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Weather & Climate in John Day, OR

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

John Day experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 311 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 12.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 9.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. The city sits at an elevation of 3,076 feet.

Temperature

31°F Jan (-1°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average46.8°F
13% below US avg
January Average31°F (-1°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days311 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,076 ft (938 m)
Area1.9 sq mi (4.8 km²)
Population Density683/sq mi
Coordinates44.4181°N, 118.9563°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyGrant County County
Nearest AirportGrant County Regional/Ogilvie Field (JDA)
1 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.3"
68% below US avg
Snowfall 9.6"
Wettest Month (Dec) 1.85"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.59"

Air Quality

AQI Median32.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score32.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability80.0 / 100
Community Resilience30.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

66 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.

Jan 30, 2000 6 km SE of Condon, Oregon M4.1 127 km -1 km
Mar 22, 1997 10 km ESE of Condon, Oregon M3.9 123 km 0 km
Feb 1, 2000 7 km SE of Condon, Oregon M3.6 125 km -1 km
Jan 23, 2015 3 km N of Cayuse, Oregon M3.5 147 km 20 km
Aug 31, 1999 Washington-Oregon border region M3.5 124 km 3 km
Jan 30, 2000 8 km SE of Condon, Oregon M3.4 124 km -1 km
Aug 27, 2000 16 km W of Richland, Oregon M3.3 131 km 0 km
Jul 25, 2009 10 km NW of Brogan, Oregon M3.2 108 km 7 km
Apr 17, 1997 9 km ESE of Condon, Oregon M3.2 123 km 3 km
Aug 17, 2000 14 km NE of Condon, Oregon M3.2 131 km 14 km
Jul 13, 2000 7 km NW of Unity, Oregon M3.1 55 km 19 km
Oct 17, 1993 33 km SE of Prairie City, Oregon M3.1 44 km 13 km
Oct 1, 2003 25 km W of Richland, Oregon M3.1 121 km 21 km
Mar 23, 1997 10 km E of Condon, Oregon M3.1 126 km 17 km
Mar 23, 1997 11 km ESE of Condon, Oregon M3.1 122 km -1 km
Apr 19, 2007 63 km W of Hines, Oregon M3.1 123 km -1 km
Mar 8, 2023 8 km WSW of Richland, Oregon M3.0 138 km 9 km
Dec 16, 1993 8 km ESE of Condon, Oregon M3.0 124 km 6 km
Jan 4, 1990 16 km E of Baker City, Oregon M3.0 112 km 5 km
Mar 21, 1999 13 km ESE of Condon, Oregon M2.9 120 km 22 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

9 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jul 19, 2004 EF1 55 km 2.2 mi 0
Nov 5, 2023 EF0 4 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 27, 2023 EF0 99 km 2.1 mi 0
Jun 8, 2016 EF0 80 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 4, 2003 EF0 30 km 0.2 mi 0
Aug 9, 2001 EF0 94 km 0.5 mi 0
Aug 9, 2001 EF0 94 km 0.2 mi 0
Sep 15, 1997 EF0 88 km 0.2 mi 0
May 11, 1995 EF0 99 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Diamond Craters (148 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Diamond Craters Volcanic field 1,435 m (4,708 ft) -5610 148 km
Devils Garden Volcanic field 1,698 m (5,571 ft) Unknown 183 km
Jordan Craters Volcanic field 1,473 m (4,833 ft) -1250 186 km
Newberry Shield 2,434 m (7,986 ft) 690 197 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BATTLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX (184,979 acres, 2024).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2024 BATTLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX 184,979 70 km
2007 EGLEY COMPLEX (EGLEY) 139,515 75 km
2015 CANYON CREEK COMPLEX 109,786 16 km
2015 CORNET-WINDY RIDGE 102,553 99 km
1990 PINE SPRINGS BASIN 71,143 93 km
2014 SOUTH FORK COMPLEX 66,743 43 km
2007 MONUMENT COMPLEX (RED HILL FIRE) 54,572 70 km
1996 TOWER 50,827 72 km
2015 BENDIRE COMPLEX 49,260 92 km
2007 IRISH SPRING 47,845 73 km
2016 RAIL 43,813 49 km
1996 BULL COMPLEX (SUMMIT) 36,318 40 km
2007 BARTLETT MOUNTAIN 31,845 93 km
2015 CORNER CREEK 0297 PR 30,303 55 km
2001 MONUMENT COMPLEX (MALLORY) 29,095 65 km
2007 JUNIPER RESERVOIR 28,455 95 km
2021 BLACK BUTTE 24,736 58 km
2002 MONUMENT-MALHEUR COMPLEX (MONUMENT) 23,860 55 km
1996 WHEELER POINT 22,669 90 km
1990 BUCK SPRINGS 20,969 98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 31°F (-1°C) 1.6 in
February 32°F (0°C) 1.1 in
March 36°F (2°C) 1.3 in
April 41°F (5°C) 1.3 in
May 49°F (9°C) 1.6 in
June 56°F (13°C) 1.3 in
July 67°F (19°C) 0.6 in Warmest, Driest
August 63°F (17°C) 0.9 in
September 56°F (13°C) 0.8 in
October 47°F (8°C) 1.1 in
November 36°F (2°C) 1.7 in
December 29°F (-2°C) 1.9 in Coldest, Wettest

John Day has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 29°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.3 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.9") and July the driest (0.6").

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