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Weather & Climate in Ōshū, Japan
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ōshū experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. The area gets 243 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 51.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 10.4 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 118 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)
70°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 49.1°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 27°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 243 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Area | 383.5 sq mi (993.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 294/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.1393°N, 141.1685°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Tokyo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,895 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M9.1.
| Mar 11, 2011 | 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan | M9.1 | 140 km | 29 km |
| Apr 7, 2011 | 29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.1 | 103 km | 42 km |
| Mar 20, 2021 | 30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.0 | 87 km | 43 km |
| May 26, 2003 | 27 km SSW of ?funato, Japan | M7.0 | 47 km | 68 km |
| Jun 13, 2008 | 24 km WSW of Mizusawa, Japan | M6.9 | 28 km | 8 km |
| May 1, 2021 | 30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan | M6.9 | 111 km | 43 km |
| May 12, 2015 | 32 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.8 | 79 km | 35 km |
| Jul 23, 2008 | 29 km ENE of Morioka, Japan | M6.8 | 78 km | 108 km |
| Jun 22, 2011 | 41 km NNE of Miyako, Japan | M6.7 | 127 km | 33 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 50 km ESE of ?tsuchi, Japan | M6.6 | 112 km | 26 km |
| Dec 2, 2001 | 3 km NW of Hanamaki, Japan | M6.5 | 30 km | 124 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 30 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.4 | 75 km | 39 km |
| Apr 19, 2020 | 31 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.3 | 77 km | 38 km |
| Jun 17, 2012 | 19 km SSE of ?funato, Japan | M6.3 | 62 km | 36 km |
| Jul 4, 2010 | 37 km E of Miyako, Japan | M6.3 | 120 km | 27 km |
| Jul 23, 2011 | 21 km SSE of ?funato, Japan | M6.3 | 62 km | 41 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 47 km SE of Kamaishi, Japan | M6.3 | 98 km | 43 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 49 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan | M6.3 | 103 km | 45 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 45 km SE of Kamaishi, Japan | M6.2 | 97 km | 56 km |
| Mar 17, 2011 | 57 km NNE of Miyako, Japan | M6.2 | 140 km | 29 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
11 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2019 | Faxai | Category 1 | 81 mph | 235 km |
| 2019 | Hagibis | Category 1 | 75 mph | 118 km |
| 2004 | Ma-on | Category 2 | 63 mph | 245 km |
| 2002 | Higos | Category 1 | 75 mph | 109 km |
| 2000 | Kirogi | Category 1 | 69 mph | 141 km |
| 2000 | Sonamu | Category 1 | 63 mph | 282 km |
| 1998 | Vicki | Category 1 | 58 mph | 111 km |
| 1996 | Violet | Category 1 | 75 mph | 248 km |
| 1995 | Oscar | Category 3 | 92 mph | 291 km |
| 1995 | Ryan | Category 1 | 40 mph | 273 km |
| 1993 | Vernon | Category 1 | 69 mph | 218 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tsunami History
19 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 39.3 m (129 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2011 | HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 39.3 m | 18,423 | 140 km |
| 1861 | OFF MIYAGI | Earthquake | 3.9 m | - | 101 km |
| 2008 | ARATOZAWA, JAPAN | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.5 m | 23 | 28 km |
| 1846 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 2.0 m | - | 121 km |
| 1897 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | - | 132 km |
| 1810 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 57 | 138 km |
| 1804 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 450 | 106 km |
| 1936 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.7 m | - | 138 km |
| 1978 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.6 m | 28 | 129 km |
| 1981 | E. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | - | 148 km |
| 1898 | HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 94 km |
| 2011 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 3 | 103 km |
| 2005 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 122 km |
| 1954 | MIYAGI, JAPAN | Earthquake | - | - | 93 km |
| 1894 | YAMAGATA, JAPAN | Earthquake | - | 726 | 121 km |
| 1644 | HONJO, AKITA | Earthquake | - | 117 | 96 km |
| 1616 | MIYAGI PREFECTURE | Earthquake | - | - | 136 km |
| 1088 | MIYAKO, IWATE PREFECTURE | Earthquake | - | - | 88 km |
| 850 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Eruption + Earthquake | - | - | 111 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Kurikomayama (38 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Kurikomayama | Stratovolcano | 1,627 m (5,338 ft) | 1950 | 38 km |
| Naruko | Caldera | 470 m (1,542 ft) | 837 | 59 km |
| Akita-Komagatake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,637 m (5,371 ft) | 1971 | 76 km |
| Iwatesan | Complex | 2,038 m (6,686 ft) | 1919 | 81 km |
| Hachimantai | Stratovolcano | 1,613 m (5,292 ft) | -5350 | 95 km |
| Chokaisan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,236 m (7,336 ft) | 1974 | 97 km |
| Akita-Yakeyama | Stratovolcano | 1,366 m (4,482 ft) | 1997 | 98 km |
| Zaozan [Zaosan] | Complex | 1,841 m (6,040 ft) | 1940 | 128 km |
| Megata | Maar(s) | 291 m (955 ft) | -2050 | 153 km |
| Towada | Caldera | 1,011 m (3,317 ft) | 915 | 154 km |
| Hakkodasan | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,585 m (5,200 ft) | 1550 | 171 km |
| Azumayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,949 m (6,394 ft) | 1977 | 176 km |
| Adatarayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,728 m (5,669 ft) | 1996 | 183 km |
| Iwakisan | Stratovolcano | 1,625 m (5,331 ft) | 1863 | 184 km |
| Bandaisan | Stratovolcano | 1,816 m (5,958 ft) | 1888 | 196 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.3 in | Driest |
| March | 34°F (1°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 46°F (8°C) | 4.1 in | |
| May | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3 in | |
| June | 62°F (17°C) | 5.1 in | |
| July | 70°F (21°C) | 6.7 in | |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 6.0 in | Warmest |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 6.9 in | Wettest |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 4.7 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 3.2 in | |
| December | 33°F (0°C) | 2.7 in |
Ōshū has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 27°F in January to 73°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 51.2 inches, with September being the wettest month (6.9") and February the driest (2.3").