All Countries
Weather & Climate in Cougar, WA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Cougar experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 226 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 115.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 16.2 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 575 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 52.6°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 40°F (4°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 226 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 575 ft (175 m) |
| Area | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 55/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.0493°N, 122.3034°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Cowlitz County County |
| Nearest Airport | Southwest Washington Regional (KLS) 29 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 28.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 90.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 36.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 59.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1,120 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 | 127 km | 52 km |
| Jul 3, 1999 | 8 km N of Satsop, Washington | M5.8 | 144 km | 40 km |
| Mar 25, 1993 | 4 km E of Scotts Mills, Oregon | M5.6 | 115 km | 20 km |
| Jan 29, 1995 | 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington | M5.0 | 149 km | 15 km |
| Jun 29, 2002 | 6 km ENE of Government Camp, Oregon | M4.5 | 93 km | 5 km |
| Feb 14, 2011 | 31 km S of Morton, Washington | M4.3 | 27 km | 4 km |
| Jul 22, 2001 | 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington | M4.3 | 119 km | 52 km |
| Jul 14, 2008 | 11 km ESE of Maupin, Oregon | M4.2 | 147 km | 16 km |
| Jun 17, 2010 | 30 km S of White Swan, Washington | M4.2 | 121 km | 3 km |
| May 20, 1995 | 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | M4.1 | 97 km | 12 km |
| Aug 16, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington | M4.0 | 94 km | -1 km |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 20 km S of White Swan, Washington | M4.0 | 124 km | 2 km |
| Jun 6, 2021 | 6 km NE of Government Camp, Oregon | M3.9 | 92 km | 4 km |
| Nov 18, 1997 | 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington | M3.9 | 142 km | 15 km |
| Oct 1, 2004 | 37 km NNE of Amboy, Washington | M3.9 | 18 km | -1 km |
| Sep 10, 1994 | 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington | M3.9 | 129 km | 17 km |
| Jun 25, 2004 | 17 km W of Packwood, Washington | M3.9 | 72 km | -1 km |
| Apr 24, 2003 | 3 km NW of North Portland, Oregon | M3.9 | 57 km | 17 km |
| Jan 3, 2018 | 37 km SSE of Morton, Washington | M3.9 | 30 km | 10 km |
| Feb 8, 1995 | 9 km ESE of Hubbard, Oregon | M3.8 | 106 km | 24 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
47 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 6 fatalities, 302 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 5, 1972 | EF3 | 56 km | 8.7 mi | 6 |
| Dec 8, 1993 | EF2 | 99 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 10, 1965 | EF2 | 86 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Dec 10, 2015 | EF1 | 36 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Oct 23, 2014 | EF1 | 50 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| Jan 10, 2008 | EF1 | 51 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 2004 | EF1 | 99 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2000 | EF1 | 84 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 12, 1991 | EF1 | 83 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Nov 12, 1991 | EF1 | 56 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1989 | EF1 | 34 km | 1.6 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1985 | EF1 | 48 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Oct 13, 1984 | EF1 | 37 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1978 | EF1 | 54 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1957 | EF1 | 75 km | 2.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 28, 2024 | EF0 | 54 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2023 | EF0 | 36 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 22, 2022 | EF0 | 76 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 27, 2021 | EF0 | 38 km | 3.9 mi | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2020 | EF0 | 47 km | 1.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 250.0 m (820 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1980 | WASHINGTON | Explosion | 250.0 m | 61 | 19 km |
| 1894 | PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA | Meteorological | 3.0 m | 2 | 138 km |
| 1949 | PUGET SOUND, WA | Meteorological | 2.4 m | — | 140 km |
| 1949 | PUGET SOUND, WA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | 8 | 127 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
9 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: St. Helens (19 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| St. Helens | Stratovolcano | 2,549 m (8,363 ft) | 2008 | 19 km |
| West Crater | Volcanic field | 1,329 m (4,360 ft) | -5750 | 26 km |
| Indian Heaven | Shield(s) | 1,806 m (5,925 ft) | -6250 | 40 km |
| Adams | Stratovolcano | 3,742 m (12,277 ft) | 950 | 65 km |
| Hood | Stratovolcano | 3,426 m (11,240 ft) | 1866 | 89 km |
| Rainier | Stratovolcano | 4,392 m (14,409 ft) | 1450 | 99 km |
| Jefferson | Stratovolcano | 3,199 m (10,495 ft) | 950 | 158 km |
| Sand Mountain Field | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 1,664 m (5,459 ft) | -950 | 188 km |
| Belknap | Shield(s) | 2,095 m (6,873 ft) | 480 | 200 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: COUGAR CREEK (51,866 acres, 2015).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2015 | COUGAR CREEK | 51,866 | 73 km |
| 2017 | EAGLE CREEK | 48,816 | 56 km |
| 2020 | BIG HOLLOW | 24,243 | 21 km |
| 2012 | CASCADE CREEK | 20,655 | 60 km |
| 2002 | SHELDON RIDGE | 11,665 | 91 km |
| 2000 | RANGE | 11,520 | 89 km |
| 2013 | GOVERNMENT FLATS COMPLEX | 10,993 | 93 km |
| 2008 | COLD SPRINGS | 8,966 | 68 km |
| 2022 | GOAT ROCKS | 6,658 | 87 km |
| 2011 | DOLLAR LAKE | 6,069 | 84 km |
| 2014 | 36 PIT | 5,838 | 95 km |
| 2018 | MIRIAM | 5,719 | 94 km |
| 1994 | YEDLICK | 4,322 | 87 km |
| 2009 | DISCOVERY | 4,240 | 97 km |
| 2008 | GNARL RIDGE | 3,502 | 91 km |
| 2014 | ROWENA | 3,406 | 92 km |
| 2022 | SIOUXON | 2,551 | 19 km |
| 1992 | SNOOKUM | 2,380 | 96 km |
| 1998 | ROWENA | 2,182 | 93 km |
| 2010 | HIWAY 8 | 2,135 | 88 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F (4°C) | 15.5 in | |
| February | 38°F (3°C) | 11.9 in | |
| March | 40°F (5°C) | 10.2 in | |
| April | 44°F (6°C) | 7.1 in | |
| May | 50°F (10°C) | 4.9 in | |
| June | 55°F (13°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 1.5 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 61°F (16°C) | 2.1 in | |
| September | 56°F (14°C) | 4.3 in | |
| October | 49°F (9°C) | 7.7 in | |
| November | 40°F (5°C) | 15.0 in | |
| December | 35°F (2°C) | 16.1 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Cougar has a seasonal temperature swing of 32°F / from 35°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 99.9 inches, with December being the wettest month (16.1") and July the driest (1.5").