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Weather & Climate in Yamagata, Japan
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Yamagata experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. The area gets 239 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 53.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.6 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 1,053 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)
70°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 48.8°F |
| 10% below US avg | |
| January Average | 27°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 239 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,053 ft (321 m) |
| Area | 179.0 sq mi (463.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,390/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.2333°N, 140.3667°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Tokyo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,719 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.3.
| Mar 16, 2022 | 57 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M7.3 | 121 km | 41 km |
| Apr 7, 2011 | 29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.1 | 107 km | 42 km |
| Feb 13, 2021 | 73 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M7.1 | 136 km | 44 km |
| May 26, 2003 | 27 km SSW of ?funato, Japan | M7.0 | 125 km | 68 km |
| Mar 20, 2021 | 30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan | M7.0 | 114 km | 43 km |
| May 1, 2021 | 30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan | M6.9 | 108 km | 43 km |
| Jun 13, 2008 | 24 km WSW of Mizusawa, Japan | M6.9 | 99 km | 8 km |
| Apr 11, 2011 | 17 km SSW of Ishikawa, Japan | M6.6 | 137 km | 11 km |
| Dec 2, 2001 | 3 km NW of Hanamaki, Japan | M6.5 | 144 km | 124 km |
| Mar 14, 2010 | 59 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M6.5 | 120 km | 32 km |
| Jun 18, 2019 | 31 km WSW of Tsuruoka, Japan | M6.4 | 90 km | 12 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 | 146 km | 41 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 30 km NNE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 92 km | 32 km |
| Aug 4, 2019 | 61 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 121 km | 38 km |
| Jul 24, 2011 | 43 km NE of Namie, Japan | M6.3 | 106 km | 40 km |
| Aug 19, 2011 | 61 km ENE of Namie, Japan | M6.2 | 129 km | 47 km |
| Mar 25, 2011 | 36 km SSE of ?funato, Japan | M6.2 | 145 km | 39 km |
| Mar 27, 2011 | 62 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan | M6.2 | 145 km | 19 km |
| Jul 25, 2003 | 7 km NW of Matsushima, Japan | M6.1 | 59 km | 6 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
17 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Jebi | Category 1 | 75 mph | 293 km |
| 2019 | Faxai | Category 2 | 92 mph | 198 km |
| 2019 | Hagibis | Category 1 | 81 mph | 125 km |
| 2011 | Roke | Category 1 | 81 mph | 279 km |
| 2005 | Mawar | Category 1 | 69 mph | 250 km |
| 2004 | Ma-on | Category 2 | 69 mph | 188 km |
| 2002 | Higos | Category 1 | 75 mph | 38 km |
| 2001 | Danas | Category 1 | 63 mph | 204 km |
| 2000 | Kirogi | Category 1 | 69 mph | 151 km |
| 1998 | Vicki | Category 2 | 63 mph | 89 km |
| 1998 | Stella | Category 1 | 63 mph | 234 km |
| 1996 | Violet | Category 1 | 81 mph | 253 km |
| 1995 | Oscar | Category 3 | 98 mph | 298 km |
| 1995 | Ryan | Category 1 | 40 mph | 262 km |
| 1993 | Vernon | Category 1 | 75 mph | 152 km |
| 1981 | Thad | Category 1 | — | 250 km |
| 1981 | Gay | Category 1 | 75 mph | 278 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
20 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 9.0 m (30 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1833 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 9.0 m | 85 | 129 km |
| 1964 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 5.8 m | 36 | 100 km |
| 1835 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 5.0 m | — | 139 km |
| 1861 | OFF MIYAGI | Earthquake | 3.9 m | — | 146 km |
| 2008 | ARATOZAWA, JAPAN | Eruption + Earthquake | 2.5 m | 23 | 99 km |
| 2016 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.4 m | — | 130 km |
| 1938 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 1.3 m | — | 150 km |
| 1897 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 135 km |
| 1804 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 450 | 98 km |
| 1978 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.6 m | 28 | 145 km |
| 2022 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 0.3 m | 4 | 121 km |
| 2019 | NIIGATA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 90 km |
| 2021 | OFF FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 1 | 133 km |
| 1927 | SANRIKU | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 148 km |
| 1898 | HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 148 km |
| 2011 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 3 | 107 km |
| 2005 | E. COAST HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 146 km |
| 1894 | YAMAGATA, JAPAN | Earthquake | — | 726 | 89 km |
| 1762 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | — | — | 147 km |
| 1644 | HONJO, AKITA | Earthquake | — | 117 | 132 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Zaozan [Zaosan] (12 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Zaozan [Zaosan] | Complex | 1,841 m (6,040 ft) | 1940 | 12 km |
| Azumayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,949 m (6,394 ft) | 1977 | 56 km |
| Naruko | Caldera | 470 m (1,542 ft) | 837 | 64 km |
| Adatarayama | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,728 m (5,669 ft) | 1996 | 66 km |
| Bandaisan | Stratovolcano | 1,816 m (5,958 ft) | 1888 | 75 km |
| Kurikomayama | Stratovolcano | 1,627 m (5,338 ft) | 1950 | 89 km |
| Chokaisan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,236 m (7,336 ft) | 1974 | 100 km |
| Numazawa | Shield | 835 m (2,740 ft) | -3400 | 113 km |
| Nasudake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,915 m (6,283 ft) | 1963 | 128 km |
| Takaharayama | Stratovolcano | 1,795 m (5,889 ft) | -4570 | 157 km |
| Hiuchigatake | Stratovolcano | 2,356 m (7,730 ft) | 1544 | 171 km |
| Akita-Komagatake | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,637 m (5,371 ft) | 1971 | 174 km |
| Omanago Group | Lava dome(s) | 2,341 m (7,680 ft) | -3050 | 177 km |
| Nantaisan | Stratovolcano | 2,486 m (8,156 ft) | -9540 | 181 km |
| Nikko-Shiranesan | Shield | 2,578 m (8,458 ft) | 1952 | 182 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F (-3°C) | 3.3 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.9 in | Driest |
| March | 33°F (1°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 56°F (13°C) | 3.8 in | |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 5.2 in | |
| July | 70°F (21°C) | 6.6 in | |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 7.1 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 6.6 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 4.5 in | |
| November | 42°F (6°C) | 3.8 in | |
| December | 33°F (0°C) | 3.3 in |
Yamagata has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 27°F in January to 73°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 53.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (7.1") and February the driest (2.9").