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Weather & Climate in Kirkland, WA

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

Kirkland experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 240 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 46.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 13.8 inches of snow annually. 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 82 feet.

Temperature

41°F Jan (5°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average51.5°F
5% below US avg
January Average41°F (5°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days240 days/yr

Geography

Elevation82 ft (25 m)
Area4.9 sq mi (12.6 km²)
Population Density5,144/sq mi
Coordinates47.6967°N, 122.2042°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKitsap County County
Nearest AirportBoeing Field/King County International (BFI)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.7"
23% above US avg
Snowfall 13.8"
Wettest Month (Dec) 6.26"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.14"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score92.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability12.2 / 100
Community Resilience72.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

762 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 73 km 52 km
Jul 3, 1999 8 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.8 117 km 40 km
May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 26 km 4 km
Jun 10, 2001 18 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.0 114 km 40 km
Apr 14, 1990 4 km ENE of Deming, Washington M5.0 128 km 12 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 37 km 15 km
Jun 23, 1997 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington M4.9 30 km 13 km
Apr 25, 2003 26 km W of Brinnon, Washington M4.8 78 km 51 km
Jan 30, 2009 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington M4.7 30 km 62 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 24 km 29 km
Mar 3, 2025 2025 Orcas Island, Washington M4.5 111 km 16 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 71 km -1 km
Jul 22, 2001 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington M4.3 77 km 52 km
Apr 2, 1990 2 km ENE of Deming, Washington M4.3 126 km 0 km
Jun 27, 2013 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington M4.3 114 km 8 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 120 km 4 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 93 km 12 km
Sep 21, 2002 9 km SW of Friday Harbor, Washington M4.1 111 km 23 km
Feb 23, 2017 11 km NE of Hoodsport, Washington M4.1 67 km 15 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 127 km -1 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

26 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Dec 12, 1969 EF3 26 km 3.8 mi 0
Dec 18, 2018 EF2 39 km 1.4 mi 0
May 13, 1986 EF2 59 km 0.3 mi 0
Nov 24, 1970 EF2 45 km 0.3 mi 0
Oct 18, 2019 EF1 73 km 0.7 mi 0
Jan 18, 2015 EF1 50 km 4.1 mi 0
Sep 30, 2013 EF1 69 km 1.0 mi 0
Sep 6, 2009 EF1 57 km 9.6 mi 0
May 18, 2005 EF1 56 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 27, 2001 EF1 58 km 2.3 mi 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 55 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 12, 1978 EF1 64 km 1.5 mi 0
Dec 22, 1971 EF1 34 km 0.5 mi 0
Oct 26, 1971 EF1 37 km 3.0 mi 0
Sep 28, 1962 EF1 23 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 27, 2014 EF0 93 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 16, 2006 EF0 40 km 0.5 mi 0
Jan 28, 2006 EF0 89 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 5, 2004 EF0 59 km 0.1 mi 0
Oct 15, 2003 EF0 90 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 49 km
1891 WASHINGTON Eruption + Earthquake 2.4 m — 102 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m — 51 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Eruption + Earthquake — 8 67 km
1820 CAMANO ISLAND, WA Meteorological — — 42 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (94 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 94 km
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 100 km
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 124 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 166 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 174 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 199 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: NORSE PEAK (51,017 acres, 2017).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2017 NORSE PEAK 51,017 98 km
2022 BOLT CREEK 15,211 60 km
2023 AIRPLANE LAKE 7,576 94 km
2017 JACK CREEK 5,184 99 km
2022 SUIATTLE RIVER 4,400 91 km
2023 DELABARRE 4,176 94 km
2022 IRVING PEAK 3,983 92 km
2018 MAPLE 3,547 72 km
2016 HAYES TWO 2,679 90 km
2022 BOULDER LAKE 2,347 94 km
2020 DOWNEY CREEK 2,324 98 km
2022 LOCH KATRINE 2,163 43 km
1988 FALLS CREEK 2,152 93 km
2011 BIG HUMP 1,400 68 km
2021 NASON 1,353 95 km
1990 WHITE RIVER 1,319 92 km
1985 BEAVER 1,107 88 km
2003 SQUARE LAKE FIRE 1,106 84 km
2006 POLLALIE 1,070 87 km
2017 SAWMILL CREEK 1,056 82 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 41°F (5°C) 5.3 in
February 43°F (6°C) 4.1 in
March 46°F (8°C) 4.3 in
April 49°F (10°C) 3.2 in
May 55°F (13°C) 2.2 in
June 60°F (16°C) 1.9 in
July 67°F (19°C) 1.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 65°F (18°C) 1.3 in
September 60°F (15°C) 2.0 in
October 52°F (11°C) 3.5 in
November 44°F (7°C) 5.8 in
December 40°F (4°C) 6.3 in Coldest, Wettest

Kirkland has a seasonal temperature swing of 27°F / from 40°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 41.0 inches, with December being the wettest month (6.3") and July the driest (1.1").

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