Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Harrington experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 67°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 12.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 23.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. 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 2,144 feet.
Temperature
29°F Jan (-2°C)67°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average
47.2°F
13% below US avg
January Average
29°F (-2°C)
July Average
67°F (20°C)
Sunny Days
273 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2,144 ft (653 m)
Area
0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
Population Density
1,144/sq mi
Coordinates
47.4802°N, 118.2553°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Lincoln County County
Nearest Airport
Spokane International (GEG) 35 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall12.6"
67% below US avg
Snowfall23.5"
Wettest Month (Dec)1.85"
Driest Month (Aug)0.47"
Air Quality
AQI Median
28.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
54.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
78.2 / 100
Community Resilience
59.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Moderate
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
138 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
108 km
9 km
Nov 11, 2001
3 km NE of Spokane, Washington
M4.0
68 km
4 km
Jun 25, 2001
Washington
M3.9
68 km
10 km
Apr 15, 1991
4 km SE of Pateros, Washington
M3.9
135 km
11 km
Jun 28, 1998
3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho
M3.8
147 km
10 km
Sep 4, 2011
14 km N of Richland, Washington
M3.7
141 km
2 km
Jul 4, 1997
8 km NNE of Waterville, Washington
M3.7
136 km
7 km
Jan 20, 2000
21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho
M3.5
148 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2001
2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington
M3.4
68 km
10 km
Oct 15, 2011
13 km N of Richland, Washington
M3.4
142 km
1 km
Jan 24, 1992
4 km WNW of Waterville, Washington
M3.4
142 km
6 km
Jun 17, 2004
11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington
M3.4
90 km
17 km
Jan 13, 1994
11 km SW of Lind, Washington
M3.4
74 km
0 km
Sep 13, 2012
10 km ESE of Rock Island, Washington
M3.4
134 km
9 km
Jul 24, 2017
Washington
M3.3
135 km
2 km
May 1, 2011
13 km N of Richland, Washington
M3.3
142 km
2 km
Jun 19, 1990
11 km W of Othello, Washington
M3.3
108 km
2 km
May 27, 1997
15 km W of Othello, Washington
M3.3
111 km
2 km
Nov 12, 2001
3 km NNE of Spokane, Washington
M3.3
68 km
0 km
Jan 14, 2004
2 km S of Manson, Washington
M3.3
149 km
1 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
44 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972
EF3
36 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 5, 1972
EF2
68 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 30, 1971
EF2
93 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 1957
EF2
79 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 15, 1954
EF2
66 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 2009
EF1
34 km
3.4 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF1
94 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF1
94 km
5.0 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
69 km
5.0 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
37 km
12.0 mi
0
Aug 10, 1985
EF1
81 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 12, 1984
EF1
81 km
1.0 mi
0
Oct 17, 1983
EF1
53 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 22, 1981
EF1
80 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 15, 1978
EF1
57 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 1, 1978
EF1
94 km
2.3 mi
0
Jun 29, 1970
EF1
55 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 18, 2024
EF0
56 km
0.0 mi
0
Mar 26, 2024
EF0
19 km
0.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 2023
EF0
48 km
0.9 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
—
121 km
1949
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
19.8 m
—
39 km
2024
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
14.3 m
—
122 km
1944
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.1 m
—
121 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.0 m
—
40 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
4.8 m
—
121 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
3.6 m
—
47 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
121 km
1952
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
121 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
28 km
2012
BARKER CANYON COMPLEX
85,906
93 km
2018
GRASS VALLEY
76,074
85 km
2015
CARPENTER RD.
62,488
65 km
2021
SUMMIT TRAIL
54,855
100 km
2019
WILLIAMS FLATS
44,680
58 km
2021
CHUWEAH CREEK FIRE
37,393
88 km
2014
DEVILS ELBOW COMPLEX
25,988
93 km
2012
APACHE PASS
25,101
25 km
1996
LINCOLN
19,376
35 km
2008
SWANSON LAKE
18,941
28 km
2016
BLACK ROCK ROAD
17,398
56 km
2010
UNNAMED
16,737
99 km
2007
MANILA CREEK
16,248
74 km
2021
FORD CORKSCREW
16,179
64 km
1987
COULEE CITY
12,787
76 km
2008
SMITH LAKE FIRE
12,542
82 km
1991
UNNAMED
12,401
51 km
2020
KEWA FIELD
11,811
78 km
2012
BUFFALO LAKE ROAD
11,260
75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
29°F (-2°C)
1.5 in
February
32°F (0°C)
1.2 in
March
40°F (4°C)
1.3 in
April
46°F (8°C)
0.9 in
May
54°F (12°C)
1.1 in
June
61°F (16°C)
0.9 in
July
67°F (20°C)
0.6 in
August
68°F (20°C)
0.5 in
Warmest, Driest
September
59°F (15°C)
0.6 in
October
48°F (9°C)
0.9 in
November
36°F (2°C)
1.7 in
December
27°F (-3°C)
1.9 in
Coldest, Wettest
Harrington has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 27°F in December to 68°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 13.1 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.9") and August the driest (0.5").