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Weather & Climate in Kalama, WA

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

Kalama experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July. The area gets 240 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 48.1 inches (wetter 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 359 feet.

Temperature

41°F Jan (5°C) 66°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average53.2°F
1% below US avg
January Average41°F (5°C)
July Average66°F (19°C)
Sunny Days240 days/yr

Geography

Elevation359 ft (109 m)
Area3.8 sq mi (9.9 km²)
Population Density832/sq mi
Coordinates46.0171°N, 122.8419°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyCowlitz County County
Nearest AirportSouthwest Washington Regional (KLS)
7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.1"
27% above US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 9.06"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.06"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability36.2 / 100
Community Resilience59.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Very Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Volcano Relatively High
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1,062 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.8.

Feb 28, 2001 7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington M6.8 126 km 52 km
Jul 3, 1999 8 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.8 127 km 40 km
Mar 25, 1993 4 km E of Scotts Mills, Oregon M5.6 111 km 20 km
Jun 10, 2001 18 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.0 138 km 40 km
Jun 29, 2002 6 km ENE of Government Camp, Oregon M4.5 118 km 5 km
Feb 14, 2011 31 km S of Morton, Washington M4.3 57 km 4 km
Jul 22, 2001 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington M4.3 120 km 52 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 118 km 12 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 128 km -1 km
Jun 6, 2021 6 km NE of Government Camp, Oregon M3.9 117 km 4 km
Jun 25, 2004 17 km W of Packwood, Washington M3.9 100 km -1 km
Oct 1, 2004 37 km NNE of Amboy, Washington M3.9 54 km -1 km
Sep 10, 1994 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington M3.9 146 km 17 km
Apr 24, 2003 3 km NW of North Portland, Oregon M3.9 44 km 17 km
Jan 3, 2018 37 km SSE of Morton, Washington M3.9 66 km 10 km
Feb 8, 1995 9 km ESE of Hubbard, Oregon M3.8 98 km 24 km
Jun 29, 2002 7 km NE of Government Camp, Oregon M3.8 117 km 5 km
Aug 3, 2006 2 km WNW of Cherry Grove, Washington M3.8 30 km 14 km
Jun 12, 2021 3 km WSW of Skokomish, Washington M3.8 147 km 44 km
Jun 8, 1993 5 km ESE of Scotts Mills, Oregon M3.7 111 km 19 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

61 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 6 fatalities, 303 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972 EF3 49 km 8.7 mi 6
Oct 14, 2016 EF2 91 km 0.7 mi 0
Dec 8, 1993 EF2 82 km 6.0 mi 0
Nov 10, 1965 EF2 76 km 1.5 mi 0
Dec 10, 2015 EF1 36 km 0.8 mi 0
Oct 23, 2014 EF1 15 km 1.3 mi 0
Jun 13, 2013 EF1 93 km 0.3 mi 0
Jan 10, 2008 EF1 39 km 10.1 mi 0
May 27, 2004 EF1 91 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 9, 2000 EF1 80 km 0.1 mi 0
Oct 9, 2000 EF1 98 km 0.1 mi 0
Nov 12, 1991 EF1 71 km 0.2 mi 0
Nov 12, 1991 EF1 63 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 29, 1989 EF1 20 km 1.6 mi 0
Mar 28, 1985 EF1 19 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 13, 1984 EF1 13 km 3.0 mi 0
Aug 16, 1978 EF1 27 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 3, 1967 EF1 85 km 0.5 mi 0
Apr 12, 1957 EF1 84 km 2.5 mi 0
Nov 11, 2024 EF0 96 km 0.3 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 250.0 m (820 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1980 WASHINGTON Explosion 250.0 m 61 55 km
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 144 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m 145 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Eruption + Earthquake 8 129 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

8 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: St. Helens (55 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 55 km
West Crater Volcanic field 1,329 m (4,360 ft) -5750 61 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 80 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 106 km
Hood Stratovolcano 3,426 m (11,240 ft) 1866 114 km
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 125 km
Jefferson Stratovolcano 3,199 m (10,495 ft) 950 170 km
Sand Mountain Field Pyroclastic cone(s) 1,664 m (5,459 ft) -950 196 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

7 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: EAGLE CREEK (48,816 acres, 2017).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2017 EAGLE CREEK 48,816 83 km
2020 BIG HOLLOW 24,243 60 km
2022 SIOUXON 2,551 57 km
2023 CAMP CREEK 2,056 86 km
2022 NAKIA CREEK 1,737 55 km
2020 DOWTY RD 1,424 84 km
1991 FALLS 1,389 74 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 41°F (5°C) 8.5 in
February 42°F (6°C) 6.6 in
March 46°F (8°C) 5.6 in
April 49°F (10°C) 4.1 in
May 55°F (13°C) 3.0 in
June 59°F (15°C) 2.3 in
July 66°F (19°C) 1.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 64°F (18°C) 1.4 in
September 60°F (16°C) 2.6 in
October 52°F (11°C) 4.6 in
November 44°F (7°C) 8.7 in
December 40°F (4°C) 9.1 in Coldest, Wettest

Kalama has a seasonal temperature swing of 27°F / from 40°F in December to 66°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 57.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (9.1") and July the driest (1.1").

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