Weather & Climate in Colfax, WA

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

Colfax experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 276 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 20.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 32.7 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. 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 1,981 feet.

Temperature

32°F Jan (-0°C) 67°F Jul (20°C)

Annual Average	48.2°F
	11% below US avg
January Average	32°F (-0°C)
July Average	67°F (20°C)
Sunny Days	276 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	1,981 ft (604 m)
Area	1.5 sq mi (3.8 km²)
Population Density	737/sq mi
Coordinates	46.9016°N, 117.3453°W
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
County	Whitman County County
Nearest Airport	Pullman/Moscow Regional (PUW) 16 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 20.4"

46% below US avg

Snowfall 32.7"

Wettest Month (Dec) 2.68"

Driest Month (Jul) 0.71"

Air Quality

AQI Median	28.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	39.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability	20.8 / 100
Community Resilience	50.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Very Low
Ice Storm	Relatively Low
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Relatively Moderate
Landslide	Relatively Moderate
Avalanche	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

98 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	126 km	9 km
Aug 17, 1994	1 km E of Mullan, Idaho	M4.1	134 km	2 km
Jul 14, 1992	6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington	M4.1	125 km	11 km
Nov 11, 2001	3 km NE of Spokane, Washington	M4.0	88 km	4 km
Jun 25, 2001	Washington	M3.9	87 km	10 km
Jun 28, 1998	3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho	M3.8	53 km	10 km
May 30, 1996	3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho	M3.6	130 km	1 km
Mar 14, 1997	1 km E of Mullan, Idaho	M3.6	134 km	2 km
Jan 20, 2000	21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho	M3.5	141 km	5 km
Mar 8, 1994	32 km S of Wallace, Idaho	M3.4	112 km	5 km
Jun 17, 2004	11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington	M3.4	73 km	17 km
Jun 28, 1997	3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho	M3.4	134 km	2 km
Jun 25, 2001	2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington	M3.4	89 km	10 km
Jan 13, 1994	11 km SW of Lind, Washington	M3.4	103 km	0 km
Nov 12, 2001	3 km NNE of Spokane, Washington	M3.3	88 km	0 km
Feb 11, 2025	2 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho	M3.3	133 km	5 km
Dec 15, 1991	6 km SSW of Walla Walla East, Washington	M3.3	126 km	8 km
Sep 22, 2003	12 km NW of Rathdrum, Idaho	M3.3	113 km	13 km
May 10, 2000	Idaho-Montana border region	M3.3	134 km	2 km
Feb 9, 1996	2 km W of Mullan, Idaho	M3.2	130 km	1 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Aug 30, 1971	EF2	2 km	0.5 mi	0
Mar 14, 1966	EF2	57 km	1.0 mi	0
May 8, 1962	EF2	70 km	9.1 mi	0
May 6, 1957	EF2	65 km	1.5 mi	0
Jun 15, 1954	EF2	59 km	0.5 mi	0
Jan 16, 2000	EF1	82 km	1.0 mi	0
May 19, 1986	EF1	48 km	2.0 mi	0
Apr 12, 1984	EF1	91 km	1.0 mi	0
Oct 17, 1983	EF1	66 km	0.5 mi	0
May 2, 1973	EF1	33 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 20, 1969	EF1	61 km	1.0 mi	0
Apr 18, 2024	EF0	86 km	0.0 mi	0
May 6, 2022	EF0	85 km	0.6 mi	0
May 6, 2022	EF0	83 km	2.1 mi	0
Aug 9, 2016	EF0	86 km	0.2 mi	0
Jul 22, 2016	EF0	86 km	0.2 mi	0
Oct 5, 2011	EF0	49 km	0.0 mi	0
May 21, 2004	EF0	85 km	0.2 mi	0
Apr 27, 1999	EF0	97 km	0.1 mi	0
May 31, 1997	EF0	61 km	0.1 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis 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	—	128 km
2009	COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA	Meteorological	9.0 m	—	113 km
2009	COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA	Meteorological	3.6 m	—	126 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: COLUMBIA COMPLEX (118,865 acres, 2006).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2006	COLUMBIA COMPLEX	118,865	89 km
2021	LICK CREEK	80,376	76 km
2005	SCHOOL	51,701	72 km
2021	GREEN RIDGE	44,604	86 km
2015	FISHER	20,757	96 km
2010	UNNAMED	16,737	90 km
2021	BEDROCK	11,998	74 km
2010	HUBBARD	10,824	68 km
2016	SNAKE RIVER FIRE	10,349	33 km
2023	GRAY	10,096	74 km
2016	FLETCHER ROAD	9,380	78 km
2014	WATERMELON HILL	9,321	59 km
2021	SILCOTT	8,864	62 km
2007	UNNAMED	8,547	72 km
2022	WAGNER ROAD	8,155	45 km
2006	UNNAMED	8,133	84 km
2015	GILMORE GULCH	8,074	88 km
2016	SPOKANE COMPLEX	6,839	66 km
1997	POW WAH KEE	6,418	60 km
2022	RIPARIA	5,631	48 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	32°F (-0°C)	2.3 in
February	35°F (2°C)	1.8 in
March	41°F (5°C)	1.9 in
April	47°F (8°C)	1.5 in
May	54°F (12°C)	1.6 in
June	60°F (16°C)	1.3 in
July	67°F (20°C)	0.7 in	Driest
August	68°F (20°C)	0.8 in	Warmest
September	59°F (15°C)	0.8 in
October	48°F (9°C)	1.1 in
November	38°F (3°C)	2.4 in
December	31°F (-1°C)	2.7 in	Coldest, Wettest

Colfax has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 31°F in December to 68°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 19.1 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.7") and July the driest (0.7").

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