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Weather & Climate in Castlegar, BC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Castlegar experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 253 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 28.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 80.6 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. The city sits at an elevation of 1,624 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (-0°C)
74°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 50.4°F |
| 7% below US avg | |
| January Average | 32°F (-0°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 253 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,624 ft (495 m) |
| Area | 7.7 sq mi (19.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,087/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 49.3232°N, 117.6583°W |
| Timezone | America/Vancouver |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
59 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.
| Sep 10, 2016 | 23 km E of Oliver, Canada | M3.9 | 115 km | 1 km |
| Feb 5, 2023 | British Columbia, Canada | M3.9 | 112 km | 1 km |
| Mar 3, 1998 | 16 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada | M3.8 | 53 km | 5 km |
| Jan 26, 1992 | 9 km SSE of Okanagan Falls, Canada | M3.7 | 136 km | 10 km |
| Oct 27, 1991 | 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada | M3.3 | 21 km | 7 km |
| Aug 20, 1990 | 23 km NW of Nelson, Canada | M3.3 | 35 km | -1 km |
| Apr 20, 2025 | 8 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.2 | 149 km | 15 km |
| Apr 13, 2025 | 7 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.2 | 149 km | 15 km |
| Mar 3, 1998 | 15 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada | M3.2 | 52 km | 5 km |
| Feb 15, 2020 | 37 km ESE of Nelson, Canada | M3.2 | 62 km | 10 km |
| May 15, 2025 | 9 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.1 | 148 km | 15 km |
| Apr 13, 2025 | 6 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.1 | 148 km | 15 km |
| Jan 31, 1999 | 22 km N of Keller, Washington | M3.1 | 138 km | 10 km |
| Nov 25, 2000 | 13 km SSE of Oroville, Washington | M3.1 | 134 km | 1 km |
| Apr 16, 2025 | 9 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.1 | 150 km | 15 km |
| Nov 5, 2000 | 8 km NW of Okanagan Falls, Canada | M3.0 | 143 km | 13 km |
| Oct 23, 1991 | 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada | M3.0 | 21 km | 7 km |
| Mar 19, 1998 | 31 km SSW of Nakusp, Canada | M3.0 | 74 km | 0 km |
| Dec 23, 1997 | 16 km ESE of Okanagan Falls, Canada | M2.9 | 123 km | -1 km |
| Feb 3, 1994 | 31 km ENE of Osoyoos, Canada | M2.9 | 103 km | 9 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 | — | 91 km |
| 2024 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 14.3 m | — | 91 km |
| 1944 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 9.1 m | — | 91 km |
| 1953 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 4.8 m | — | 91 km |
| 1953 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 91 km |
| 1952 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 91 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: STICKPIN (54,119 acres, 2015).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2015 | STICKPIN | 54,119 | 77 km |
| 2015 | RENNER | 13,975 | 74 km |
| 1994 | COPPER BUTTE | 9,068 | 90 km |
| 2015 | GRAVES MOUNTAIN | 8,559 | 92 km |
| 2021 | BULLDOG MOUNTAIN | 8,049 | 75 km |
| 2018 | HORNS MOUNTAIN | 6,890 | 48 km |
| 2001 | MT. LEONA COMPLEX | 5,978 | 84 km |
| 2003 | TOGO MOUNTAIN | 5,495 | 67 km |
| 2017 | NOISY CREEK | 5,452 | 65 km |
| 2018 | BOYDS | 5,196 | 85 km |
| 2015 | PARKER RIDGE | 4,773 | 94 km |
| 2017 | NORTH FORK HUGHES | 4,628 | 66 km |
| 2006 | HUGHES 32 COMPLEX | 4,536 | 71 km |
| 2003 | BLACK CANYON | 2,403 | 49 km |
| 2022 | BOULDER MOUNTAIN | 2,346 | 98 km |
| 2020 | CUSTOMS ROAD | 2,248 | 87 km |
| 2022 | THOR | 2,099 | 67 km |
| 1988 | SHERMAN | 1,954 | 83 km |
| 1988 | UNNAMED | 1,909 | 45 km |
| 2021 | MACK MOUNTAIN | 1,461 | 88 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F (-0°C) | 3.9 in | |
| February | 29°F (-2°C) | 2.5 in | |
| March | 34°F (1°C) | 2.8 in | |
| April | 42°F (5°C) | 2.4 in | |
| May | 50°F (10°C) | 2.8 in | |
| June | 57°F (14°C) | 3.0 in | |
| July | 74°F (24°C) | 1.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 62°F (17°C) | 1.8 in | |
| September | 53°F (12°C) | 1.7 in | Driest |
| October | 42°F (6°C) | 2.4 in | |
| November | 32°F (-0°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| December | 25°F (-4°C) | 4.1 in | Coldest |
Castlegar has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 25°F in December to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 33.3 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.1") and September the driest (1.7").