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Weather & Climate in Kootenay Boundary E / West Boundary, BC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Kootenay Boundary E / West Boundary has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 63°F in July. The area gets 303 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 18.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 7.6 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 1,982 feet.
Temperature
21°F Jan (-6°C)
63°F Jul (17°C)
| Annual Average | 42.5°F |
| 21% below US avg | |
| January Average | 21°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 63°F (17°C) |
| Sunny Days | 303 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,982 ft (604 m) |
| Area | 1,657.6 sq mi (4,293.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 2/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 49.0554°N, 118.9958°W |
| Timezone | America/Vancouver |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
114 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Jun 24, 1997 | 16 km WNW of Malott, Washington | M4.6 | 101 km | 10 km |
| Aug 17, 2002 | 39 km ESE of Merritt, Canada | M4.5 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Sep 1, 2015 | 15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington | M4.2 | 83 km | 9 km |
| Sep 10, 2016 | 23 km E of Oliver, Canada | M3.9 | 24 km | 1 km |
| Apr 15, 1991 | 4 km SE of Pateros, Washington | M3.9 | 131 km | 11 km |
| Mar 3, 1998 | 16 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada | M3.8 | 49 km | 5 km |
| Jan 26, 1992 | 9 km SSE of Okanagan Falls, Canada | M3.7 | 45 km | 10 km |
| Jun 24, 1997 | 16 km NW of Malott, Washington | M3.6 | 100 km | 7 km |
| Jan 12, 1997 | 15 km N of Princeton, Canada | M3.5 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Mar 8, 1992 | 27 km SW of Princeton, Canada | M3.4 | 130 km | 5 km |
| Jul 19, 2025 | 34 km W of Okanagan Falls, Canada | M3.4 | 84 km | 7 km |
| Apr 28, 2023 | 38 km SW of Princeton, Canada | M3.4 | 135 km | 5 km |
| Oct 27, 1991 | 21 km N of Castlegar, Canada | M3.3 | 113 km | 7 km |
| Aug 20, 1990 | 23 km NW of Nelson, Canada | M3.3 | 123 km | -1 km |
| Apr 20, 2025 | 8 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.2 | 50 km | 15 km |
| Mar 3, 1998 | 15 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada | M3.2 | 50 km | 5 km |
| Apr 13, 2025 | 7 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.2 | 50 km | 15 km |
| Aug 20, 2003 | 39 km ESE of Merritt, Canada | M3.2 | 137 km | 10 km |
| May 28, 2022 | 55 km NE of Marblemount, Washington | M3.2 | 136 km | 0 km |
| May 15, 2025 | 9 km NW of Tonasket, Washington | M3.1 | 49 km | 15 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
8 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 | — | 82 km |
| 1949 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 19.8 m | — | 145 km |
| 2024 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 14.3 m | — | 83 km |
| 1944 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 9.1 m | — | 82 km |
| 1953 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 4.8 m | — | 82 km |
| 2009 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 3.6 m | — | 143 km |
| 1953 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 82 km |
| 1952 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | — | — | 82 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (188 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 188 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: NORTH STAR (218,547 acres, 2015).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2015 | NORTH STAR | 218,547 | 71 km |
| 2015 | TUNK BLOCK | 180,111 | 69 km |
| 2015 | LIMEBELT | 137,098 | 80 km |
| 2017 | DIAMOND CREEK | 117,527 | 99 km |
| 2006 | TRIPOD COMPLEX (SPUR PEAK) | 115,123 | 76 km |
| 2003 | FAWN PEAK COMPLEX (FAREWELL) | 77,444 | 89 km |
| 2021 | CUB CREEK 2 | 74,601 | 95 km |
| 2021 | WHITMORE | 59,925 | 96 km |
| 2006 | TRIPOD COMPLEX (TRIPOD) | 59,712 | 93 km |
| 2021 | SUMMIT TRAIL | 54,855 | 87 km |
| 2015 | STICKPIN | 54,119 | 49 km |
| 2001 | ST MARYS | 34,914 | 87 km |
| 1985 | BARKER MT | 32,839 | 44 km |
| 2021 | WALKER CREEK | 26,165 | 30 km |
| 2014 | DEVILS ELBOW COMPLEX | 25,988 | 91 km |
| 2008 | COLUMBIA RIVER ROAD | 22,628 | 97 km |
| 1988 | WHITE MOUNTAIN | 21,855 | 66 km |
| 2012 | ST MARYS MISSION ROAD | 21,454 | 87 km |
| 2020 | PALMER | 18,015 | 47 km |
| 1996 | TIMBERLINE COMPLEX | 17,009 | 77 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°F (-6°C) | 1.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.2 in | |
| March | 35°F (1°C) | 1.1 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 1.4 in | |
| May | 51°F (10°C) | 2.1 in | |
| June | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 in | Wettest |
| July | 63°F (17°C) | 1.4 in | |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 1.4 in | Warmest |
| September | 54°F (12°C) | 1.1 in | Driest |
| October | 43°F (6°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 31°F (-1°C) | 1.7 in | |
| December | 22°F (-6°C) | 2.0 in |
Kootenay Boundary E / West Boundary has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 21°F in January to 64°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 18.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (2.2") and September the driest (1.1").