep 10, 2016 23 km E of Oliver, Canada M3.9 132 km
Apr 15, 1991 4 km SE of Pateros, Washington M3.9 16 km
Sep 12, 2015 3 km NE of North Bend, Washington M3.9 147 km
Mar 29, 2010 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington M3.8 144 km
Jan 26, 1992 9 km SSE of Okanagan Falls, Canada M3.7 131 km
Jul 4, 1997 8 km NNE of Waterville, Washington M3.7 46 km
Jun 24, 1997 16 km NW of Malott, Washington M3.6 29 km
Mar 8, 1990 2 km WSW of Swede Heaven, Washington M3.6 131 km
Jan 20, 2025 9 km NE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.5 143 km
Mar 6, 2005 8 km ENE of Lake Roesiger, Washington M3.5 136 km
Dec 24, 2000 8 km NNW of Entiat, Washington M3.5 47 km
May 3, 1996 8 km S of Sultan, Washington M3.5 141 km
Jan 7, 1993 17 km SW of Skykomish, Washington M3.4 127 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972 EF2 83 km 0
Jul 21, 1997 EF1 76 km 0
Jul 21, 1997 EF1 76 km 0
May 30, 1987 EF1 17 km 0
May 3, 1982 EF1 50 km 0
Aug 15, 1978 EF1 92 km 0
Jul 22, 2016 EF0 59 km 0
May 19, 2004 EF0 81 km 0
Aug 26, 1997 EF0 48 km 0
Jul 4, 1992 EF0 56 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

8 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 - 146 km
1949 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 19.8 m - 127 km
2024 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 14.3 m - 146 km
1944 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.1 m - 146 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 4.8 m - 146 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 3.6 m - 140 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological - - 146 km
1952 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological - - 146 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (82 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 82 km
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 151 km
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 194 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CARLTON COMPLEX (276,249 ac, 2014).

Year Name Acres Distance
2014 CARLTON COMPLEX 276,249 13 km
2015 NORTH STAR 218,547 85 km
2020 PEARL HILL 217,720 42 km
2020 COLD SPRINGS 187,561 37 km
2015 TUNK BLOCK 180,111 63 km
2015 LIMEBELT 137,098 48 km
1994 TYEE CREEK 123,618 45 km
2017 DIAMOND CREEK 117,527 94 km
2006 TRIPOD COMPLEX (SPUR PEAK) 115,123 79 km
2012 BARKER CANYON COMPLEX 85,906 61 km
2003 FAWN PEAK COMPLEX (FAREWELL) 77,444 79 km
2018 GRASS VALLEY 76,074 66 km
2021 CUB CREEK 2 74,601 61 km
2015 WOLVERINE 66,329 48 km
2015 BLACK CANYON 61,379 18 km
2021 WHITMORE 59,925 57 km
2006 TRIPOD COMPLEX (TRIPOD) 59,712 45 km
2021 CEDAR CREEK 58,591 52 km
2001 REX CREEK COMPLEX (REX CREEK) 54,456 34 km
2018 CRESCENT MOUNTAIN 53,258 43 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 27°F (-3°C) 1.4 in
February 32°F (0°C) 1.0 in
March 42°F (6°C) 1.1 in
April 51°F (11°C) 0.6 in
May 60°F (15°C) 0.9 in
June 66°F (19°C) 0.8 in
July 73°F (23°C) 0.5 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 0.2 in Driest
September 63°F (17°C) 0.4 in
October 50°F (10°C) 0.8 in
November 37°F (3°C) 1.2 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 2.0 in Coldest, Wettest

Methow has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 27°F in December to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.8 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.0") and August the driest (0.2").

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