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Weather & Climate in Ellensburg, WA

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

Ellensburg experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 72°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 9.2 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 1,558 feet.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average50.1°F
7% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days279 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,558 ft (475 m)
Area3.0 sq mi (7.7 km²)
Population Density2,179/sq mi
Coordinates47.0012°N, 120.5496°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKittitas County County
Nearest AirportGrant County International (MWH)
60 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 9.2"
76% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 2.56"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.35"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score89.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability40.2 / 100
Community Resilience64.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively High
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

500 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 M5.4 131 km 4 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 144 km 15 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 147 km 29 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 88 km -1 km
Jun 27, 2013 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington M4.3 92 km 8 km
Jun 17, 2010 30 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.2 100 km 3 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 32 km 4 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 106 km 12 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 79 km -1 km
Oct 9, 1998 20 km S of White Swan, Washington M4.0 90 km 2 km
Aug 8, 2023 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.9 114 km 16 km
Aug 7, 1992 8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon M3.9 147 km 0 km
Jun 25, 2004 17 km W of Packwood, Washington M3.9 111 km -1 km
Apr 15, 1991 4 km SE of Pateros, Washington M3.9 125 km 11 km
Nov 18, 1997 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington M3.9 96 km 15 km
Sep 10, 1994 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington M3.9 109 km 17 km
Jan 3, 2018 37 km SSE of Morton, Washington M3.9 142 km 10 km
Sep 12, 2015 3 km NE of North Bend, Washington M3.9 107 km 19 km
Mar 29, 2010 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington M3.8 31 km 1 km
Jul 13, 1995 13 km ENE of Ashford, Washington M3.7 103 km 7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 30, 1957 EF2 45 km 1.0 mi 0
May 1, 2024 EF0 38 km 0.4 mi 0
May 26, 2023 EF0 86 km 0.4 mi 0
Aug 13, 2014 EF0 95 km 0.3 mi 0
Apr 7, 2008 EF0 50 km 0.1 mi 0
May 9, 2005 EF0 43 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 23, 2005 EF0 82 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 23, 2005 EF0 75 km 0.1 mi 0
May 19, 2004 EF0 52 km 0.3 mi 0
May 15, 2000 EF0 65 km 0.2 mi 0
May 9, 1999 EF0 37 km — 0
Aug 26, 1997 EF0 70 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 4, 1992 EF0 79 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 1, 1979 EF0 96 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 147 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rainier (93 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 93 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 114 km
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 131 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 153 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 154 km
West Crater Volcanic field 1,329 m (4,360 ft) -5750 171 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 77 km
2000 24 COMMAND 162,300 97 km
1994 TYEE CREEK 123,618 92 km
1984 HANFORD 122,914 98 km
2021 SCHNEIDER SPRINGS 114,743 46 km
2013 COLOCKUM TARPS 79,279 37 km
2007 WAUTOMA 77,956 87 km
2020 EVANS CANYON 76,288 20 km
1996 COLD CREEK 72,859 52 km
2018 BOYLSTON 66,292 37 km
2012 TABLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX 65,887 32 km
2017 NORSE PEAK 51,017 65 km
2009 DRY CREEK COMPLEX 49,843 74 km
2024 RETREAT 44,681 44 km
2019 COLD CREEK 43,756 90 km
2018 COUGAR CREEK 42,681 91 km
2017 JOLLY MOUNTAIN 38,159 50 km
1988 DINKELMAN 36,246 72 km
2003 UMTANUM RIDGE 34,351 51 km
2017 SILVER DOLLAR 30,789 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 2.4 in
February 32°F (0°C) 1.5 in
March 40°F (4°C) 1.1 in
April 47°F (8°C) 0.8 in
May 54°F (12°C) 0.7 in
June 61°F (16°C) 0.7 in
July 72°F (22°C) 0.4 in Warmest, Driest
August 68°F (20°C) 0.5 in
September 59°F (15°C) 0.6 in
October 48°F (9°C) 0.9 in
November 36°F (2°C) 2.1 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 2.6 in Coldest, Wettest

Ellensburg has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 27°F in December to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.2 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.6") and July the driest (0.4").

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