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Weather & Climate in Cottonwood, ID
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Cottonwood experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 68°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 22.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 61.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 33. The city sits at an elevation of 3,556 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 47.6°F |
| 12% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,556 ft (1,084 m) |
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (2.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,355/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.0510°N, 116.3498°W |
| Timezone | America/Boise |
| County | Lewis County County |
| Nearest Airport | Pullman/Moscow Regional (PUW) 60 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 33.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 3.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 60.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 3.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
80 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.0.
| Oct 27, 1994 | 11 km SE of Halfway, Oregon | M4.0 | 147 km | 10 km |
| Jun 28, 1998 | 3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho | M3.8 | 68 km | 10 km |
| Nov 8, 1997 | 39 km SE of Pierce, Idaho | M3.8 | 75 km | 5 km |
| Dec 24, 1999 | 18 km WNW of New Meadows, Idaho | M3.5 | 111 km | 3 km |
| Sep 26, 1995 | 9 km E of McCall, Idaho | M3.4 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Mar 8, 1994 | 32 km S of Wallace, Idaho | M3.4 | 130 km | 5 km |
| Sep 26, 1995 | southern Idaho | M3.3 | 123 km | 5 km |
| Jul 20, 1998 | 9 km ESE of Halfway, Oregon | M3.3 | 143 km | 12 km |
| Jun 16, 1992 | 10 km ESE of Halfway, Oregon | M3.3 | 144 km | 5 km |
| Jan 26, 1992 | 28 km ENE of Halfway, Oregon | M3.2 | 120 km | 5 km |
| Feb 10, 2013 | 29 km ESE of Pierce, Idaho | M3.2 | 77 km | 5 km |
| Nov 23, 2001 | 6 km WNW of New Meadows, Idaho | M3.2 | 118 km | 0 km |
| Jul 19, 1998 | 10 km ESE of Halfway, Oregon | M3.2 | 145 km | 11 km |
| Aug 14, 2017 | 19 km NNW of Halfway, Oregon | M3.1 | 131 km | 8 km |
| Oct 25, 1994 | 9 km ESE of Halfway, Oregon | M3.1 | 145 km | 10 km |
| Jul 20, 1998 | 10 km ESE of Halfway, Oregon | M3.1 | 145 km | 11 km |
| Aug 2, 2013 | 12 km NE of Council, Idaho | M3.1 | 139 km | 1 km |
| Jul 21, 1998 | 6 km N of Halfway, Oregon | M3.1 | 138 km | -1 km |
| Mar 30, 2004 | 11 km ESE of McCall, Idaho | M3.1 | 135 km | 5 km |
| Aug 1, 2000 | 9 km WNW of Donnelly, Idaho | M3.1 | 145 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
16 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 11, 1968 | EF2 | 80 km | 9.6 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 1962 | EF2 | 52 km | 9.1 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 1986 | EF1 | 84 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 2, 1973 | EF1 | 91 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1969 | EF1 | 61 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 2016 | EF0 | 81 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 2013 | EF0 | 99 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 7, 2010 | EF0 | 10 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 7, 2010 | EF0 | 15 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 29, 2007 | EF0 | 57 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 21, 2006 | EF0 | 100 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1997 | EF0 | 63 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 22, 1992 | EF0 | 96 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 1, 1991 | EF0 | 68 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 1, 1991 | EF0 | 71 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1979 | EF0 | 22 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: DOUBLE CREEK (171,012 acres, 2022).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2022 | DOUBLE CREEK | 171,012 | 64 km |
| 2000 | MALONEY CREEK | 131,397 | 38 km |
| 2021 | SHOVEL CREEK | 109,829 | 36 km |
| 2007 | RATTLESNAKE | 102,523 | 81 km |
| 2015 | TEPEE SPRINGS | 94,878 | 84 km |
| 2021 | LICK CREEK | 80,376 | 84 km |
| 2015 | BUTTE CREEK | 79,418 | 98 km |
| 2007 | BATTLE CREEK COMPLEX (BATTLE CREEK) | 79,114 | 75 km |
| 2012 | CACHE CREEK | 75,521 | 45 km |
| 2000 | BURGDORF JUNCTION | 67,284 | 93 km |
| 2014 | BIG COUGAR | 65,397 | 39 km |
| 2007 | POE CABIN | 59,704 | 48 km |
| 1988 | TEEPEE BUTTE | 59,565 | 48 km |
| 2012 | SHEEP | 50,769 | 55 km |
| 2007 | CHIMNEY COMPLEX | 50,646 | 41 km |
| 1996 | SALT COMPLEX (SALT CREEK) | 50,250 | 57 km |
| 2015 | KAMIAH GULCH | 48,459 | 36 km |
| 2012 | MCGUIRE COMPLEX | 47,257 | 81 km |
| 2017 | POWERLINE | 45,449 | 36 km |
| 2021 | DIXIE | 45,254 | 94 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.2 in | |
| February | 31°F (-1°C) | 1.6 in | |
| March | 36°F (2°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 42°F (5°C) | 2.4 in | |
| May | 49°F (9°C) | 2.9 in | Wettest |
| June | 56°F (13°C) | 2.5 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 1.1 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 in | |
| September | 55°F (13°C) | 1.6 in | |
| October | 45°F (7°C) | 1.9 in | |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 2.2 in | |
| December | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.1 in | Coldest |
Cottonwood has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 27°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 23.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.9") and July the driest (1.1").