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Weather & Climate in Rikuzentakata, Japan
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Rikuzentakata experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 262 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 57.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 26.3 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. The city sits at an elevation of 30 feet.
Temperature
28°F Jan (-2°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 49.2°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 28°F (-2°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 262 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Area | 453.4 sq mi (1,174.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 0/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.0376°N, 141.6000°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Tokyo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
2,499 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M9.1.
| Mar 11, 2011 | 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan | M9.1 | 106 km | 29 km |
| Mar 16, 2022 | 57 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M7.3 | 147 km | 41 km |
| Mar 9, 2011 | 120 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M7.3 | 127 km | 32 km |
| Feb 13, 2021 | 73 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M7.1 | 147 km | 44 km |
| Apr 7, 2011 | 29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.1 | 85 km | 42 km |
| May 26, 2003 | 27 km SSW of ?funato, Japan | M7.0 | 21 km | 68 km |
| Jan 6, 1995 | 63 km ESE of Hachinohe, Japan | M7.0 | 143 km | 27 km |
| Mar 20, 2021 | 30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.0 | 65 km | 43 km |
| May 1, 2021 | 30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan | M6.9 | 93 km | 43 km |
| Jun 13, 2008 | 24 km WSW of Mizusawa, Japan | M6.9 | 62 km | 8 km |
| Jul 23, 2008 | 29 km ENE of Morioka, Japan | M6.8 | 86 km | 108 km |
| May 12, 2015 | 32 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.8 | 40 km | 35 km |
| Feb 16, 2015 | 83 km ENE of Miyako, Japan | M6.7 | 143 km | 23 km |
| Jun 22, 2011 | 41 km NNE of Miyako, Japan | M6.7 | 115 km | 33 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 50 km ESE of ?tsuchi, Japan | M6.6 | 78 km | 26 km |
| Mar 14, 2010 | 59 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M6.5 | 144 km | 32 km |
| Dec 2, 2001 | 3 km NW of Hanamaki, Japan | M6.5 | 60 km | 124 km |
| Mar 9, 2011 | 128 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.5 | 133 km | 15 km |
| Nov 3, 2002 | 30 km SE of ?funato, Japan | M6.4 | 37 km | 39 km |
| Jul 18, 1992 | 92 km E of Yamada, Japan | M6.4 | 131 km | 27 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 |
| 2024 | Jebi | Category 1 | 75 mph | 262 km |
| 2019 | Faxai | Category 1 | 81 mph | 209 km |
| 2019 | Hagibis | Category 1 | 75 mph | 95 km |
| 2004 | Ma-on | Category 2 | 63 mph | 210 km |
| 2002 | Higos | Category 1 | 75 mph | 116 km |
| 2000 | Kirogi | Category 1 | 69 mph | 104 km |
| 2000 | Sonamu | Category 1 | 63 mph | 244 km |
| 1998 | Vicki | Category 1 | 58 mph | 118 km |
| 1996 | Violet | Category 1 | 75 mph | 215 km |
| 1995 | Oscar | Category 3 | 92 mph | 252 km |
| 1993 | Vernon | Category 1 | 69 mph | 205 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
20 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 | 106 km |
| 1835 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 5.0 m | — | 129 km |
| 1861 | OFF MIYAGI | Earthquake | 3.9 m | — | 69 km |
| 2008 | ARATOZAWA, JAPAN | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.5 m | 23 | 62 km |
| 1846 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 2.0 m | — | 93 km |
| 1962 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 146 km |
| 1915 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 140 km |
| 1897 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 108 km |
| 1804 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 450 | 143 km |
| 1968 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 135 km |
| 1989 | JAPAN | Earthquake | 0.9 m | — | 134 km |
| 1936 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.7 m | — | 107 km |
| 2011 | HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.6 m | — | 127 km |
| 1978 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.6 m | 28 | 101 km |
| 1981 | E. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | — | 109 km |
| 2022 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 0.3 m | 4 | 147 km |
| 2015 | HONSHU | Earthquake | 0.3 m | — | 143 km |
| 1933 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 125 km |
| 2021 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 1 | 144 km |
| 1927 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 131 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
13 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Kurikomayama (71 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Kurikomayama | Stratovolcano | 1,627 m (5,338 ft) | 1950 | 71 km |
| Naruko | Caldera | 470 m (1,542 ft) | 837 | 82 km |
| Iwatesan | Complex | 2,038 m (6,686 ft) | 1919 | 104 km |
| Akita-Komagatake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,637 m (5,371 ft) | 1971 | 106 km |
| Hachimantai | Stratovolcano | 1,613 m (5,292 ft) | -5350 | 121 km |
| Akita-Yakeyama | Stratovolcano | 1,366 m (4,482 ft) | 1997 | 126 km |
| Chokaisan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,236 m (7,336 ft) | 1974 | 134 km |
| Zaozan [Zaosan] | Complex | 1,841 m (6,040 ft) | 1940 | 142 km |
| Towada | Caldera | 1,011 m (3,317 ft) | 915 | 175 km |
| Azumayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,949 m (6,394 ft) | 1977 | 187 km |
| Megata | Maar(s) | 291 m (955 ft) | -2050 | 190 km |
| Hakkodasan | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,585 m (5,200 ft) | 1550 | 191 km |
| Adatarayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,728 m (5,669 ft) | 1996 | 193 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.9 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 in | |
| March | 35°F (2°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 4.7 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 5.0 in | |
| June | 61°F (16°C) | 5.6 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 6.6 in | |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 6.9 in | Warmest |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 7.5 in | Wettest |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 5.3 in | |
| November | 44°F (6°C) | 3.3 in | |
| December | 35°F (1°C) | 2.1 in |
Rikuzentakata has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 28°F in January to 72°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 54.4 inches, with September being the wettest month (7.5") and January the driest (1.9").