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Weather & Climate in Spirit Lake, ID

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

Spirit Lake has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 276 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 24.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 27.2 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 33. The city sits at an elevation of 2,565 feet.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 65°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average45.0°F
17% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average65°F (18°C)
Sunny Days276 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,565 ft (782 m)
Area2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²)
Population Density719/sq mi
Coordinates47.9658°N, 116.8698°W
TimezoneAmerica/Boise
CountyKootenai County County
Nearest AirportSpokane International (GEG)
39 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 24.7"
35% below US avg
Snowfall 27.2"
Wettest Month (Dec) 3.86"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.06"

Air Quality

AQI Median33.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score79.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability23.4 / 100
Community Resilience46.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

93 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.7.

Dec 22, 1998 Idaho-Montana border region M4.7 124 km 12 km
Aug 17, 1994 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M4.1 98 km 2 km
Jan 20, 1998 15 km SSE of Happys Inn, Montana M4.0 135 km 7 km
Nov 11, 2001 3 km NE of Spokane, Washington M4.0 50 km 4 km
Jun 25, 2001 Washington M3.9 51 km 10 km
Apr 24, 2015 8 km WSW of Hope, Idaho M3.9 44 km 17 km
Aug 19, 1999 12 km ENE of Happys Inn, Montana M3.7 142 km 14 km
Apr 24, 2015 12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho M3.7 42 km 9 km
Oct 26, 1999 23 km WNW of Niarada, Montana M3.6 147 km 12 km
Mar 14, 1997 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 98 km 2 km
May 30, 1996 3 km SSW of Mullan, Idaho M3.6 98 km 1 km
Jan 20, 2000 21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho M3.5 32 km 5 km
Nov 2, 1996 4 km W of Trout Creek, Montana M3.4 92 km 5 km
May 14, 2014 5 km NE of Happys Inn, Montana M3.4 134 km 15 km
Mar 8, 1994 32 km S of Wallace, Idaho M3.4 112 km 5 km
Jun 25, 2001 2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington M3.4 50 km 10 km
Jun 28, 1997 3 km NNW of Mullan, Idaho M3.4 94 km 2 km
Dec 15, 2012 19 km S of Troy, Montana M3.4 82 km 1 km
Nov 12, 2001 3 km NNE of Spokane, Washington M3.3 51 km 0 km
Sep 22, 2003 12 km NW of Rathdrum, Idaho M3.3 13 km 13 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

28 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 31, 1997 EF2 24 km 5.0 mi 0
Apr 9, 1991 EF2 24 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 17, 1978 EF2 31 km 0.1 mi 0
May 6, 1957 EF2 59 km 1.5 mi 0
Jun 15, 1954 EF2 71 km 0.5 mi 0
May 6, 2009 EF1 97 km 3.4 mi 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 50 km 5.0 mi 0
May 29, 1994 EF1 65 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 12, 1984 EF1 38 km 1.0 mi 0
Oct 17, 1983 EF1 74 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 25, 1983 EF1 96 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 22, 1981 EF1 43 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 14, 1980 EF1 94 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 19, 1978 EF1 41 km 1.9 mi 0
Jun 29, 1970 EF1 65 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 18, 2024 EF0 62 km 0.0 mi 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 60 km 0.6 mi 0
May 6, 2022 EF0 50 km 2.1 mi 0
Aug 9, 2016 EF0 66 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 22, 2016 EF0 62 km 0.2 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

9 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 19.8 m (65 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1952 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 19.8 m — 116 km
1949 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 19.8 m — 112 km
2024 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 14.3 m — 116 km
1944 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.1 m — 116 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 9.0 m — 89 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 4.8 m — 116 km
2009 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological 3.6 m — 96 km
1953 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological — — 116 km
1952 COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA Meteorological — — 116 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CARPENTER RD. (62,488 acres, 2015).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2015 CARPENTER RD. 62,488 91 km
2022 RUSSELL MOUNTAIN 26,130 100 km
2015 TOWER 24,779 61 km
2021 FORD CORKSCREW 16,179 63 km
2021 DECEITFUL 12,750 77 km
1991 UNNAMED 12,401 69 km
2015 SOUTH BOBTAIL 11,256 84 km
2023 OREGON 10,957 25 km
2023 GRAY 10,096 77 km
2016 CAYUSE MTN 9,744 88 km
2015 NAPOLEON 1 9,727 77 km
2014 WATERMELON HILL 9,321 98 km
2015 LOWER FLAT 9,034 58 km
2018 COUGAR 8,708 64 km
2021 TRESTLE CREEK COMPLEX 7,117 63 km
2016 SPOKANE COMPLEX 6,839 61 km
2017 NOISY CREEK 5,452 98 km
1991 UNNAMED 5,297 67 km
2015 NORTH GRIZZLY 5,286 61 km
2015 GOAT ROCK COMPLEX 5,210 97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 3.5 in
February 30°F (-1°C) 2.7 in
March 36°F (2°C) 2.3 in
April 43°F (6°C) 2.0 in
May 51°F (11°C) 2.3 in
June 58°F (14°C) 2.1 in
July 65°F (18°C) 1.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 64°F (18°C) 1.3 in
September 55°F (13°C) 1.3 in
October 45°F (7°C) 1.9 in
November 34°F (1°C) 3.7 in
December 27°F (-3°C) 3.9 in Coldest, Wettest

Spirit Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 27°F in December to 65°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 28.0 inches, with December being the wettest month (3.9") and July the driest (1.1").

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