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Weather & Climate in Palouse, WA

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

Palouse experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 273 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 17.5 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 2,432 feet.

Temperature

33°F Jan (0°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average48.6°F
10% below US avg
January Average33°F (0°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,432 ft (741 m)
Area0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density1,077/sq mi
Coordinates46.9103°N, 117.0752°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyWhitman County County
Nearest AirportPullman/Moscow Regional (PUW)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 17.5"
54% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec) 3.03"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score39.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability20.8 / 100
Community Resilience50.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

99 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.3.

Nov 28, 1991 7 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.3 140 km 9 km
Aug 17, 1994 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M4.1 116 km 2 km
Jul 14, 1992 6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington M4.1 139 km 11 km
Nov 11, 2001 3 km NE of Spokane, Washington M4.0 90 km 4 km
Jun 25, 2001 Washington M3.9 89 km 10 km
Nov 8, 1997 39 km SE of Pierce, Idaho M3.8 147 km 5 km
Jun 28, 1998 3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho M3.8 44 km 10 km
Apr 24, 2015 12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho M3.7 146 km 9 km
Mar 14, 1997 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 116 km 2 km
May 30, 1996 3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 112 km 1 km
Jan 20, 2000 21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho M3.5 132 km 5 km
Jan 13, 1994 11 km SW of Lind, Washington M3.4 123 km 0 km
Nov 2, 1996 4 km W of Trout Creek, Montana M3.4 149 km 5 km
Jun 25, 2001 2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington M3.4 92 km 10 km
Jun 17, 2004 11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington M3.4 92 km 17 km
Jun 28, 1997 3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.4 116 km 2 km
Mar 8, 1994 32 km S of Wallace, Idaho M3.4 92 km 5 km
Dec 15, 1991 6 km SSW of Walla Walla East, Washington M3.3 140 km 8 km
Feb 11, 2025 2 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.3 115 km 5 km
Sep 22, 2003 12 km NW of Rathdrum, Idaho M3.3 110 km 13 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

30 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 3 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Aug 30, 1971 EF2 21 km 0.5 mi 0
Mar 14, 1966 EF2 72 km 1.0 mi 0
May 8, 1962 EF2 61 km 9.1 mi 0
May 6, 1957 EF2 64 km 1.5 mi 0
Jun 15, 1954 EF2 62 km 0.5 mi 0
Jan 16, 2000 EF1 96 km 1.0 mi 0
May 19, 1986 EF1 31 km 2.0 mi 0
Apr 12, 1984 EF1 91 km 1.0 mi 0
Oct 17, 1983 EF1 73 km 0.5 mi 0
May 2, 1973 EF1 21 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 20, 1969 EF1 50 km 1.0 mi 0
Apr 18, 2024 EF0 91 km 0.0 mi 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 90 km 0.6 mi 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 85 km 2.1 mi 0
Aug 9, 2016 EF0 92 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 22, 2016 EF0 91 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 5, 2011 EF0 63 km 0.0 mi 0
Oct 7, 2010 EF0 97 km 0.4 mi 0
Jun 29, 2007 EF0 99 km 0.3 mi 0
May 21, 2004 EF0 92 km 0.2 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 — 140 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.0 m — 123 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 3.6 m — 137 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: COLUMBIA COMPLEX (118,865 acres, 2006).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2006 COLUMBIA COMPLEX 118,865 100 km
2021 LICK CREEK 80,376 81 km
2005 SCHOOL 51,701 81 km
2007 CHIMNEY COMPLEX 50,646 97 km
2021 GREEN RIDGE 44,604 94 km
2015 FISHER 20,757 83 km
2021 BEDROCK 11,998 58 km
2010 HUBBARD 10,824 81 km
2016 SNAKE RIVER FIRE 10,349 40 km
2023 GRAY 10,096 82 km
2016 FLETCHER ROAD 9,380 97 km
2014 WATERMELON HILL 9,321 72 km
2021 SILCOTT 8,864 62 km
2007 UNNAMED 8,547 72 km
2022 WAGNER ROAD 8,155 64 km
2015 GILMORE GULCH 8,074 84 km
2016 SPOKANE COMPLEX 6,839 67 km
1997 POW WAH KEE 6,418 63 km
2022 RIPARIA 5,631 66 km
2016 PALOUSE FALLS 5,305 89 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 33°F (0°C) 2.8 in
February 34°F (1°C) 2.3 in
March 39°F (4°C) 2.2 in
April 46°F (8°C) 1.9 in
May 53°F (12°C) 2.0 in
June 59°F (15°C) 1.6 in
July 67°F (19°C) 0.9 in Warmest, Driest
August 66°F (19°C) 1.0 in
September 58°F (14°C) 1.1 in
October 47°F (8°C) 1.5 in
November 36°F (2°C) 3.0 in
December 29°F (-2°C) 3.0 in Coldest, Wettest

Palouse has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 29°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 23.3 inches, with December being the wettest month (3.0") and July the driest (0.9").

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