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Weather & Climate in Dayton, WA

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

Dayton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 273 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 17.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 8.4 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 1,617 feet.

Temperature

34°F Jan (1°C) 69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average49.8°F
8% below US avg
January Average34°F (1°C)
July Average69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,617 ft (493 m)
Area0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
Population Density1,872/sq mi
Coordinates46.3168°N, 117.9768°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyColumbia County County
Nearest AirportWalla Walla Regional (ALW)
21 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 17.6"
54% below US avg
Snowfall 8.4"
Wettest Month (Nov) 2.80"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.63"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score8.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability51.9 / 100
Community Resilience43.2 / 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 Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

117 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 45 km 9 km
Jul 14, 1992 6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.1 44 km 11 km
Aug 7, 1992 8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon M3.9 134 km 0 km
Jun 28, 1998 3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho M3.8 86 km 10 km
May 18, 2008 11 km SSW of Benton City, Washington M3.7 122 km 20 km
Sep 4, 2011 14 km N of Richland, Washington M3.7 99 km 2 km
Jan 23, 2015 3 km N of Cayuse, Oregon M3.5 81 km 20 km
Jan 13, 1994 11 km SW of Lind, Washington M3.4 84 km 0 km
Oct 15, 2011 13 km N of Richland, Washington M3.4 99 km 1 km
Jun 17, 2004 11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington M3.4 44 km 17 km
Nov 6, 1997 22 km SE of Desert Aire, Washington M3.4 135 km 22 km
Dec 15, 1991 6 km SSW of Walla Walla East, Washington M3.3 45 km 8 km
May 11, 2001 4 km NNW of Moses Lake North, Washington M3.3 146 km 11 km
May 27, 1997 15 km W of Othello, Washington M3.3 121 km 2 km
Jun 19, 1990 11 km W of Othello, Washington M3.3 118 km 2 km
May 1, 2011 13 km N of Richland, Washington M3.3 99 km 2 km
Feb 28, 2004 10 km WSW of Wallula, Washington M3.3 86 km 1 km
Apr 22, 1990 20 km SE of Desert Aire, Washington M3.3 137 km 21 km
Jun 12, 1995 13 km N of Richland, Washington M3.3 99 km 1 km
Jun 16, 2019 11 km SW of Royal City, Washington M3.3 146 km 2 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Aug 30, 1971 EF2 82 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 11, 1968 EF2 74 km 9.6 mi 0
Mar 14, 1966 EF2 25 km 1.0 mi 0
May 8, 1962 EF2 91 km 9.1 mi 0
Jun 26, 1958 EF2 78 km 0.3 mi 0
May 6, 2022 EF1 64 km 2.9 mi 0
May 6, 2009 EF1 78 km 1.6 mi 0
Jan 16, 2000 EF1 2 km 1.0 mi 0
Apr 23, 1983 EF1 82 km 3.0 mi 0
Jul 1, 1978 EF1 79 km 2.3 mi 0
May 2, 1973 EF1 88 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 20, 1969 EF1 93 km 1.0 mi 0
Mar 5, 2024 EF0 60 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 27, 2023 EF0 44 km 0.1 mi 0
May 22, 2016 EF0 93 km 0.2 mi 0
May 6, 2009 EF0 89 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 13, 2002 EF0 95 km 0.2 mi 0
May 31, 1997 EF0 78 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 1, 1991 EF0 86 km 0.1 mi 0
May 1, 1991 EF0 85 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: MALONEY CREEK (131,397 acres, 2000).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2000 MALONEY CREEK 131,397 99 km
2006 COLUMBIA COMPLEX 118,865 21 km
2021 SHOVEL CREEK 109,829 95 km
2021 LICK CREEK 80,376 44 km
2015 BUTTE CREEK 79,418 44 km
2012 CACHE CREEK 75,521 95 km
2014 BIG COUGAR 65,397 94 km
1988 TEEPEE BUTTE 59,565 97 km
2005 SCHOOL 51,701 28 km
2007 CHIMNEY COMPLEX 50,646 90 km
2017 POWERLINE 45,449 98 km
2021 GREEN RIDGE 44,604 32 km
1986 JOSEPH/STARVATION 37,064 80 km
2021 ELBOW CREEK 23,103 58 km
1996 UNNAMED 21,130 73 km
2005 WALKER CANYON 20,764 47 km
2010 EUREKA 19,811 46 km
2023 HAT ROCK 17,264 90 km
2020 KAHLOTUS 16,738 55 km
2010 UNNAMED 16,737 47 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 34°F (1°C) 2.7 in
February 36°F (2°C) 2.1 in
March 40°F (5°C) 2.1 in
April 46°F (8°C) 1.7 in
May 53°F (12°C) 1.7 in
June 59°F (15°C) 1.3 in
July 69°F (21°C) 0.6 in Warmest, Driest
August 67°F (19°C) 0.8 in
September 58°F (15°C) 1.0 in
October 48°F (9°C) 1.7 in
November 38°F (3°C) 2.8 in Wettest
December 31°F (-0°C) 2.8 in Coldest

Dayton has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 31°F in December to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 21.2 inches, with November being the wettest month (2.8") and July the driest (0.6").

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