Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Valley experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 269 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 21.4 inches (drier 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 1,679 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average
46.3°F
14% below US avg
January Average
27°F (-3°C)
July Average
68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days
269 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,679 ft (512 m)
Area
0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
Population Density
216/sq mi
Coordinates
48.1729°N, 117.7245°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Stevens County County
Nearest Airport
Spokane International (GEG) 39 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall21.4"
44% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec)2.87"
Driest Month (Jul)0.91"
Air Quality
AQI Median
28.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
60.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability
58.7 / 100
Community Resilience
38.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Moderate
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
85 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.2.
Sep 1, 2015
15 km N of Nespelem Community, Washington
M4.2
97 km
9 km
Nov 11, 2001
3 km NE of Spokane, Washington
M4.0
59 km
4 km
Jun 25, 2001
Washington
M3.9
60 km
10 km
Apr 24, 2015
8 km WSW of Hope, Idaho
M3.9
98 km
17 km
Mar 3, 1998
16 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada
M3.8
120 km
5 km
Apr 24, 2015
12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho
M3.7
101 km
9 km
Jan 20, 2000
21 km ENE of Athol, Idaho
M3.5
97 km
5 km
Dec 15, 2012
19 km S of Troy, Montana
M3.4
138 km
1 km
Jun 25, 2001
2 km SSE of Town and Country, Washington
M3.4
57 km
10 km
Apr 24, 2015
7 km SW of Hope, Idaho
M3.3
100 km
10 km
Sep 22, 2003
12 km NW of Rathdrum, Idaho
M3.3
61 km
13 km
Nov 12, 2001
3 km NNE of Spokane, Washington
M3.3
59 km
0 km
Oct 27, 1991
21 km N of Castlegar, Canada
M3.3
149 km
7 km
Apr 20, 2025
8 km NW of Tonasket, Washington
M3.2
148 km
15 km
Mar 3, 1998
15 km NNE of Grand Forks, Canada
M3.2
117 km
5 km
Jul 31, 2001
2 km WNW of Town and Country, Washington
M3.2
53 km
0 km
Mar 16, 2000
1 km WSW of Coulee City, Washington
M3.2
134 km
1 km
Apr 13, 2025
7 km NW of Tonasket, Washington
M3.2
146 km
15 km
May 15, 2025
9 km NW of Tonasket, Washington
M3.1
148 km
15 km
Apr 13, 2025
6 km NW of Tonasket, Washington
M3.1
146 km
15 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
42 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 5, 1972
EF3
76 km
0.1 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF2
92 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 9, 1991
EF2
61 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 17, 1978
EF2
44 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 5, 1972
EF2
55 km
1.0 mi
0
May 6, 1957
EF2
86 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 15, 1954
EF2
87 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 2009
EF1
54 km
3.4 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF1
53 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF1
53 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF1
93 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF1
93 km
5.0 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
39 km
5.0 mi
0
May 31, 1997
EF1
95 km
12.0 mi
0
May 29, 1994
EF1
81 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 12, 1984
EF1
62 km
1.0 mi
0
Oct 17, 1983
EF1
78 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 25, 1983
EF1
43 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 22, 1981
EF1
32 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 1980
EF1
35 km
0.1 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
—
54 km
1949
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
19.8 m
—
61 km
2024
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
14.3 m
—
54 km
1944
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.1 m
—
54 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
9.0 m
—
47 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
4.8 m
—
54 km
2009
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
3.6 m
—
45 km
1953
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
54 km
1952
COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEY, WA
Meteorological
—
—
54 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: NORTH STAR (218,547 acres, 2015).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2015
NORTH STAR
218,547
94 km
2020
WHITNEY
127,930
89 km
2015
CARPENTER RD.
62,488
31 km
2021
SUMMIT TRAIL
54,855
57 km
2015
STICKPIN
54,119
90 km
2019
WILLIAMS FLATS
44,680
62 km
2021
CHUWEAH CREEK FIRE
37,393
85 km
2014
DEVILS ELBOW COMPLEX
25,988
72 km
2012
APACHE PASS
25,101
94 km
2015
TOWER
24,779
55 km
1988
WHITE MOUNTAIN
21,855
71 km
1996
LINCOLN
19,376
99 km
2008
SWANSON LAKE
18,941
72 km
2007
MANILA CREEK
16,248
80 km
2021
FORD CORKSCREW
16,179
27 km
2015
RENNER
13,975
74 km
2008
SMITH LAKE FIRE
12,542
98 km
1991
UNNAMED
12,401
42 km
2020
KEWA FIELD
11,811
44 km
2012
BUFFALO LAKE ROAD
11,260
90 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
27°F (-3°C)
2.2 in
Coldest
February
31°F (-1°C)
1.7 in
March
39°F (4°C)
1.8 in
April
46°F (8°C)
1.5 in
May
54°F (12°C)
1.9 in
June
61°F (16°C)
1.5 in
July
68°F (20°C)
0.9 in
Warmest, Driest
August
67°F (19°C)
1.0 in
September
58°F (14°C)
1.1 in
October
46°F (8°C)
1.2 in
November
35°F (2°C)
2.6 in
December
27°F (-3°C)
2.9 in
Wettest
Valley has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 27°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.3 inches, with December being the wettest month (2.9") and July the driest (0.9").