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Weather & Climate in Basin City, WA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Basin City experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 33°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 10.0 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). 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 705 feet.

Temperature

33°F Jan (1°C) 71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average51.9°F
4% below US avg
January Average33°F (1°C)
July Average71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation705 ft (215 m)
Area1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²)
Population Density479/sq mi
Coordinates46.5890°N, 119.1566°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyBenton County County
Nearest AirportTri-Cities (PSC)
22 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 10.0"
74% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 1.18"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.24"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score87.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability30.3 / 100
Community Resilience58.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

234 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.3.

Nov 28, 1991 7 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.3 93 km 9 km
Jun 17, 2010 30 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.2 133 km 3 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 142 km 4 km
Jul 14, 1992 6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.1 93 km 11 km
Oct 9, 1998 20 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.0 127 km 2 km
Aug 7, 1992 8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon M3.9 88 km 0 km
Nov 18, 1997 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington M3.9 112 km 15 km
Mar 29, 2010 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington M3.8 145 km 1 km
Jul 4, 1997 8 km NNE of Waterville, Washington M3.7 142 km 7 km
May 18, 2008 11 km SSW of Benton City, Washington M3.7 56 km 20 km
Jan 1, 1997 14 km NNE of Selah, Washington M3.7 101 km 18 km
Sep 4, 2011 14 km N of Richland, Washington M3.7 21 km 2 km
Jan 23, 2015 3 km N of Cayuse, Oregon M3.5 108 km 20 km
Jun 29, 2005 0 km SE of Gleed, Washington M3.5 111 km 9 km
Oct 26, 1992 12 km N of Naches, Washington M3.5 122 km -1 km
Oct 12, 2017 25 km NW of Bickleton, Washington M3.4 117 km 13 km
Jul 6, 1991 7 km SE of Kittitas, Washington M3.4 98 km 3 km
Jan 13, 1994 11 km SW of Lind, Washington M3.4 48 km 0 km
Jun 17, 2004 11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington M3.4 71 km 17 km
Nov 6, 1997 22 km SE of Desert Aire, Washington M3.4 43 km 22 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

30 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jun 26, 1958 EF2 60 km 0.3 mi 0
May 19, 2006 EF1 94 km 0.1 mi 0
Jan 16, 2000 EF1 94 km 1.0 mi 0
Aug 10, 1985 EF1 45 km 1.0 mi 0
Apr 23, 1983 EF1 14 km 3.0 mi 0
Jul 1, 1978 EF1 30 km 2.3 mi 0
May 1, 2024 EF0 87 km 0.4 mi 0
Mar 5, 2024 EF0 98 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 27, 2023 EF0 96 km 0.1 mi 0
May 26, 2023 EF0 67 km 0.4 mi 0
Mar 31, 2020 EF0 30 km 0.1 mi 0
May 22, 2016 EF0 43 km 0.2 mi 0
Aug 13, 2014 EF0 58 km 0.3 mi 0
May 19, 2010 EF0 67 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 23, 2005 EF0 94 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 23, 2005 EF0 93 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 7, 2004 EF0 77 km 0.5 mi 0
May 23, 2004 EF0 94 km 0.1 mi 0
May 11, 2003 EF0 50 km 0.1 mi 0
May 15, 2000 EF0 85 km 0.2 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

1 tsunami 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 — 150 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Adams (184 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 184 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: RANGE 12 (167,604 acres, 2016).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2016 RANGE 12 167,604 56 km
2000 24 COMMAND 162,300 37 km
1984 HANFORD 122,914 36 km
2013 COLOCKUM TARPS 79,279 99 km
2007 WAUTOMA 77,956 43 km
1996 COLD CREEK 72,859 69 km
2018 BOYLSTON 66,292 78 km
2009 DRY CREEK COMPLEX 49,843 62 km
2019 COLD CREEK 43,756 40 km
2003 UMTANUM RIDGE 34,351 70 km
2017 SILVER DOLLAR 30,789 48 km
2017 SUTHERLAND CANYON 29,492 99 km
2022 VANTAGE HIGHWAY 29,299 85 km
2017 400 27,218 65 km
2020 TAYLOR POND 22,591 75 km
2018 L RD SW 22,101 39 km
1996 UNNAMED 21,130 69 km
2005 WALKER CANYON 20,764 49 km
2007 OVERLOOK 20,363 20 km
2010 EUREKA 19,811 50 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 33°F (1°C) 0.9 in
February 37°F (3°C) 0.8 in
March 45°F (7°C) 0.8 in
April 52°F (11°C) 0.6 in
May 59°F (15°C) 0.6 in
June 66°F (19°C) 0.5 in
July 71°F (22°C) 0.2 in Warmest, Driest
August 71°F (22°C) 0.4 in
September 62°F (17°C) 0.4 in
October 52°F (11°C) 0.6 in
November 40°F (5°C) 1.1 in
December 32°F (-0°C) 1.2 in Coldest, Wettest

Basin City has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 32°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 7.8 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.2") and July the driest (0.2").

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