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Steptoe, WA

Full City Profile · Washington · Spokane County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
152 Population 68/sq mi density
$48,929 Median Income $31,851 per capita
$196,600 Home Value $308,921 Zillow
$860 Median Rent 21.0% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 273 sunny days/yr
105 Violent Crime/100K 2,451 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$48,929 median income, 0.0% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$196,600 home value, $860/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
105 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
14.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Steptoe experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 273 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 18.4 inches. The area receives 26.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 28.

Temperature

31°F Jan (-1°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average48.1°F
11% below US avg
January Average31°F (-1°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,364 ft (721 m)
Area2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²)
Population Density68/sq mi
Coordinates47.0074°N, 117.3502°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountySpokane County County
Nearest AirportPullman/Moscow Regional (PUW)
22 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.4"
52% below US avg
Snowfall 26.2"
Wettest Month (Dec) 2.60"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.75"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

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

100 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.3. Most recent: M2.5 on Feb 13, 2025.

Nov 28, 1991 7 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.3 135 km
Aug 17, 1994 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M4.1 129 km
Jul 14, 1992 6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.1 135 km
Nov 11, 2001 3 km NE of Spokane, Washington M4.0 76 km
Jun 25, 2001 Washington M3.9 75 km
Jun 28, 1998 3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho M3.8 63 km
Apr 24, 2015 12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho M3.7 146 km
May 30, 1996 3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 125 km
Mar 14, 1997 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 129 km
Jan 20, 2000 21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho M3.5 131 km
Mar 8, 1994 32 km S of Wallace, Idaho M3.4 109 km
Jun 25, 2001 2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington M3.4 77 km
Jun 28, 1997 3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.4 128 km
Jun 17, 2004 11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington M3.4 77 km
Jan 13, 1994 11 km SW of Lind, Washington M3.4 103 km
Dec 15, 1991 6 km SSW of Walla Walla East, Washington M3.3 135 km
Sep 22, 2003 12 km NW of Rathdrum, Idaho M3.3 102 km
Feb 11, 2025 2 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.3 128 km
Nov 12, 2001 3 km NNE of Spokane, Washington M3.3 76 km
May 10, 2000 Idaho-Montana border region M3.3 129 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 30, 1971 EF2 10 km 0
Mar 14, 1966 EF2 66 km 0
May 8, 1962 EF2 80 km 0
May 6, 1957 EF2 54 km 0
Jun 15, 1954 EF2 47 km 0
Jan 16, 2000 EF1 91 km 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 95 km 0
May 19, 1986 EF1 54 km 0
Apr 12, 1984 EF1 80 km 0
Oct 17, 1983 EF1 55 km 0
May 2, 1973 EF1 41 km 0
Jun 29, 1970 EF1 92 km 0
Jun 20, 1969 EF1 70 km 0
Apr 18, 2024 EF0 74 km 0
Mar 26, 2024 EF0 98 km 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 74 km 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 71 km 0
Aug 9, 2016 EF0 74 km 0
Jul 22, 2016 EF0 74 km 0
Oct 5, 2011 EF0 40 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 19.8 m (65 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1949 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 19.8 m — 118 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.0 m — 103 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 3.6 m — 116 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: COLUMBIA COMPLEX (118,865 ac, 2006).

Year Name Acres Distance
2006 COLUMBIA COMPLEX 118,865 100 km
2021 LICK CREEK 80,376 88 km
2005 SCHOOL 51,701 83 km
2021 GREEN RIDGE 44,604 97 km
2010 UNNAMED 16,737 94 km
1991 UNNAMED 12,401 93 km
2021 BEDROCK 11,998 81 km
2010 HUBBARD 10,824 78 km
2016 SNAKE RIVER FIRE 10,349 45 km
2023 GRAY 10,096 63 km
2016 FLETCHER ROAD 9,380 85 km
2014 WATERMELON HILL 9,321 50 km
2021 SILCOTT 8,864 74 km
2007 UNNAMED 8,547 83 km
2022 WAGNER ROAD 8,155 41 km
2006 UNNAMED 8,133 90 km
2015 GILMORE GULCH 8,074 99 km
2016 SPOKANE COMPLEX 6,839 54 km
1997 POW WAH KEE 6,418 71 km
2022 RIPARIA 5,631 56 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 31°F (-1°C) 2.2 in
February 35°F (1°C) 1.7 in
March 40°F (4°C) 1.8 in
April 46°F (8°C) 1.5 in
May 54°F (12°C) 1.6 in
June 60°F (15°C) 1.3 in
July 68°F (20°C) 0.8 in Warmest, Driest
August 67°F (19°C) 0.8 in
September 59°F (15°C) 0.9 in
October 48°F (9°C) 1.2 in
November 37°F (3°C) 2.3 in
December 30°F (-1°C) 2.6 in Coldest, Wettest

Steptoe has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 30°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 18.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.6") and July the driest (0.8").

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