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Weather & Climate in Ōtawara, Japan
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ōtawara experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 244 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 50.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 3.6 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 673 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 53.9°F |
| 0% below US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 244 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 673 ft (205 m) |
| Area | 136.8 sq mi (354.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 527/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.8667°N, 140.0333°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Tokyo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
2,828 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.9.
| Mar 11, 2011 | 47 km E of ?arai, Japan | M7.9 | 116 km | 43 km |
| Apr 11, 2011 | 17 km SSW of Ishikawa, Japan | M6.6 | 36 km | 11 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 30 km NNE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 139 km | 32 km |
| Jul 30, 2011 | 13 km SSE of Iwaki, Japan | M6.3 | 82 km | 38 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 13 km E of Arai, Japan | M6.2 | 148 km | 9 km |
| Apr 21, 2011 | 6 km WNW of T?gane, Japan | M6.2 | 145 km | 43 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 61 km ESE of Namie, Japan | M6.2 | 144 km | 40 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 70 km ESE of Kitaibaraki, Japan | M6.2 | 134 km | 40 km |
| May 13, 2011 | 31 km ESE of Namie, Japan | M6.1 | 130 km | 35 km |
| Mar 12, 2011 | 29 km SSE of Namie, Japan | M6.1 | 109 km | 38 km |
| Aug 5, 1990 | 43 km E of ?arai, Japan | M6.1 | 112 km | 27 km |
| Sep 15, 2011 | 68 km E of ?arai, Japan | M6.1 | 135 km | 28 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 17 km ESE of Namie, Japan | M6.0 | 121 km | 49 km |
| Jul 20, 2000 | 31 km ESE of Hitachi, Japan | M6.0 | 94 km | 47 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 15 km E of Namie, Japan | M6.0 | 121 km | 37 km |
| Apr 3, 2004 | 37 km ESE of Hitachi, Japan | M6.0 | 100 km | 31 km |
| Mar 14, 2012 | 5 km SE of Asahi, Japan | M6.0 | 144 km | 10 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 4 km ESE of Hasaki, Japan | M6.0 | 149 km | 48 km |
| Apr 10, 2005 | near the east coast of Honshu, Japan | M5.9 | 144 km | 43 km |
| Apr 12, 2011 | 8 km WSW of Ishikawa, Japan | M5.9 | 40 km | 11 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
27 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Ampil | Category 3 | 98 mph | 268 km |
| 2024 | Jebi | Category 1 | 75 mph | 254 km |
| 2019 | Faxai | Category 2 | 92 mph | 107 km |
| 2019 | Hagibis | Category 1 | 92 mph | 42 km |
| 2018 | Shanshan | Category 1 | 75 mph | 249 km |
| 2016 | Lionrock | Category 1 | 81 mph | 254 km |
| 2016 | Mindulle | Category 1 | 75 mph | 289 km |
| 2014 | Phanfone | Category 1 | 75 mph | 264 km |
| 2011 | Roke | Category 1 | 92 mph | 131 km |
| 2007 | Fitow | Category 1 | 75 mph | 159 km |
| 2005 | Mawar | Category 2 | 81 mph | 130 km |
| 2004 | Ma-on | Category 3 | 92 mph | 131 km |
| 2002 | Higos | Category 2 | 86 mph | 108 km |
| 2001 | Danas | Category 1 | 69 mph | 61 km |
| 2000 | Sonamu | Category 1 | 63 mph | 295 km |
| 2000 | Kirogi | Category 1 | 81 mph | 120 km |
| 1998 | Vicki | Category 2 | 63 mph | 190 km |
| 1998 | Stella | Category 1 | 69 mph | 80 km |
| 1996 | Violet | Category 1 | 81 mph | 187 km |
| 1995 | Oscar | Category 4 | 98 mph | 246 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
8 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.4 m (5 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2016 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.4 m | — | 134 km |
| 1938 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 1.3 m | — | 149 km |
| 1938 | JAPAN TRENCH | Earthquake | 0.8 m | — | 123 km |
| 1938 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.8 m | — | 131 km |
| 1896 | KASHIMA, JAPAN | Earthquake | 0.3 m | — | 95 km |
| 1935 | JAPAN | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 125 km |
| 1987 | E. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 148 km |
| 1855 | TOKAIDO | Earthquake | — | 6,757 | 137 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Takaharayama (23 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Takaharayama | Stratovolcano | 1,795 m (5,889 ft) | -4570 | 23 km |
| Nasudake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,915 m (6,283 ft) | 1963 | 29 km |
| Omanago Group | Lava dome(s) | 2,341 m (7,680 ft) | -3050 | 48 km |
| Nantaisan | Stratovolcano | 2,486 m (8,156 ft) | -9540 | 50 km |
| Nikko-Shiranesan | Shield | 2,578 m (8,458 ft) | 1952 | 59 km |
| Hiuchigatake | Stratovolcano | 2,356 m (7,730 ft) | 1544 | 67 km |
| Numazawa | Shield | 835 m (2,740 ft) | -3400 | 76 km |
| Bandaisan | Stratovolcano | 1,816 m (5,958 ft) | 1888 | 82 km |
| Akagisan | Stratovolcano | 1,828 m (5,997 ft) | Unknown | 82 km |
| Adatarayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,728 m (5,669 ft) | 1996 | 90 km |
| Azumayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,949 m (6,394 ft) | 1977 | 98 km |
| Harunasan | Stratovolcano | 1,449 m (4,754 ft) | 550 | 114 km |
| Shiga | Shield(s) | 2,041 m (6,696 ft) | Unknown | 136 km |
| Kusatsu-Shiranesan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,165 m (7,103 ft) | 2018 | 137 km |
| Asamayama | Complex | 2,568 m (8,425 ft) | 2019 | 144 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 1.5 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 35°F (2°C) | 2.1 in | |
| March | 40°F (4°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 51°F (11°C) | 3.9 in | |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 4.6 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 6.4 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 6.2 in | |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 6.6 in | Warmest |
| September | 68°F (20°C) | 7.1 in | Wettest |
| October | 58°F (14°C) | 5.1 in | |
| November | 47°F (9°C) | 2.7 in | |
| December | 39°F (4°C) | 1.7 in |
Ōtawara has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 34°F in January to 76°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 50.9 inches, with September being the wettest month (7.1") and January the driest (1.5").