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Weather & Climate in North Fort Lewis, WA

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

North Fort Lewis experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 240 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 42.0 inches. 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 246 feet.

Temperature

41°F Jan (5°C) 65°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average51.9°F
4% below US avg
January Average41°F (5°C)
July Average65°F (18°C)
Sunny Days240 days/yr

Geography

Elevation246 ft (75 m)
Area2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²)
Population Density1,015/sq mi
Coordinates47.1213°N, 122.5946°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyPierce County County
Nearest AirportOlympia Regional (OLM)
18 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 42.0"
11% above US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 7.28"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.91"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability14.4 / 100
Community Resilience60.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

1,382 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 11 km 52 km
Jul 3, 1999 8 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.8 66 km 40 km
May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 89 km 4 km
Jun 10, 2001 18 km N of Satsop, Washington M5.0 69 km 40 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 34 km 15 km
Jun 23, 1997 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington M4.9 53 km 13 km
Apr 25, 2003 26 km W of Brinnon, Washington M4.8 79 km 51 km
Jan 30, 2009 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington M4.7 74 km 62 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 94 km 29 km
Feb 14, 2011 31 km S of Morton, Washington M4.3 98 km 4 km
Jul 22, 2001 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington M4.3 8 km 52 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 114 km -1 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 140 km 4 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 56 km 12 km
Feb 23, 2017 11 km NE of Hoodsport, Washington M4.1 52 km 15 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 99 km -1 km
Jun 15, 1994 1 km WNW of Hoodsport, Washington M4.0 54 km 44 km
Jul 1, 2009 4 km SE of Coupeville, Washington M4.0 119 km 58 km
Aug 8, 2023 9 km NNE of Snoqualmie, Washington M3.9 82 km 16 km
Sep 10, 1994 2 km SE of Enumclaw, Washington M3.9 48 km 17 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 45 km 3.8 mi 0
Dec 18, 2018 EF2 43 km 1.4 mi 0
Nov 10, 1965 EF2 52 km 1.5 mi 0
Oct 18, 2019 EF1 31 km 0.7 mi 0
Jan 18, 2015 EF1 23 km 4.1 mi 0
Sep 30, 2013 EF1 18 km 1.0 mi 0
Sep 6, 2009 EF1 35 km 9.6 mi 0
May 27, 2004 EF1 41 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 27, 2001 EF1 32 km 2.3 mi 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 16 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 12, 1978 EF1 17 km 1.5 mi 0
Dec 22, 1971 EF1 37 km 0.5 mi 0
Sep 28, 1962 EF1 48 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 27, 2014 EF0 38 km 0.2 mi 0
May 27, 2011 EF0 64 km 0.1 mi 0
Oct 25, 2010 EF0 72 km 0.0 mi 0
Jan 28, 2006 EF0 19 km 0.5 mi 0
Oct 15, 2003 EF0 21 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 11, 2001 EF0 54 km 0
Aug 26, 1997 EF0 68 km 0.5 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

6 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 61 107 km
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 22 km
1891 WASHINGTON Eruption + Earthquake 2.4 m 119 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m 20 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Eruption + Earthquake 8 5 km
1820 CAMANO ISLAND, WA Meteorological 106 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

7 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rainier (70 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 70 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 107 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 132 km
West Crater Volcanic field 1,329 m (4,360 ft) -5750 144 km
Indian Heaven Shield(s) 1,806 m (5,925 ft) -6250 145 km
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 156 km
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 193 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

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

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2017 NORSE PEAK 51,017 91 km
2022 GOAT ROCKS 6,658 96 km
2023 DELABARRE 4,176 97 km
2017 AMERICAN 3,794 99 km
2018 MAPLE 3,547 66 km
2016 HAYES TWO 2,679 97 km
2022 LOCH KATRINE 2,163 92 km
1988 FALLS CREEK 2,152 96 km
2011 BIG HUMP 1,400 75 km
1985 BEAVER 1,107 74 km
2017 SAWMILL CREEK 1,056 88 km
2006 BEAR GULCH II 1,037 67 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 41°F (5°C) 6.9 in
February 41°F (5°C) 5.5 in
March 44°F (7°C) 4.8 in
April 48°F (9°C) 3.5 in
May 54°F (12°C) 2.2 in
June 59°F (15°C) 1.9 in
July 65°F (18°C) 0.9 in Warmest, Driest
August 64°F (18°C) 1.2 in
September 59°F (15°C) 2.0 in
October 51°F (11°C) 3.7 in
November 44°F (7°C) 7.2 in
December 39°F (4°C) 7.3 in Coldest, Wettest

North Fort Lewis has a seasonal temperature swing of 25°F / from 39°F in December to 65°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.2 inches, with December being the wettest month (7.3") and July the driest (0.9").

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