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Weather & Climate in Moses Lake, WA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Moses Lake experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 279 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 7.8 inches (drier 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 1,060 feet.
Temperature
30°F Jan (-1°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 50.9°F |
| 6% below US avg | |
| January Average | 30°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 279 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,060 ft (323 m) |
| Area | 8.1 sq mi (20.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,411/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.1279°N, 119.2764°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Grant County County |
| Nearest Airport | Grant County International (MWH) 6 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 28.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 76.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 64.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 7.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
248 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 | 145 km | 10 km |
| Nov 28, 1991 | 7 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington | M4.3 | 146 km | 9 km |
| Jun 27, 2013 | 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington | M4.3 | 131 km | 8 km |
| Feb 18, 2015 | 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington | M4.2 | 112 km | 4 km |
| Sep 1, 2015 | 15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington | M4.2 | 133 km | 9 km |
| Jul 14, 1992 | 6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington | M4.1 | 146 km | 11 km |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 20 km S of White Swan, Washington | M4.0 | 150 km | 2 km |
| Apr 15, 1991 | 4 km SE of Pateros, Washington | M3.9 | 109 km | 11 km |
| Nov 18, 1997 | 20 km NW of Bickleton, Washington | M3.9 | 143 km | 15 km |
| Aug 7, 1992 | 8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon | M3.9 | 143 km | 0 km |
| Mar 29, 2010 | 10 km NE of Cliffdell, Washington | M3.8 | 128 km | 1 km |
| Jul 4, 1997 | 8 km NNE of Waterville, Washington | M3.7 | 87 km | 7 km |
| Sep 4, 2011 | 14 km N of Richland, Washington | M3.7 | 80 km | 2 km |
| May 18, 2008 | 11 km SSW of Benton City, Washington | M3.7 | 109 km | 20 km |
| Jan 1, 1997 | 14 km NNE of Selah, Washington | M3.7 | 98 km | 18 km |
| Jun 24, 1997 | 16 km NW of Malott, Washington | M3.6 | 146 km | 7 km |
| Dec 24, 2000 | 8 km NNW of Entiat, Washington | M3.5 | 101 km | 7 km |
| Jun 29, 2005 | 0 km SE of Gleed, Washington | M3.5 | 114 km | 9 km |
| Oct 26, 1992 | 12 km N of Naches, Washington | M3.5 | 114 km | -1 km |
| Oct 12, 2017 | 25 km NW of Bickleton, Washington | M3.4 | 145 km | 13 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
27 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 5, 1972 | EF3 | 90 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1972 | EF2 | 65 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1997 | EF1 | 71 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 10, 1985 | EF1 | 25 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | EF1 | 70 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1978 | EF1 | 71 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1978 | EF1 | 56 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| May 1, 2024 | EF0 | 59 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Mar 26, 2024 | EF0 | 97 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 2023 | EF0 | 79 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| May 26, 2023 | EF0 | 13 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2020 | EF0 | 89 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 22, 2016 | EF0 | 73 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 13, 2014 | EF0 | 98 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2010 | EF0 | 12 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 84 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 85 km | 1.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 85 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2009 | EF0 | 85 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2004 | EF0 | 83 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 19.8 m (65 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1949 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 19.8 m | — | 103 km |
| 2009 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 9.0 m | — | 120 km |
| 2009 | COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA | Meteorological | 3.6 m | — | 120 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (176 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Glacier Peak | Stratovolcano | 3,213 m (10,541 ft) | 1700 | 176 km |
| Rainier | Stratovolcano | 4,392 m (14,409 ft) | 1450 | 191 km |
| Adams | Stratovolcano | 3,742 m (12,277 ft) | 950 | 198 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PEARL HILL (217,720 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | PEARL HILL | 217,720 | 83 km |
| 2016 | RANGE 12 | 167,604 | 84 km |
| 2000 | 24 COMMAND | 162,300 | 80 km |
| 2020 | WHITNEY | 127,930 | 76 km |
| 1984 | HANFORD | 122,914 | 81 km |
| 2012 | BARKER CANYON COMPLEX | 85,906 | 99 km |
| 2013 | COLOCKUM TARPS | 79,279 | 65 km |
| 2007 | WAUTOMA | 77,956 | 79 km |
| 2018 | GRASS VALLEY | 76,074 | 91 km |
| 1996 | COLD CREEK | 72,859 | 77 km |
| 2018 | BOYLSTON | 66,292 | 70 km |
| 2012 | TABLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX | 65,887 | 96 km |
| 2009 | DRY CREEK COMPLEX | 49,843 | 89 km |
| 2019 | COLD CREEK | 43,756 | 78 km |
| 1988 | DINKELMAN | 36,246 | 100 km |
| 2003 | UMTANUM RIDGE | 34,351 | 77 km |
| 2017 | SILVER DOLLAR | 30,789 | 73 km |
| 2017 | SUTHERLAND CANYON | 29,492 | 52 km |
| 2022 | VANTAGE HIGHWAY | 29,299 | 63 km |
| 2017 | 400 | 27,218 | 74 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 in | |
| February | 36°F (2°C) | 0.7 in | |
| March | 44°F (7°C) | 0.7 in | |
| April | 51°F (10°C) | 0.6 in | |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 0.6 in | |
| June | 65°F (19°C) | 0.5 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 0.2 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 0.3 in | |
| September | 62°F (17°C) | 0.3 in | |
| October | 51°F (10°C) | 0.5 in | |
| November | 39°F (4°C) | 1.1 in | |
| December | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.3 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Moses Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 30°F in December to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 7.5 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.3") and July the driest (0.2").