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Weather & Climate in Ephrata, WA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ephrata experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 75°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 7.6 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 1,315 feet.
Temperature
30°F Jan (-1°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 51.5°F |
| 5% below US avg | |
| January Average | 30°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 279 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,315 ft (401 m) |
| Area | 4.0 sq mi (10.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 810/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.3123°N, 119.5343°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Grant County County |
| Nearest Airport | Grant County International (MWH) 12 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 28.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 76.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 64.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 7.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
248 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Jun 24, 1997 | 16 km WNW of Malott, Washington | M4.6 | 120 km | 10 km |
| Jun 18, 1994 | 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington | M4.3 | 135 km | -1 km |
| Jun 27, 2013 | 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington | M4.3 | 104 km | 8 km |
| Feb 18, 2015 | 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington | M4.2 | 92 km | 4 km |
| Sep 1, 2015 | 15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington | M4.2 | 117 km | 9 km |
| Nov 18, 1997 | 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington | M3.9 | 148 km | 15 km |
| Apr 15, 1991 | 4 km SE of Pateros, Washington | M3.9 | 83 km | 11 km |
| Mar 29, 2010 | 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington | M3.8 | 113 km | 1 km |
| Jan 1, 1997 | 14 km NNE of Selah, Washington | M3.7 | 92 km | 18 km |
| Sep 4, 2011 | 14 km N of Richland, Washington | M3.7 | 102 km | 2 km |
| May 18, 2008 | 11 km SSW of Benton City, Washington | M3.7 | 127 km | 20 km |
| Jul 4, 1997 | 8 km NNE of Waterville, Washington | M3.7 | 59 km | 7 km |
| Apr 6, 2025 | 12 km E of Greenwater, Washington | M3.7 | 148 km | 9 km |
| Jun 24, 1997 | 16 km NW of Malott, Washington | M3.6 | 121 km | 7 km |
| Oct 26, 1992 | 12 km N of Naches, Washington | M3.5 | 104 km | -1 km |
| Dec 24, 2000 | 8 km NNW of Entiat, Washington | M3.5 | 73 km | 7 km |
| Jun 29, 2005 | 0 km SE of Gleed, Washington | M3.5 | 110 km | 9 km |
| Oct 12, 2017 | 25 km NW of Bickleton, Washington | M3.4 | 150 km | 13 km |
| Feb 1, 1991 | 14 km NE of Naches, Washington | M3.4 | 95 km | 6 km |
| Nov 6, 1997 | 22 km SE of Desert Aire, Washington | M3.4 | 88 km | 22 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
24 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 5, 1972 | EF3 | 90 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1972 | EF2 | 54 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1997 | EF1 | 72 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 1987 | EF1 | 95 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 10, 1985 | EF1 | 53 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | EF1 | 96 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1978 | EF1 | 64 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1978 | EF1 | 84 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| May 1, 2024 | EF0 | 48 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 2023 | EF0 | 76 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| May 26, 2023 | EF0 | 18 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 22, 2016 | EF0 | 53 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2010 | EF0 | 32 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 86 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 85 km | 1.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 85 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 85 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2004 | EF0 | 58 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 11, 2003 | EF0 | 49 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1992 | EF0 | 54 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 19.8 m (65 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1949 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 19.8 m | — | 105 km |
| 2009 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 9.0 m | — | 125 km |
| 2009 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 3.6 m | — | 122 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (148 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 148 km |
| Rainier | Stratovolcano | 4,392 m (14,409 ft) | 1450 | 176 km |
| Adams | Stratovolcano | 3,742 m (12,277 ft) | 950 | 193 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PEARL HILL (217,720 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | PEARL HILL | 217,720 | 59 km |
| 2020 | COLD SPRINGS | 187,561 | 100 km |
| 2016 | RANGE 12 | 167,604 | 94 km |
| 2000 | 24 COMMAND | 162,300 | 97 km |
| 2020 | WHITNEY | 127,930 | 80 km |
| 1994 | TYEE CREEK | 123,618 | 84 km |
| 1984 | HANFORD | 122,914 | 99 km |
| 2012 | BARKER CANYON COMPLEX | 85,906 | 82 km |
| 2013 | COLOCKUM TARPS | 79,279 | 48 km |
| 2007 | WAUTOMA | 77,956 | 93 km |
| 2020 | EVANS CANYON | 76,288 | 99 km |
| 2018 | GRASS VALLEY | 76,074 | 75 km |
| 1996 | COLD CREEK | 72,859 | 81 km |
| 2018 | BOYLSTON | 66,292 | 67 km |
| 2012 | TABLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX | 65,887 | 75 km |
| 2015 | BLACK CANYON | 61,379 | 83 km |
| 2009 | DRY CREEK COMPLEX | 49,843 | 99 km |
| 2019 | COLD CREEK | 43,756 | 94 km |
| 2018 | COUGAR CREEK | 42,681 | 90 km |
| 2002 | DEER POINT | 41,348 | 92 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 in | |
| February | 35°F (2°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 0.6 in | |
| April | 51°F (10°C) | 0.6 in | |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 0.6 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 in | |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 0.2 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 0.3 in | |
| September | 62°F (17°C) | 0.3 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 0.4 in | |
| November | 38°F (3°C) | 1.1 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.4 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Ephrata has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 29°F in December to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 7.4 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.4") and July the driest (0.2").