Weather & Climate in Fairwood CDP (Spokane County), WA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Fairwood CDP (Spokane County) experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 72°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 17.4 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 1,813 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (-0°C)72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
49.8°F
8% below US avg
January Average
32°F (-0°C)
July Average
72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
273 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,813 ft (553 m)
Area
1.4 sq mi (3.6 km²)
Population Density
2,616/sq mi
Coordinates
47.7668°N, 117.4171°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Spokane County County
Nearest Airport
Spokane International (GEG) 12 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall17.4"
54% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec)2.60"
Driest Month (Jul)0.83"
Air Quality
AQI Median
28.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
90.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
21.0 / 100
Community Resilience
75.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very High
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Very Low
Avalanche
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
94 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.2.
Sep 1, 2015
15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington
M4.2
133 km
9 km
Aug 17, 1994
1 km E of Mullan, Idaho
M4.1
127 km
2 km
Nov 11, 2001
3 km NE of Spokane, Washington
M4.0
9 km
4 km
Apr 24, 2015
8 km WSW of Hope, Idaho
M3.9
90 km
17 km
Jun 25, 2001
Washington
M3.9
10 km
10 km
Jun 28, 1998
3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho
M3.8
143 km
10 km
Apr 24, 2015
12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho
M3.7
89 km
9 km
Mar 14, 1997
1 km E of Mullan, Idaho
M3.6
127 km
2 km
May 30, 1996
3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho
M3.6
125 km
1 km
Jan 20, 2000
21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho
M3.5
78 km
5 km
Jan 13, 1994
11 km SW of Lind, Washington
M3.4
138 km
0 km
Jun 25, 2001
2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington
M3.4
7 km
10 km
Dec 15, 2012
19 km S of Troy, Montana
M3.4
129 km
1 km
Mar 8, 1994
32 km S of Wallace, Idaho
M3.4
129 km
5 km
Nov 2, 1996
4 km W of Trout Creek, Montana
M3.4
132 km
5 km
Jun 28, 1997
3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho
M3.4
124 km
2 km
Jun 17, 2004
11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington
M3.4
137 km
17 km
Nov 12, 2001
3 km NNE of Spokane, Washington
M3.3
9 km
0 km
May 10, 2000
Idaho-Montana border region
M3.3
127 km
2 km
Apr 24, 2015
7 km SW of Hope, Idaho
M3.3
91 km
10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
39 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 5 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972
EF3
83 km
0.1 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF2
64 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 9, 1991
EF2
60 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 17, 1978
EF2
51 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 30, 1971
EF2
94 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 1957
EF2
36 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 15, 1954
EF2
38 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 2009
EF1
54 km
3.4 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
97 km
12.0 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
12 km
5.0 mi
0
May 29, 1994
EF1
99 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 12, 1984
EF1
15 km
1.0 mi
0
Oct 17, 1983
EF1
33 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 25, 1983
EF1
92 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 22, 1981
EF1
21 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 1980
EF1
85 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 19, 1978
EF1
84 km
1.9 mi
0
Jun 29, 1970
EF1
22 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 18, 2024
EF0
16 km
0.0 mi
0
Mar 26, 2024
EF0
63 km
0.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
9 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 19.8 m (65 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1952
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
19.8 m
—
105 km
1949
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
19.8 m
—
71 km
2024
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
14.3 m
—
104 km
1944
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.1 m
—
105 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.0 m
—
46 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
4.8 m
—
105 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
3.6 m
—
57 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
105 km
1952
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
105 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: WHITNEY (127,930 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
WHITNEY
127,930
88 km
2015
CARPENTER RD.
62,488
59 km
2019
WILLIAMS FLATS
44,680
84 km
2012
APACHE PASS
25,101
90 km
2015
TOWER
24,779
82 km
1996
LINCOLN
19,376
99 km
2008
SWANSON LAKE
18,941
74 km
2021
FORD CORKSCREW
16,179
29 km
1991
UNNAMED
12,401
26 km
2020
KEWA FIELD
11,811
81 km
2023
OREGON
10,957
30 km
2003
RATTLESNAKE CANYON
10,655
75 km
2023
GRAY
10,096
33 km
2016
CAYUSE MTN
9,744
47 km
2014
WATERMELON HILL
9,321
55 km
2015
LOWER FLAT
9,034
96 km
2022
WAGNER ROAD
8,155
85 km
2003
HATTEN ROAD
7,247
87 km
2020
INCHELIUM HIWAY
7,046
87 km
2016
SPOKANE COMPLEX
6,839
32 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (-0°C)
2.2 in
February
34°F (1°C)
1.7 in
March
40°F (5°C)
1.7 in
April
48°F (9°C)
1.4 in
May
55°F (13°C)
1.7 in
June
63°F (17°C)
1.4 in
July
72°F (22°C)
0.8 in
Warmest, Driest
August
69°F (20°C)
0.8 in
September
59°F (15°C)
0.9 in
October
47°F (9°C)
1.2 in
November
37°F (3°C)
2.5 in
December
29°F (-2°C)
2.6 in
Coldest, Wettest
Fairwood CDP (Spokane County) has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 29°F in December to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 18.9 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.6") and July the driest (0.8").