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Weather & Climate in Cowiche, WA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Cowiche experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 279 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 8.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). 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 1,749 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (1°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 52.9°F |
| 2% below US avg | |
| January Average | 33°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 279 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,749 ft (533 m) |
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 541/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.6719°N, 120.7119°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Yakima County County |
| Nearest Airport | Grant County International (MWH) 75 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 28.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 94.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 63.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 13.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Volcano | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1,192 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.4.
| May 3, 1996 | 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington | M5.4 | 150 km | 4 km |
| Jan 29, 1995 | 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington | M5.0 | 148 km | 15 km |
| Feb 14, 2011 | 31 km S of Morton, Washington | M4.3 | 123 km | 4 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington | M4.3 | 114 km | -1 km |
| Jun 27, 2013 | 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington | M4.3 | 128 km | 8 km |
| Jun 17, 2010 | 30 km S of White Swan, Washington | M4.2 | 63 km | 3 km |
| Feb 18, 2015 | 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington | M4.2 | 64 km | 4 km |
| May 20, 1995 | 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington | M4.1 | 96 km | 12 km |
| Aug 16, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington | M4.0 | 58 km | -1 km |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 20 km S of White Swan, Washington | M4.0 | 52 km | 2 km |
| Aug 8, 2023 | 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington | M3.9 | 131 km | 16 km |
| Sep 10, 1994 | 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington | M3.9 | 111 km | 17 km |
| Aug 7, 1992 | 8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon | M3.9 | 125 km | 0 km |
| Jun 25, 2004 | 17 km W of Packwood, Washington | M3.9 | 91 km | -1 km |
| Nov 18, 1997 | 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington | M3.9 | 62 km | 15 km |
| Oct 1, 2004 | 37 km NNE of Amboy, Washington | M3.9 | 125 km | -1 km |
| Jan 3, 2018 | 37 km SSE of Morton, Washington | M3.9 | 113 km | 10 km |
| Sep 12, 2015 | 3 km NE of North Bend, Washington | M3.9 | 123 km | 19 km |
| Mar 29, 2010 | 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington | M3.8 | 41 km | 1 km |
| May 18, 2008 | 11 km SSW of Benton City, Washington | M3.7 | 105 km | 20 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
11 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 30, 1957 | EF2 | 18 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 1, 2024 | EF0 | 67 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Aug 13, 2014 | EF0 | 80 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2008 | EF0 | 17 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 2005 | EF0 | 19 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 23, 2005 | EF0 | 54 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 23, 2005 | EF0 | 47 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2004 | EF0 | 90 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 15, 2000 | EF0 | 43 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 1999 | EF0 | 7 km | — | 0 |
| Aug 26, 1997 | EF0 | 33 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
2 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 | 124 km |
| 1894 | PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA | Meteorological | 3.0 m | 2 | 148 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
7 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Adams (79 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Adams | Stratovolcano | 3,742 m (12,277 ft) | 950 | 79 km |
| Rainier | Stratovolcano | 4,392 m (14,409 ft) | 1450 | 82 km |
| Indian Heaven | Shield(s) | 1,806 m (5,925 ft) | -6250 | 119 km |
| St. Helens | Stratovolcano | 2,549 m (8,363 ft) | 2008 | 124 km |
| West Crater | Volcanic field | 1,329 m (4,360 ft) | -5750 | 137 km |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 163 km |
| Hood | Stratovolcano | 3,426 m (11,240 ft) | 1866 | 163 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: RANGE 12 (167,604 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | RANGE 12 | 167,604 | 67 km |
| 2000 | 24 COMMAND | 162,300 | 90 km |
| 1984 | HANFORD | 122,914 | 92 km |
| 2021 | SCHNEIDER SPRINGS | 114,743 | 35 km |
| 2000 | MULE DRY | 90,184 | 91 km |
| 2013 | COLOCKUM TARPS | 79,279 | 72 km |
| 2007 | WAUTOMA | 77,956 | 80 km |
| 2020 | EVANS CANYON | 76,288 | 18 km |
| 1996 | COLD CREEK | 72,859 | 51 km |
| 2018 | BOYLSTON | 66,292 | 50 km |
| 2012 | TABLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX | 65,887 | 70 km |
| 2023 | NEWELL ROAD | 61,833 | 96 km |
| 2015 | COUGAR CREEK | 51,866 | 75 km |
| 2017 | NORSE PEAK | 51,017 | 64 km |
| 2009 | DRY CREEK COMPLEX | 49,843 | 62 km |
| 2024 | RETREAT | 44,681 | 18 km |
| 2019 | COLD CREEK | 43,756 | 84 km |
| 2017 | JOLLY MOUNTAIN | 38,159 | 77 km |
| 2003 | UMTANUM RIDGE | 34,351 | 50 km |
| 2017 | SILVER DOLLAR | 30,789 | 72 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (1°C) | 3.0 in | |
| February | 32°F (0°C) | 1.9 in | |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 1.5 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 1.1 in | |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 0.8 in | |
| June | 60°F (16°C) | 0.8 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 0.4 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 67°F (20°C) | 0.5 in | |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 0.6 in | |
| October | 48°F (9°C) | 1.2 in | |
| November | 36°F (2°C) | 2.6 in | |
| December | 27°F (-3°C) | 3.2 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Cowiche has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 27°F in December to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 17.4 inches, with December being the wettest month (3.2") and July the driest (0.4").