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Weather & Climate in Bow, WA

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

Bow experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 233 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 49.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 10.8 inches of snow annually. 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 12 feet.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average50.3°F
7% below US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average64°F (18°C)
Sunny Days233 days/yr

Geography

Elevation12 ft (4 m)
Area1.2 sq mi (3.0 km²)
Population Density499/sq mi
Coordinates48.5613°N, 122.4078°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyIsland County County
Nearest AirportSkagit Regional (MVW)
6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.9"
31% above US avg
Snowfall 10.8"
Wettest Month (Nov) 6.10"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.50"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score78.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability36.8 / 100
Community Resilience80.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively Moderate
Tsunami Very Low
Volcano Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

620 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.4.

May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 97 km 4 km
Apr 14, 1990 4 km ENE of Deming, Washington M5.0 36 km 12 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 131 km 15 km
Jun 23, 1997 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington M4.9 108 km 13 km
Apr 25, 2003 26 km W of Brinnon, Washington M4.8 117 km 51 km
Jan 30, 2009 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington M4.7 87 km 62 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 82 km 29 km
Mar 3, 2025 2025 Orcas Island, Washington M4.5 30 km 16 km
Jun 24, 1997 19 km SSW of Gibsons, Canada M4.4 116 km 3 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 134 km -1 km
Apr 2, 1990 2 km ENE of Deming, Washington M4.3 34 km 0 km
Feb 19, 1991 31 km E of Squamish, Canada M4.3 128 km 5 km
Sep 21, 2002 9 km SW of Friday Harbor, Washington M4.1 54 km 23 km
Feb 23, 2017 11 km NE of Hoodsport, Washington M4.1 129 km 15 km
Jun 15, 1994 1 km WNW of Hoodsport, Washington M4.0 140 km 44 km
Apr 3, 1990 3 km ENE of Deming, Washington M4.0 35 km 1 km
Apr 14, 1990 2 km ESE of Deming, Washington M4.0 33 km 3 km
Dec 27, 2012 12 km E of North Saanich, Canada M4.0 63 km 54 km
Sep 26, 2024 12 km E of Saanichton, Canada M4.0 62 km 52 km
Jul 1, 2009 4 km SE of Coupeville, Washington M4.0 44 km 58 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 13, 1986 EF2 46 km 0.3 mi 0
Nov 24, 1970 EF2 54 km 0.3 mi 0
May 18, 2005 EF1 42 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 26, 1971 EF1 75 km 3.0 mi 0
Jun 16, 2006 EF0 92 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 5, 2004 EF0 39 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 27, 2004 EF0 51 km 2.7 mi 0
Aug 24, 1997 EF0 75 km 0.5 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 38.0 m (125 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
2007 CHEHALIS LAKE, CHILLIWACK Meteorological 38.0 m — 105 km
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 142 km
1891 WASHINGTON Eruption + Earthquake 2.4 m — 102 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m — 141 km
1820 CAMANO ISLAND, WA Meteorological — — 56 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Baker (50 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 50 km
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 108 km
Garibaldi Stratovolcano 2,678 m (8,786 ft) -8060 150 km
Garibaldi Lake Volcanic field 2,316 m (7,598 ft) Unknown 159 km
Cayley Volcanic Field Volcanic field 2,375 m (7,792 ft) Unknown 185 km
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 196 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

13 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: SOURDOUGH (7,517 acres, 2023).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2023 SOURDOUGH 7,517 94 km
2015 GOODELL 6,624 88 km
2022 SUIATTLE RIVER 4,400 82 km
2022 COPPER LAKE 3,825 84 km
2022 BRUSH CREEK 2 3,186 83 km
2003 MINERAL PARK 3,010 96 km
2022 SILESIA 2,737 78 km
2022 MCALLISTER CREEK 2,581 97 km
2022 BOULDER LAKE 2,347 80 km
2020 DOWNEY CREEK 2,324 96 km
2022 LITTLE CHILL 2,242 83 km
2003 BIGBEAVER 1,807 97 km
1998 UNNAMED 1,174 71 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 5.1 in Coldest
February 41°F (5°C) 3.8 in
March 44°F (7°C) 3.7 in
April 48°F (9°C) 3.3 in
May 54°F (12°C) 2.7 in
June 58°F (14°C) 2.3 in
July 64°F (18°C) 1.5 in Warmest, Driest
August 62°F (17°C) 1.5 in
September 58°F (15°C) 2.2 in
October 50°F (10°C) 3.7 in
November 43°F (6°C) 6.1 in Wettest
December 39°F (4°C) 5.5 in

Bow has a seasonal temperature swing of 26°F / from 38°F in January to 64°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 41.4 inches, with November being the wettest month (6.1") and July the driest (1.5").

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