Weather & Climate in Starbuck, WA

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

Starbuck experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 71°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 18.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 15.8 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. 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 640 feet.

Temperature

34°F Jan (1°C) 71°F Jul (22°C)

Annual Average	51.1°F
	5% below US avg
January Average	34°F (1°C)
July Average	71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days	273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	640 ft (195 m)
Area	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Population Density	525/sq mi
Coordinates	46.5216°N, 118.1289°W
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
County	Walla Walla County County
Nearest Airport	Walla Walla Regional (ALW) 31 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.8"

51% below US avg

Snowfall 15.8"

Wettest Month (Nov) 2.01"

Driest Month (Jul) 0.47"

Air Quality

AQI Median	28.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Low
Risk Score	60.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability	46.0 / 100
Community Resilience	54.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Relatively Moderate
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather	Relatively Moderate
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Relatively High
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Relatively Low
Avalanche	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

129 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	61 km	9 km
Jul 14, 1992	6 km S of Walla Walla East, Washington	M4.1	60 km	11 km
Nov 11, 2001	3 km NE of Spokane, Washington	M4.0	141 km	4 km
Jun 25, 2001	Washington	M3.9	140 km	10 km
Aug 7, 1992	8 km WSW of Irrigon, Oregon	M3.9	134 km	0 km
Jun 28, 1998	3 km SE of Genesee, Idaho	M3.8	95 km	10 km
Sep 4, 2011	14 km N of Richland, Washington	M3.7	88 km	2 km
May 18, 2008	11 km SSW of Benton City, Washington	M3.7	116 km	20 km
Jan 23, 2015	3 km N of Cayuse, Oregon	M3.5	96 km	20 km
Jan 13, 1994	11 km SW of Lind, Washington	M3.4	60 km	0 km
Nov 6, 1997	22 km SE of Desert Aire, Washington	M3.4	121 km	22 km
Jun 17, 2004	11 km SSE of Washtucna, Washington	M3.4	19 km	17 km
Jun 25, 2001	2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington	M3.4	142 km	10 km
Oct 15, 2011	13 km N of Richland, Washington	M3.4	88 km	1 km
Dec 22, 1990	9 km NW of Mattawa, Washington	M3.4	146 km	3 km
Feb 28, 2004	10 km WSW of Wallula, Washington	M3.3	87 km	1 km
May 1, 2011	13 km N of Richland, Washington	M3.3	87 km	2 km
May 27, 1997	15 km W of Othello, Washington	M3.3	101 km	2 km
Dec 15, 1991	6 km SSW of Walla Walla East, Washington	M3.3	61 km	8 km
Jun 12, 1995	13 km N of Richland, Washington	M3.3	88 km	1 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.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Aug 30, 1971	EF2	74 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 11, 1968	EF2	99 km	9.6 mi	0
Mar 14, 1966	EF2	25 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 26, 1958	EF2	79 km	0.3 mi	0
May 6, 2022	EF1	83 km	2.9 mi	0
May 6, 2009	EF1	94 km	1.6 mi	0
Jan 16, 2000	EF1	25 km	1.0 mi	0
Aug 10, 1985	EF1	86 km	1.0 mi	0
Apr 23, 1983	EF1	67 km	3.0 mi	0
Jul 1, 1978	EF1	58 km	2.3 mi	0
May 2, 1973	EF1	89 km	0.1 mi	0
Mar 5, 2024	EF0	76 km	0.2 mi	0
Jun 27, 2023	EF0	62 km	0.1 mi	0
Mar 31, 2020	EF0	91 km	0.1 mi	0
May 22, 2016	EF0	88 km	0.2 mi	0
Oct 5, 2011	EF0	84 km	0.0 mi	0
May 11, 2003	EF0	89 km	0.1 mi	0
May 31, 1997	EF0	90 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 1, 1991	EF0	94 km	0.1 mi	0
May 1, 1991	EF0	93 km	0.1 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

2 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	—	145 km
2009	COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA	Meteorological	9.0 m	—	143 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	47 km
2021	LICK CREEK	80,376	64 km
2015	BUTTE CREEK	79,418	70 km
2005	SCHOOL	51,701	47 km
2021	GREEN RIDGE	44,604	55 km
2021	ELBOW CREEK	23,103	84 km
1996	UNNAMED	21,130	78 km
2005	WALKER CANYON	20,764	33 km
2007	OVERLOOK	20,363	98 km
2010	EUREKA	19,811	33 km
2017	EAST SADDLE	17,318	98 km
2023	HAT ROCK	17,264	93 km
2020	KAHLOTUS	16,738	37 km
2010	UNNAMED	16,737	25 km
1986	JOSEPH CANYON 1	14,398	96 km
2018	LAKE WALLULA	11,972	93 km
1993	HIGHWAY 24	11,414	100 km
2010	HUBBARD	10,824	30 km
2016	SNAKE RIVER FIRE	10,349	61 km
2016	KAHLOTUS	9,386	41 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	34°F (1°C)	1.7 in
February	38°F (4°C)	1.4 in
March	45°F (7°C)	1.5 in
April	51°F (11°C)	1.2 in
May	59°F (15°C)	1.2 in
June	67°F (19°C)	0.9 in
July	71°F (22°C)	0.5 in	Driest
August	73°F (23°C)	0.6 in	Warmest
September	63°F (17°C)	0.7 in
October	52°F (11°C)	1.1 in
November	41°F (5°C)	2.0 in	Wettest
December	34°F (1°C)	2.0 in	Coldest

Starbuck has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 34°F in December to 73°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 14.6 inches, with November being the wettest month (2.0") and July the driest (0.5").

View full profile of Starbuck, WA →