Ōtsuchi, Japan

Full City Profile

10,719 Population 139/sq mi density
16 ft Elevation 5 meters
50°F Avg Temperature 10°C
Ōtsuchi experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 54.7 inches. The area receives 4.1 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

31°F Jan (-1°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average49.8°F
8% below US avg
January Average31°F (-1°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)

Geography

Elevation16 ft (5 m)
Area77.4 sq mi (200.4 km²)
Population Density139/sq mi
Coordinates39.3667°N, 141.9000°E
TimezoneAsia/Tokyo

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 54.7"
44% above US avg
Snowfall 4.1"
Wettest Month (Sep) 8.23"
Driest Month (Jan) 1.85"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

2,900 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M9.1. Most recent: M4.7 on Aug 30, 2025.

Mar 11, 2011 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan M9.1 126 km
Mar 9, 2011 120 km SE of ?funato, Japan M7.3 132 km
Apr 7, 2011 29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan M7.1 124 km
Jan 6, 1995 63 km ESE of Hachinohe, Japan M7.0 101 km
May 26, 2003 27 km SSW of ?funato, Japan M7.0 64 km
Mar 20, 2021 30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan M7.0 104 km
Jun 13, 2008 24 km WSW of Mizusawa, Japan M6.9 96 km
Jul 18, 1992 118 km E of Yamada, Japan M6.9 123 km
May 1, 2021 30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan M6.9 132 km
Jul 23, 2008 29 km ENE of Morioka, Japan M6.8 61 km
May 12, 2015 32 km SE of ?funato, Japan M6.8 53 km
Jun 22, 2011 41 km NNE of Miyako, Japan M6.7 70 km
Mar 11, 2011 134 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan M6.7 134 km
Feb 16, 2015 83 km ENE of Miyako, Japan M6.7 100 km
Sep 16, 2011 99 km NE of Miyako, Japan M6.7 126 km
Mar 11, 2011 50 km ESE of ?tsuchi, Japan M6.6 50 km
Dec 2, 2001 3 km NW of Hanamaki, Japan M6.5 70 km
Mar 9, 2011 128 km SE of ?funato, Japan M6.5 143 km
Jul 18, 1992 92 km E of Yamada, Japan M6.4 97 km
Nov 3, 2002 30 km SE of ?funato, Japan M6.4 54 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

11 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Jebi (2024).

Year Name Category Closest
2024 Jebi Category 1 258 km
2019 Faxai Category 1 236 km
2019 Hagibis Category 1 130 km
2004 Ma-on Category 2 222 km
2002 Higos Category 1 133 km
2000 Kirogi Category 1 83 km
2000 Sonamu Category 1 225 km
1998 Vicki Category 1 88 km
1996 Violet Category 1 211 km
1995 Oscar Category 3 245 km
1993 Vernon Category 1 243 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tsunami History

20 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 39.3 m (129 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
2011 HONSHU ISLAND Earthquake 39.3 m 18,423 126 km
1861 OFF MIYAGI Earthquake 3.9 m - 97 km
2008 ARATOZAWA, JAPAN Eruption + Earthquake 2.5 m 23 96 km
1846 SANRIKU Earthquake 2.0 m - 54 km
1960 SANRIKU Earthquake 1.0 m - 137 km
1915 SANRIKU Earthquake 1.0 m - 147 km
1897 SANRIKU Earthquake 1.0 m - 141 km
1968 SANRIKU Earthquake 1.0 m - 103 km
1989 JAPAN Earthquake 0.9 m - 90 km
1936 SANRIKU Earthquake 0.7 m - 132 km
2011 HONSHU ISLAND Earthquake 0.6 m - 132 km
1978 SANRIKU Earthquake 0.6 m 28 131 km
1901 OFF NORTHEAST COAST HONSHU Earthquake 0.6 m - 136 km
1912 SANRIKU Earthquake 0.5 m - 126 km
1928 SANRIKU Earthquake 0.5 m - 132 km
1981 E. HONSHU ISLAND Earthquake 0.4 m - 109 km
1992 HONSHU ISLAND Earthquake 0.3 m - 123 km
1960 SANRIKU Earthquake 0.3 m - 116 km
2015 HONSHU Earthquake 0.3 m - 100 km
1901 OFF NORTHEAST COAST HONSHU Earthquake 0.3 m 18 141 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

12 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Iwatesan (94 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Iwatesan Complex 2,038 m (6,686 ft) 1919 94 km
Akita-Komagatake Stratovolcano(es) 1,637 m (5,371 ft) 1971 104 km
Kurikomayama Stratovolcano 1,627 m (5,338 ft) 1950 106 km
Hachimantai Stratovolcano 1,613 m (5,292 ft) -5350 111 km
Akita-Yakeyama Stratovolcano 1,366 m (4,482 ft) 1997 118 km
Naruko Caldera 470 m (1,542 ft) 837 123 km
Towada Caldera 1,011 m (3,317 ft) 915 154 km
Chokaisan Stratovolcano(es) 2,236 m (7,336 ft) 1974 162 km
Hakkodasan Stratovolcano(es) 1,585 m (5,200 ft) 1550 168 km
Zaozan [Zaosan] Complex 1,841 m (6,040 ft) 1940 186 km
Megata Maar(s) 291 m (955 ft) -2050 197 km
Iwakisan Stratovolcano 1,625 m (5,331 ft) 1863 198 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 31°F (-1°C) 1.9 in Coldest, Driest
February 31°F (-1°C) 2.3 in
March 36°F (2°C) 3.2 in
April 46°F (8°C) 4.5 in
May 55°F (13°C) 4.9 in
June 61°F (16°C) 5.6 in
July 68°F (20°C) 6.4 in
August 71°F (22°C) 6.5 in Warmest
September 64°F (18°C) 8.2 in Wettest
October 54°F (12°C) 5.9 in
November 45°F (7°C) 3.2 in
December 36°F (2°C) 2.2 in

Ōtsuchi has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 31°F in January to 71°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 54.7 inches, with September being the wettest month (8.2") and January the driest (1.9").

View full weather details →