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Weather & Climate in Chain Lake, WA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Chain Lake experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 63°F in July. The area gets 237 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 50.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 3.0 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 335 feet.
Temperature
38°F Jan (3°C)
63°F Jul (17°C)
| Annual Average | 49.5°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 38°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 63°F (17°C) |
| Sunny Days | 237 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 335 ft (102 m) |
| Area | 4.1 sq mi (10.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 457/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.9023°N, 121.9871°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | King County County |
| Nearest Airport | Seattle Paine Field International (PAE) 14 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 28.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very High |
| Risk Score | 99.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 14.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 87.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Very High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
766 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.8.
| Feb 28, 2001 | 7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington | M6.8 | 101 km | 52 km |
| Jul 3, 1999 | 8 km N of Satsop, Washington | M5.8 | 144 km | 40 km |
| May 3, 1996 | 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington | M5.4 | 18 km | 4 km |
| Jun 10, 2001 | 18 km N of Satsop, Washington | M5.0 | 140 km | 40 km |
| Jan 29, 1995 | 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington | M5.0 | 64 km | 15 km |
| Apr 14, 1990 | 4 km ENE of Deming, Washington | M5.0 | 106 km | 12 km |
| Jun 23, 1997 | 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington | M4.9 | 55 km | 13 km |
| Apr 25, 2003 | 26 km W of Brinnon, Washington | M4.8 | 98 km | 51 km |
| Jan 30, 2009 | 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington | M4.7 | 46 km | 62 km |
| Jul 12, 2019 | 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington | M4.6 | 4 km | 29 km |
| Mar 3, 2025 | 2025 Orcas Island, Washington | M4.5 | 99 km | 16 km |
| Jul 22, 2001 | 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington | M4.3 | 105 km | 52 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington | M4.3 | 62 km | -1 km |
| Apr 2, 1990 | 2 km ENE of Deming, Washington | M4.3 | 104 km | 0 km |
| Jun 27, 2013 | 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington | M4.3 | 97 km | 8 km |
| Feb 18, 2015 | 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington | M4.2 | 118 km | 4 km |
| Sep 21, 2002 | 9 km SW of Friday Harbor, Washington | M4.1 | 106 km | 23 km |
| May 20, 1995 | 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | M4.1 | 114 km | 12 km |
| Feb 23, 2017 | 11 km NE of Hoodsport, Washington | M4.1 | 91 km | 15 km |
| Aug 16, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington | M4.0 | 142 km | -1 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
21 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Dec 12, 1969 | EF3 | 54 km | 3.8 mi | 0 |
| Dec 18, 2018 | EF2 | 66 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 1986 | EF2 | 36 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Nov 24, 1970 | EF2 | 27 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jan 18, 2015 | EF1 | 78 km | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 30, 2013 | EF1 | 95 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 6, 2009 | EF1 | 80 km | 9.6 mi | 0 |
| May 18, 2005 | EF1 | 38 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2001 | EF1 | 82 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1997 | EF1 | 82 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1978 | EF1 | 91 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Dec 22, 1971 | EF1 | 62 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 26, 1971 | EF1 | 9 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 28, 1962 | EF1 | 51 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 2006 | EF0 | 20 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2004 | EF0 | 41 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2001 | EF0 | 52 km | — | 0 |
| Aug 24, 1997 | EF0 | 9 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 23, 1996 | EF0 | 77 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1991 | EF0 | 59 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1894 | PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA | Meteorological | 3.0 m | 2 | 77 km |
| 1891 | WASHINGTON | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.4 m | — | 113 km |
| 1949 | PUGET SOUND, WA | Meteorological | 2.4 m | — | 79 km |
| 1949 | PUGET SOUND, WA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | 8 | 94 km |
| 1820 | CAMANO ISLAND, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 33 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (69 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 69 km |
| Baker | Stratovolcano(es) | 3,285 m (10,778 ft) | 1880 | 98 km |
| Rainier | Stratovolcano | 4,392 m (14,409 ft) | 1450 | 118 km |
| St. Helens | Stratovolcano | 2,549 m (8,363 ft) | 2008 | 190 km |
| Adams | Stratovolcano | 3,742 m (12,277 ft) | 950 | 192 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: JOLLY MOUNTAIN (38,159 acres, 2017).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2017 | JOLLY MOUNTAIN | 38,159 | 98 km |
| 2022 | BOLT CREEK | 15,211 | 46 km |
| 2014 | CHIWAUKUM COMPLEX | 14,511 | 92 km |
| 1994 | HATCHERY COMPLEX (HATCHERY) | 13,976 | 99 km |
| 2006 | TINPAN | 9,044 | 99 km |
| 2023 | AIRPLANE LAKE | 7,576 | 72 km |
| 2001 | FOURTH OF JULY | 7,009 | 97 km |
| 2022 | MINNOW RIDGE | 5,458 | 97 km |
| 2017 | JACK CREEK | 5,184 | 91 km |
| 2022 | SUIATTLE RIVER | 4,400 | 63 km |
| 2016 | BUCK CREEK | 4,199 | 85 km |
| 2022 | IRVING PEAK | 3,983 | 73 km |
| 2018 | MAPLE | 3,547 | 94 km |
| 1994 | ROUND MTN | 3,403 | 93 km |
| 2003 | MINERAL PARK | 3,010 | 89 km |
| 2003 | MAPLE | 2,420 | 85 km |
| 2022 | BOULDER LAKE | 2,347 | 66 km |
| 2020 | DOWNEY CREEK | 2,324 | 71 km |
| 2012 | MT. CASHMERE | 2,298 | 96 km |
| 2022 | LOCH KATRINE | 2,163 | 40 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38°F (3°C) | 7.8 in | Coldest |
| February | 42°F (5°C) | 5.7 in | |
| March | 44°F (7°C) | 5.9 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 4.8 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 3.8 in | |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 3.0 in | |
| July | 63°F (17°C) | 1.8 in | Driest |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 1.9 in | Warmest |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 3.3 in | |
| October | 51°F (10°C) | 5.0 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 8.3 in | Wettest |
| December | 39°F (4°C) | 8.3 in |
Chain Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 26°F / from 38°F in January to 64°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 59.6 inches, with November being the wettest month (8.3") and July the driest (1.8").