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Weather & Climate in Balfour, BC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Balfour has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 59°F in July. The area gets 270 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 36.4 inches. The area receives 19.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. The city sits at an elevation of 1,742 feet.
Temperature
23°F Jan (-5°C)
59°F Jul (15°C)
| Annual Average | 40.3°F |
| 25% below US avg | |
| January Average | 23°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 59°F (15°C) |
| Sunny Days | 270 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,742 ft (531 m) |
| Area | 623.6 sq mi (1,615.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 1/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 49.6166°N, 116.9689°W |
| Timezone | America/Vancouver |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
26 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.
| Feb 5, 2023 | British Columbia, Canada | M3.9 | 53 km | 1 km |
| Mar 3, 1998 | 16 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada | M3.8 | 112 km | 5 km |
| Aug 20, 1990 | 23 km NW of Nelson, Canada | M3.3 | 42 km | -1 km |
| Oct 27, 1991 | 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada | M3.3 | 48 km | 7 km |
| Mar 3, 1998 | 15 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada | M3.2 | 111 km | 5 km |
| Feb 15, 2020 | 37 km ESE of Nelson, Canada | M3.2 | 29 km | 10 km |
| Aug 29, 1997 | 12 km N of Troy, Montana | M3.1 | 140 km | 19 km |
| Mar 19, 1998 | 31 km SSW of Nakusp, Canada | M3.0 | 78 km | 0 km |
| Oct 23, 1991 | 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada | M3.0 | 48 km | 7 km |
| Apr 10, 2011 | 16 km SE of Invermere, Canada | M2.9 | 121 km | 1 km |
| Jan 23, 2015 | 31 km N of Nelson, Canada | M2.8 | 29 km | 19 km |
| May 1, 2003 | 14 km NE of Kootenai, Idaho | M2.8 | 142 km | 10 km |
| Sep 26, 2004 | 32 km ENE of Nelson, Canada | M2.8 | 6 km | 20 km |
| Feb 10, 2016 | 29 km NNW of Kimberley, Canada | M2.8 | 72 km | 3 km |
| Feb 24, 2016 | 26 km NNW of Kimberley, Canada | M2.8 | 68 km | 4 km |
| Sep 4, 1999 | 10 km N of Castlegar, Canada | M2.7 | 54 km | 5 km |
| May 6, 1995 | 35 km NNW of Creston, Canada | M2.7 | 32 km | 10 km |
| May 15, 2004 | 4 km NNW of Grand Forks, Canada | M2.7 | 124 km | 1 km |
| Sep 30, 2024 | 19 km NNE of Kootenai, Idaho | M2.7 | 131 km | 10 km |
| Aug 23, 1990 | 30 km ESE of Ellison, Canada | M2.7 | 146 km | 8 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
6 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 | — | 145 km |
| 2024 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 14.3 m | — | 144 km |
| 1944 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 9.1 m | — | 145 km |
| 1953 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 4.8 m | — | 145 km |
| 1953 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 145 km |
| 1952 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 145 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
10 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: RUSSELL MOUNTAIN (26,130 acres, 2022).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2022 | RUSSELL MOUNTAIN | 26,130 | 94 km |
| 2017 | NOISY CREEK | 5,452 | 92 km |
| 2015 | PARKER RIDGE | 4,773 | 84 km |
| 2017 | NORTH FORK HUGHES | 4,628 | 80 km |
| 2006 | HUGHES 32 COMPLEX | 4,536 | 83 km |
| 2003 | BLACK CANYON | 2,403 | 97 km |
| 2022 | THOR | 2,099 | 90 km |
| 1988 | UNNAMED | 1,909 | 94 km |
| 2022 | SLATE CREEK | 1,263 | 77 km |
| 2018 | SMITH CREEK | 1,114 | 93 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°F (-5°C) | 4.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 3.0 in | |
| March | 32°F (-0°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 39°F (4°C) | 2.4 in | |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 2.6 in | |
| June | 53°F (12°C) | 3.0 in | |
| July | 59°F (15°C) | 2.1 in | |
| August | 60°F (15°C) | 2.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| September | 51°F (11°C) | 2.0 in | |
| October | 41°F (5°C) | 2.8 in | |
| November | 30°F (-1°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| December | 23°F (-5°C) | 4.5 in |
Balfour has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 23°F in January to 60°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 36.4 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.7") and August the driest (2.0").