Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sōma experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 248 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 48.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 1.2 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 30 feet.
Temperature
35°F Jan (2°C)71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
54.1°F
0% below US avg
January Average
35°F (2°C)
July Average
71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
248 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
30 ft (9 m)
Area
76.4 sq mi (197.8 km²)
Population Density
457/sq mi
Coordinates
37.7928°N, 140.9294°W
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.4"
27% above US avg
Snowfall1.2"
Wettest Month (Sep)7.40"
Driest Month (Jan)1.22"
Air Quality
Earthquake History
3,332 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M9.1.
Mar 11, 2011
2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan
M9.1
138 km
29 km
Mar 16, 2022
57 km ENE of Namie, Japan
M7.3
58 km
41 km
Apr 7, 2011
29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan
M7.1
79 km
42 km
Feb 13, 2021
73 km ENE of Namie, Japan
M7.1
75 km
44 km
Jul 19, 2008
107 km E of Namie, Japan
M7.0
116 km
22 km
Mar 20, 2021
30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan
M7.0
97 km
43 km
Oct 31, 2003
133 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan
M7.0
149 km
10 km
May 26, 2003
27 km SSW of ?funato, Japan
M7.0
130 km
68 km
Jun 13, 2008
24 km WSW of Mizusawa, Japan
M6.9
138 km
8 km
May 1, 2021
30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan
M6.9
74 km
43 km
Feb 16, 1996
123 km E of Namie, Japan
M6.7
137 km
41 km
Apr 11, 2011
17 km SSW of Ishikawa, Japan
M6.6
100 km
11 km
Mar 14, 2010
59 km ENE of Namie, Japan
M6.5
58 km
32 km
Mar 11, 2011
103 km E of Namie, Japan
M6.3
110 km
51 km
Jul 24, 2011
43 km NE of Namie, Japan
M6.3
41 km
40 km
Jul 30, 2011
13 km SSE of Iwaki, Japan
M6.3
95 km
38 km
Mar 11, 2011
30 km NNE of Namie, Japan
M6.3
24 km
32 km
Aug 4, 2019
61 km ENE of Namie, Japan
M6.3
59 km
38 km
Jun 17, 2012
19 km SSE of ?funato, Japan
M6.3
148 km
36 km
Jul 23, 2011
21 km SSE of ?funato, Japan
M6.3
145 km
41 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
21 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Ampil
Category 3
98 mph
274 km
2024
Jebi
Category 1
75 mph
227 km
2019
Faxai
Category 2
92 mph
130 km
2019
Hagibis
Category 1
81 mph
89 km
2016
Lionrock
Category 1
75 mph
258 km
2011
Roke
Category 1
81 mph
261 km
2007
Fitow
Category 1
75 mph
289 km
2005
Mawar
Category 2
75 mph
183 km
2004
Ma-on
Category 3
81 mph
121 km
2002
Higos
Category 1
81 mph
47 km
2001
Danas
Category 1
63 mph
162 km
2000
Sonamu
Category 1
63 mph
242 km
2000
Kirogi
Category 1
81 mph
94 km
1998
Vicki
Category 1
58 mph
155 km
1998
Stella
Category 1
63 mph
208 km
1996
Violet
Category 1
81 mph
191 km
1996
Dan
Category 1
58 mph
292 km
1995
Oscar
Category 3
98 mph
229 km
1993
Vernon
Category 1
75 mph
83 km
1981
Thad
Category 1
—
213 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
138 km
1835
SANRIKU
Earthquake
5.0 m
—
86 km
1861
OFF MIYAGI
Earthquake
3.9 m
—
122 km
2008
ARATOZAWA, JAPAN
Eruption + Earthquake
2.5 m
23
138 km
2016
E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND
Earthquake
1.4 m
—
60 km
1938
OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE
Earthquake
1.3 m
—
83 km
1938
OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE
Earthquake
1.3 m
—
111 km
1897
SANRIKU
Earthquake
1.0 m
—
92 km
1938
JAPAN TRENCH
Earthquake
0.8 m
—
129 km
1959
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.8 m
—
117 km
1938
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.8 m
—
102 km
1936
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.7 m
—
120 km
1978
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.6 m
28
106 km
1938
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.6 m
1
103 km
1938
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.6 m
—
95 km
2003
E. HONSHU ISLAND
Earthquake
0.3 m
—
149 km
2022
OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE
Earthquake
0.3 m
4
58 km
1896
KASHIMA, JAPAN
Earthquake
0.3 m
—
144 km
2008
OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU ISLAND
Earthquake
0.2 m
—
116 km
1938
SANRIKU
Earthquake
0.2 m
—
143 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
14 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Zaozan [Zaosan] (58 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Zaozan [Zaosan]
Complex
1,841 m (6,040 ft)
1940
58 km
Adatarayama
Stratovolcano(es)
1,728 m (5,669 ft)
1996
59 km
Azumayama
Stratovolcano(es)
1,949 m (6,394 ft)
1977
61 km
Bandaisan
Stratovolcano
1,816 m (5,958 ft)
1888
78 km
Naruko
Caldera
470 m (1,542 ft)
837
106 km
Nasudake
Stratovolcano(es)
1,915 m (6,283 ft)
1963
113 km
Numazawa
Shield
835 m (2,740 ft)
-3400
126 km
Kurikomayama
Stratovolcano
1,627 m (5,338 ft)
1950
131 km
Takaharayama
Stratovolcano
1,795 m (5,889 ft)
-4570
142 km
Chokaisan
Stratovolcano(es)
2,236 m (7,336 ft)
1974
164 km
Omanago Group
Lava dome(s)
2,341 m (7,680 ft)
-3050
168 km
Nantaisan
Stratovolcano
2,486 m (8,156 ft)
-9540
171 km
Hiuchigatake
Stratovolcano
2,356 m (7,730 ft)
1544
173 km
Nikko-Shiranesan
Shield
2,578 m (8,458 ft)
1952
176 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
35°F (2°C)
1.2 in
Coldest, Driest
February
36°F (2°C)
2.0 in
March
41°F (5°C)
2.8 in
April
51°F (10°C)
3.9 in
May
59°F (15°C)
4.1 in
June
65°F (18°C)
5.8 in
July
71°F (22°C)
5.7 in
August
75°F (24°C)
5.9 in
Warmest
September
69°F (20°C)
7.4 in
Wettest
October
59°F (15°C)
5.6 in
November
49°F (9°C)
2.6 in
December
40°F (5°C)
1.5 in
Sōma has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 35°F in January to 75°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 48.5 inches, with September being the wettest month (7.4") and January the driest (1.2").