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Weather & Climate in Startup, WA

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

Startup experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 226 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 68.3 inches (wetter 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 142 feet.

Temperature

41°F Jan (5°C) 65°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average51.6°F
4% below US avg
January Average41°F (5°C)
July Average65°F (18°C)
Sunny Days226 days/yr

Geography

Elevation142 ft (43 m)
Area1.5 sq mi (4.0 km²)
Population Density174/sq mi
Coordinates47.8742°N, 121.7544°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKing County County
Nearest AirportSeattle Paine Field International (PAE)
25 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 68.3"
80% above US avg
Wettest Month (Nov) 10.55"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.97"

Air Quality

AQI Median28.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery High
Risk Score99.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability14.8 / 100
Community Resilience87.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

788 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.8.

Feb 28, 2001 7 km SSE of Longbranch, Washington M6.8 109 km 52 km
May 3, 1996 8 km NNE of Lake Marcel-Stillwater, Washington M5.4 16 km 4 km
Apr 14, 1990 4 km ENE of Deming, Washington M5.0 112 km 12 km
Jan 29, 1995 3 km WSW of Des Moines, Washington M5.0 71 km 15 km
Jun 23, 1997 2 km NE of Enetai, Washington M4.9 68 km 13 km
Apr 25, 2003 26 km W of Brinnon, Washington M4.8 114 km 51 km
Jan 30, 2009 6 km ESE of Lofall, Washington M4.7 63 km 62 km
Jun 24, 1997 16 km WNW of Malott, Washington M4.6 149 km 10 km
Jul 12, 2019 2 km S of Roosevelt, Washington M4.6 20 km 29 km
Mar 3, 2025 2025 Orcas Island, Washington M4.5 113 km 16 km
Jul 22, 2001 4 km WSW of DuPont, Washington M4.3 112 km 52 km
Apr 2, 1990 2 km ENE of Deming, Washington M4.3 111 km 0 km
Jun 18, 1994 11 km SE of Skykomish, Washington M4.3 46 km -1 km
Jun 27, 2013 25 km N of Leavenworth, Washington M4.3 80 km 8 km
Feb 18, 2015 15 km ENE of Cle Elum, Washington M4.2 102 km 4 km
May 20, 1995 15 km NNE of Ashford, Washington M4.1 111 km 12 km
Sep 21, 2002 9 km SW of Friday Harbor, Washington M4.1 122 km 23 km
Feb 23, 2017 11 km NE of Hoodsport, Washington M4.1 105 km 15 km
Aug 16, 2004 16 km ENE of Packwood, Washington M4.0 135 km -1 km
Jun 15, 1994 1 km WNW of Hoodsport, Washington M4.0 118 km 44 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

21 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 injury.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Dec 12, 1969 EF3 64 km 3.8 mi 0
Dec 18, 2018 EF2 78 km 1.4 mi 0
May 13, 1986 EF2 44 km 0.3 mi 0
Nov 24, 1970 EF2 42 km 0.3 mi 0
Jan 18, 2015 EF1 87 km 4.1 mi 0
Sep 30, 2013 EF1 99 km 1.0 mi 0
Sep 6, 2009 EF1 81 km 9.6 mi 0
May 18, 2005 EF1 52 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 27, 2001 EF1 84 km 2.3 mi 0
May 31, 1997 EF1 89 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 12, 1978 EF1 95 km 1.5 mi 0
Dec 22, 1971 EF1 68 km 0.5 mi 0
Oct 26, 1971 EF1 16 km 3.0 mi 0
Sep 28, 1962 EF1 58 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 16, 2006 EF0 2 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 5, 2004 EF0 54 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 11, 2001 EF0 65 km 0
Aug 24, 1997 EF0 26 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 23, 1996 EF0 85 km 0.4 mi 0
Apr 9, 1991 EF0 73 km 0.8 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1894 PUYALLUP RIVER DELTA, TACOMA, WA Meteorological 3.0 m 2 83 km
1891 WASHINGTON Eruption + Earthquake 2.4 m 131 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Meteorological 2.4 m 87 km
1949 PUGET SOUND, WA Eruption + Earthquake 8 102 km
1820 CAMANO ISLAND, WA Meteorological 50 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Glacier Peak (55 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Glacier Peak Stratovolcano 3,213 m (10,541 ft) 1700 55 km
Baker Stratovolcano(es) 3,285 m (10,778 ft) 1880 101 km
Rainier Stratovolcano 4,392 m (14,409 ft) 1450 114 km
Adams Stratovolcano 3,742 m (12,277 ft) 950 187 km
St. Helens Stratovolcano 2,549 m (8,363 ft) 2008 189 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: WOLVERINE (66,329 acres, 2015).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2015 WOLVERINE 66,329 86 km
2018 COUGAR CREEK 42,681 96 km
2017 JOLLY MOUNTAIN 38,159 83 km
1994 HATCHERY COMPLEX (RAT) 27,265 87 km
2004 FISCHER 16,197 98 km
2022 BOLT CREEK 15,211 28 km
2014 CHIWAUKUM COMPLEX 14,511 75 km
1994 HATCHERY COMPLEX (HATCHERY) 13,976 81 km
2014 DUNCAN 13,714 89 km
2007 DOMKE LAKE COMPLEX 10,090 92 km
2006 TINPAN 9,044 83 km
2023 AIRPLANE LAKE 7,576 56 km
2001 FOURTH OF JULY 7,009 80 km
2006 FLICK CREEK 6,990 97 km
2015 GOODELL 6,624 98 km
2022 MINNOW RIDGE 5,458 80 km
2017 JACK CREEK 5,184 75 km
2022 SUIATTLE RIVER 4,400 54 km
2016 BUCK CREEK 4,199 70 km
2022 IRVING PEAK 3,983 55 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 41°F (5°C) 10.1 in
February 40°F (4°C) 7.3 in
March 42°F (6°C) 7.2 in
April 47°F (8°C) 5.8 in
May 53°F (11°C) 4.5 in
June 57°F (14°C) 3.4 in
July 65°F (18°C) 2.0 in Warmest, Driest
August 63°F (17°C) 2.2 in
September 58°F (14°C) 3.9 in
October 50°F (10°C) 6.3 in
November 42°F (5°C) 10.6 in Wettest
December 37°F (3°C) 10.5 in Coldest

Startup has a seasonal temperature swing of 28°F / from 37°F in December to 65°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 73.7 inches, with November being the wettest month (10.6") and July the driest (2.0").

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