Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Airway Heights experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 273 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 16.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 45.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 28 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 2,382 feet.
Temperature
30°F Jan (-1°C)71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
48.6°F
10% below US avg
January Average
30°F (-1°C)
July Average
71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
273 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2,382 ft (726 m)
Area
2.3 sq mi (6.0 km²)
Population Density
1,791/sq mi
Coordinates
47.6459°N, 117.5792°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Spokane County County
Nearest Airport
Spokane International (GEG) 3 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall16.5"
57% below US avg
Snowfall45.4"
Wettest Month (Dec)2.28"
Driest Month (Aug)0.67"
Air Quality
AQI Median
28.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
90.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
21.0 / 100
Community Resilience
75.8 / 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
98 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.2.
Sep 1, 2015
15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington
M4.2
130 km
9 km
Aug 17, 1994
1 km E of Mullan, Idaho
M4.1
137 km
2 km
Nov 11, 2001
3 km NE of Spokane, Washington
M4.0
14 km
4 km
Jun 25, 2001
Washington
M3.9
14 km
10 km
Apr 24, 2015
8 km WSW of Hope, Idaho
M3.9
108 km
17 km
Jun 28, 1998
3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho
M3.8
134 km
10 km
Apr 24, 2015
12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho
M3.7
106 km
9 km
Mar 14, 1997
1 km E of Mullan, Idaho
M3.6
136 km
2 km
May 30, 1996
3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho
M3.6
134 km
1 km
Jan 20, 2000
21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho
M3.5
94 km
5 km
Jan 13, 1994
11 km SW of Lind, Washington
M3.4
119 km
0 km
Mar 8, 1994
32 km S of Wallace, Idaho
M3.4
134 km
5 km
Jun 28, 1997
3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho
M3.4
133 km
2 km
Nov 2, 1996
4 km W of Trout Creek, Montana
M3.4
146 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2001
2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington
M3.4
14 km
10 km
Jun 17, 2004
11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington
M3.4
119 km
17 km
Dec 15, 2012
19 km S of Troy, Montana
M3.4
146 km
1 km
May 10, 2000
Idaho-Montana border region
M3.3
136 km
2 km
Apr 24, 2015
7 km SW of Hope, Idaho
M3.3
109 km
10 km
Feb 11, 2025
2 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho
M3.3
134 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
36 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972
EF3
71 km
0.1 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF2
79 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 9, 1991
EF2
78 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 17, 1978
EF2
68 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 30, 1971
EF2
83 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 1957
EF2
34 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 15, 1954
EF2
28 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 2009
EF1
44 km
3.4 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
23 km
5.0 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
84 km
12.0 mi
0
Apr 12, 1984
EF1
27 km
1.0 mi
0
Oct 17, 1983
EF1
19 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 22, 1981
EF1
35 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 1980
EF1
94 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 29, 1970
EF1
19 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 18, 2024
EF0
2 km
0.0 mi
0
Mar 26, 2024
EF0
49 km
0.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 2023
EF0
89 km
0.9 mi
0
May 6, 2022
EF0
17 km
2.1 mi
0
May 6, 2022
EF0
4 km
0.6 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
9 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
—
111 km
1949
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
19.8 m
—
62 km
2024
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
14.3 m
—
111 km
1944
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.1 m
—
111 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.0 m
—
38 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
4.8 m
—
111 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
3.6 m
—
51 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
111 km
1952
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
111 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: WHITNEY (127,930 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
WHITNEY
127,930
74 km
2015
CARPENTER RD.
62,488
59 km
2019
WILLIAMS FLATS
44,680
78 km
2012
APACHE PASS
25,101
75 km
2015
TOWER
24,779
99 km
1996
LINCOLN
19,376
85 km
2008
SWANSON LAKE
18,941
62 km
2007
MANILA CREEK
16,248
100 km
2021
FORD CORKSCREW
16,179
34 km
1991
UNNAMED
12,401
22 km
2020
KEWA FIELD
11,811
81 km
2023
OREGON
10,957
48 km
2003
RATTLESNAKE CANYON
10,655
67 km
2023
GRAY
10,096
15 km
2016
CAYUSE MTN
9,744
41 km
2014
WATERMELON HILL
9,321
37 km
2022
WAGNER ROAD
8,155
68 km
2003
HATTEN ROAD
7,247
73 km
2020
INCHELIUM HIWAY
7,046
90 km
2016
SPOKANE COMPLEX
6,839
28 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
30°F (-1°C)
1.9 in
February
32°F (0°C)
1.5 in
March
39°F (4°C)
1.5 in
April
46°F (8°C)
1.3 in
May
54°F (12°C)
1.5 in
June
61°F (16°C)
1.2 in
July
71°F (22°C)
0.8 in
Warmest
August
68°F (20°C)
0.7 in
Driest
September
58°F (15°C)
0.8 in
October
47°F (8°C)
1.1 in
November
35°F (2°C)
2.2 in
December
28°F (-2°C)
2.3 in
Coldest, Wettest
Airway Heights has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 28°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.8 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.3") and August the driest (0.7").