PlainClimate

NOAA climate atlas · updated August 2026

Washington Climate Data

Climate normals for 149 station-mapped locations, each from its primary station in Washington's 354-station NOAA network.

average temperature
50°F (10°C)49.9°F · fleet p50 52.2°F · n=50
Cooler than median
annual precipitation
40.9"40.9 inches · fleet p50 43.7 inches · n=50
Drier than median
annual snowfall
28.4"28.4 inches · fleet p50 24.7 inches · n=50
More snow than median
locations / stations
149 / 354State coverage: 149 locations / 354 stations. Benchmark context: this profile's measured location and NOAA-station counts.
State coverage

Washington's climate in one line

Washington averages 50°F a year - cooler than 64% of U.S. states, spanning Rainier Paradise Ranger Station at 38°F to Priest Rapids Dam at 56°F.

50°F
statewide average · 36th percentile of states
41"
average annual precipitation
77/100
most comfortable: Seattle Sand Point Wsfo
149
station-mapped locations · 354 NOAA stations

Statewide figures are simple averages across 149 station-mapped locations (each from its primary NOAA station), local conditions vary widely by elevation and coast distance.

How Washington ranks among all 50 states

Washington's average temperature vs. all U.S. states

Statewide annual mean temperature, NOAA 1991–2020 normals

50°F 36th percentile cooler than 64% of 50 U.S. states

30°F–35°F: 1 US states (2%). Below this entry. 35°F–40°F: 0 US states (0%). Below this entry. 40°F–45°F: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry. 45°F–50°F: 10 US states (20%). Below this entry. 50°F–55°F: 12 US states (24%). This entry sits in this band. 55°F–60°F: 8 US states (16%). Above this entry. 60°F–65°F: 7 US states (14%). Above this entry. 65°F–70°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry. 70°F–75°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry. This state 30°F 75°F every U.S. state, bucketed by value
  1. 30°F–35°F: 1 US states (2%). Below this entry.
  2. 35°F–40°F: 0 US states (0%). Below this entry.
  3. 40°F–45°F: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry.
  4. 45°F–50°F: 10 US states (20%). Below this entry.
  5. 50°F–55°F: 12 US states (24%). This entry sits in this band.
  6. 55°F–60°F: 8 US states (16%). Above this entry.
  7. 60°F–65°F: 7 US states (14%). Above this entry.
  8. 65°F–70°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
  9. 70°F–75°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.

Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (statewide aggregate) · 1991–2020

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Washington in the national rankings

Temperature × precipitation · 50-state landscape

Washington in the national climate landscape

Washington averages 49.9°F and 40.9 inches of annual precipitation across 149 station-mapped locations. Against the same complete 50-state cohort, that places it in the cooler and drier half of the chart. Dashed lines mark the national medians of 52.3°F and 43.7 inches.

WA · Washington49.9°F · 40.9 in · cooler and drier than the medians
Cooler + wetterWarmer + wetterCooler + drierWarmer + drier31.5°F42.3°F53.0°F63.8°F74.6°F6.3"20.5"34.6"48.7"62.9"Annual mean temperatureAnnual precipitationAK · 172 locations: 33.5°F, 47.6"AL · 100 locations: 63.3°F, 57.9"AR · 110 locations: 60.7°F, 52.2"AZ · 169 locations: 62.3°F, 12.4"CA · 363 locations: 59.8°F, 21.6"CO · 214 locations: 46.3°F, 15.9"CT · 23 locations: 50.1°F, 48.6"DE · 7 locations: 56.2°F, 46.8"FL · 165 locations: 72.6°F, 55.2"GA · 122 locations: 63.4°F, 52"HI · 49 locations: 72.4°F, 48.5"IA · 143 locations: 48°F, 35.9"ID · 139 locations: 46.1°F, 18"IL · 163 locations: 52.2°F, 40.7"IN · 116 locations: 52.4°F, 43.7"KS · 168 locations: 54.8°F, 31.2"KY · 95 locations: 56.2°F, 50.6"LA · 91 locations: 67.3°F, 60.3"MA · 68 locations: 49.2°F, 48.2"MD · 42 locations: 55.6°F, 45.5"ME · 79 locations: 43.1°F, 46.4"MI · 201 locations: 45.5°F, 34.2"MN · 172 locations: 42.2°F, 30"MO · 164 locations: 55.1°F, 43.9"MS · 91 locations: 64.1°F, 59.7"MT · 215 locations: 43.4°F, 15.9"NC · 178 locations: 59.1°F, 52.2"ND · 119 locations: 41°F, 19.2"NE · 171 locations: 49.6°F, 25"NH · 52 locations: 44.5°F, 46.6"NJ · 45 locations: 53.6°F, 47.9"NM · 167 locations: 54.3°F, 13.8"NV · 115 locations: 52.4°F, 8.9"NY · 173 locations: 47.5°F, 43.7"OH · 128 locations: 51.6°F, 41.1"OK · 159 locations: 60.3°F, 35.7"OR · 180 locations: 50.5°F, 37.6"PA · 157 locations: 50.2°F, 45.2"RI · 9 locations: 51.2°F, 48.7"SC · 100 locations: 62.8°F, 49.8"SD · 149 locations: 45.6°F, 21.8"TN · 146 locations: 58°F, 56"TX · 449 locations: 66.2°F, 31.1"UT · 170 locations: 49.4°F, 13.9"VA · 119 locations: 55.8°F, 46"VT · 41 locations: 43.5°F, 43.7"WA · 149 locations: 49.9°F, 40.9"WA · 149 locationsWI · 200 locations: 44.5°F, 34.6"WV · 99 locations: 52.3°F, 47.6"WY · 144 locations: 43.3°F, 14"
Read all 50 state values

Each point is PlainClimate's simple average across the station-mapped location normals available for that state. Cohort sizes vary and are shown below; the values are not population weighted. Dashed lines mark the median of this 50-state comparison and are guides, not comfort or safety thresholds.

StateLocationsAnnual meanAnnual precipitation
Alaska17233.5°F47.6 in
Alabama10063.3°F57.9 in
Arkansas11060.7°F52.2 in
Arizona16962.3°F12.4 in
California36359.8°F21.6 in
Colorado21446.3°F15.9 in
Connecticut2350.1°F48.6 in
Delaware756.2°F46.8 in
Florida16572.6°F55.2 in
Georgia12263.4°F52.0 in
Hawaii4972.4°F48.5 in
Iowa14348.0°F35.9 in
Idaho13946.1°F18.0 in
Illinois16352.2°F40.7 in
Indiana11652.4°F43.7 in
Kansas16854.8°F31.2 in
Kentucky9556.2°F50.6 in
Louisiana9167.3°F60.3 in
Massachusetts6849.2°F48.2 in
Maryland4255.6°F45.5 in
Maine7943.1°F46.4 in
Michigan20145.5°F34.2 in
Minnesota17242.2°F30.0 in
Missouri16455.1°F43.9 in
Mississippi9164.1°F59.7 in
Montana21543.4°F15.9 in
North Carolina17859.1°F52.2 in
North Dakota11941.0°F19.2 in
Nebraska17149.6°F25.0 in
New Hampshire5244.5°F46.6 in
New Jersey4553.6°F47.9 in
New Mexico16754.3°F13.8 in
Nevada11552.4°F8.9 in
New York17347.5°F43.7 in
Ohio12851.6°F41.1 in
Oklahoma15960.3°F35.7 in
Oregon18050.5°F37.6 in
Pennsylvania15750.2°F45.2 in
Rhode Island951.2°F48.7 in
South Carolina10062.8°F49.8 in
South Dakota14945.6°F21.8 in
Tennessee14658.0°F56.0 in
Texas44966.2°F31.1 in
Utah17049.4°F13.9 in
Virginia11955.8°F46.0 in
Vermont4143.5°F43.7 in
Washington14949.9°F40.9 in
Wisconsin20044.5°F34.6 in
West Virginia9952.3°F47.6 in
Wyoming14443.3°F14.0 in

Derived by PlainClimate from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals · simple averages across each state's varying station-mapped-location cohort · data updated August 2026.

Washington Climate in Context

U.S. land-mean temperature anomaly (NOAA NCEI) tracked against global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP). Paris Agreement 1.5°C and 2.0°C thresholds shown as reference lines. Washington sits within this national warming envelope; individual station-mapped locations below show local readings against this trend.

Washington within U.S. vs Global Warming, 1900-2024 Anomaly chart from 1900 to 2024. Local series shows warming of 0.11 °C per decade versus a global rate of 0.11 °C per decade (ratio 1.00). Paris Agreement thresholds at 1.5 and 2.0 °C are dashed. -1.0°C -0.5°C +0.0°C +0.5°C +1.0°C +1.5°C +2.0°C +2.5°C Paris 1.5°C Paris 2.0°C 1900192019401960198020002020
  • United States (incl. Washington) +0.11 °C/decade
  • Global (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
  • Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals + NASA GISTEMP land-ocean.

Station-mapped locations in Washington

149 locations with climate data

Scroll the table to browse every location, or use the complete CSV and JSON exports below.

Location Avg Temp Precip
Aberdeen 51°F 84.9"
Anacortes 53°F 29.0"
Arlington 49°F 49.0"
Baring 50°F 109.9"
Battle Ground 51°F 52.4"
Bellingham 51°F 34.7"
Bickleton 46°F 15.0"
Blaine 51°F 41.8"
Boundary Dam 46°F 28.2"
Bremerton 52°F 56.9"
Buckley 51°F 48.3"
Carson Fish Hatchery 48°F 88.9"
Cedar Lake 47°F 99.8"
Centralia 52°F 41.6"
Chelan 50°F 12.0"
Chewelah 46°F 21.4"
Chief Joseph Dam 51°F 10.8"
Cle Elum 46°F 24.7"
Clearbrook 50°F 49.9"
Clearwater 50°F 109.7"
Colville 49°F 19.9"
Concrete Ppl Fish Stn 51°F 71.2"
Connell 52°F 8.8"
Cougar 53°F 115.3"
Coulee Dam 50°F 11.1"
Coupeville 50°F 21.7"
Cushman Powerhouse 51°F 92.0"
Darrington 50°F 83.0"
Darrington Ranger Station 50°F 83.1"
Davenport 45°F 14.0"
Dayton 51°F 18.8"
Deer Park 46°F 22.5"
Diablo Dam 49°F 77.4"
Easton 45°F 49.8"
Ellensburg 48°F 9.0"
Ellensburg Bowers Fld 50°F 9.2"
Elma 52°F 72.0"
Eltopia 52°F 10.0"
Elwha Ranger Station 49°F 57.9"
Entiat Fish Hatchery 51°F 13.6"
Ephrata Muni 52°F 7.6"
Everett 52°F 40.3"
Everett Snohomish 51°F 33.4"
Forks 50°F 119.9"
Friday Harbor 51°F 18.5"
Glenoma 50°F N/A
Glenwood 47°F 29.8"
Goldendale 48°F 16.5"
Grayland 51°F 75.2"
Grays Rvr Hatchery 52°F 103.5"
Harrington 47°F 12.6"
Hartline 49°F 10.9"
Hatton 52°F 10.8"
Holden Village 41°F 43.0"
Hoquiam Bowerman 51°F 68.8"
Humptulips Salmon Hatchery 49°F 115.6"
Ice Harbor Dam 54°F 11.1"
Kennewick 55°F 7.9"
Kent 54°F 40.1"
Lacrosse 50°F 15.1"
Landsburg 51°F 59.7"
Leavenworth 47°F 25.7"
Lind 51°F 10.1"
Long Beach Exp Stn 50°F 78.5"
Longmire Rainier Nps 44°F 82.6"
Longview 53°F 48.1"
Matlock 51°F 89.9"
Mayfield Pwr Plt 52°F 58.7"
Mazama 45°F 23.1"
Mcmillin Rsvr 51°F 45.1"
Mcnary Dam 54°F 7.8"
Methow 50°F N/A
Monroe 50°F 50.8"
Moses Lake Grant County 51°F 7.8"
Moxee City 50°F 7.8"
Mt Adams Ranger Station 48°F N/A
Mt Vernon 52°F N/A
Mud Mtn Dam 50°F 60.1"
Naselle 51°F 112.2"
Newhalem 50°F 78.8"
Newport 46°F 27.5"
Northport 46°F 20.3"
Odessa 49°F 11.1"
Olga 51°F 29.2"
Olympia 51°F 50.6"
Omak 50°F 11.6"
Packwood 51°F 58.4"
Palmer 50°F 85.2"
Pasco Tri Cities 53°F 7.6"
Plain 46°F 27.2"
Pomeroy 50°F 17.6"
Port Angeles 49°F 29.4"
Port Townsend 52°F 19.1"
Priest Rapids Dam 56°F 7.5"
Prosser 53°F 8.7"
Pullman 48°F 20.4"
Pullman Moscow Rgnl 49°F 17.5"
Quilcene 51°F N/A
Quillayute State 50°F 101.3"
Quinault 50°F 151.4"
Quincy 51°F 7.5"
Rainier Paradise Ranger Station 38°F 116.4"
Raymond 50°F 83.7"
Renton Muni 54°F 34.7"
Republic 44°F 18.1"
Richland 54°F 7.3"
Ritzville 49°F 12.8"
Rosalia 48°F 18.4"
Ross Dam 49°F 60.8"
Sagemoor 52°F 9.8"
Satus Pass 47°F 21.4"
Seattle 54°F 39.3"
Seattle Boeing Fld 54°F 36.5"
Seattle Sand Point Wsfo 53°F 37.8"
Sedro-woolley 51°F 48.5"
Selah 49°F 8.4"
Sequim 49°F 16.9"
Shelton Sanderson Fld 51°F 67.9"
Skamania Fish Hatchery 51°F 83.3"
Smyrna 53°F N/A
Snoqualmie Falls 52°F 63.3"
Snowden 47°F N/A
Spokane 49°F 16.4"
Spokane Felts Fld 50°F 17.4"
St John 49°F 17.1"
Stampede Pass 42°F 85.0"
Startup 52°F 68.3"
Stehekin 48°F 36.9"
Sunnyside 50°F 7.7"
Tacoma 54°F 40.8"
Tacoma Narrows 52°F 42.0"
The Dalles Muni 54°F 13.7"
Toledo Faa 52°F N/A
Tolt S Fork Rsvr 48°F 104.3"
Tonasket 43°F 17.5"
Upper Baker Dam 47°F 98.2"
Vancouver 51°F 42.3"
Vancouver Pearson 54°F 37.5"
Walla Walla Rgnl 54°F 18.7"
Wapato 52°F 7.8"
Waterville 45°F 11.3"
Wenatchee 53°F 9.0"
Wenatchee Pangborn 51°F 7.8"
Whidbey Island 52°F 19.9"
Whitman Mission 52°F 15.4"
Wilbur 46°F 12.5"
Winthrop 46°F 15.2"
Yakima 53°F 8.6"
Yakima Air Terminal 51°F 8.0"

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 · 1991-2020 Statewide aggregates for Washington computed as the simple average across its 149 station-mapped locations, each represented by its primary NOAA station (354 stations in the state network).

Climate Insight: Washington

Washington's climate profile is aggregated from 149 station-mapped locations and 354 NOAA weather stations reporting under the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals program. The statewide average annual temperature sits at 50°F, which is the simple average across all tracked station-mapped locations rather than any single station's reading. Because Washington spans multiple latitudes, elevations, and proximities to large water bodies, local conditions can differ from this headline number by wide margins; coastal, valley, and mountain stations often diverge by ten degrees or more even within a single month.

Precipitation and snowfall averages round out the climatological picture. Across Washington, annual precipitation averages 40.9 inches, with typical seasonal snowfall near 28.4 inches statewide. These numbers combine rain, sleet, and snow water-equivalent and describe the thirty-year normal rather than any particular recent year. Readers evaluating a specific destination should drill into one of the 149 individual location profiles below; each station record varies with local geography, and the statewide figures here are averages that mask meaningful intrastate differences.

For planning purposes, the location table above is sorted to help you compare averages side-by-side: annual mean temperature, average daily high and low, precipitation totals, snowfall, and PlainClimate's climate comfort score. That 1–100 score combines temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, snowfall burden, and frost-free growing-season length from each location's NOAA normal. It is a climate-only comparison, not a NOAA or overall livability rating. Use it as a starting point, then open each location profile for the exact score inputs, monthly breakdowns, degree-day totals, frost dates, and separately reported humidity metrics.

Nationwide similar states

Other states closest to Washington on two NOAA statewide-average axes (annual temperature and annual precipitation). Chip rows use distinct link sets.

Closest by average temperature

Nearest 50-state peers by avg_temp (50°F here).

Closest by annual precipitation

Nearest peers by avg_precip (40.9" here), excluding temperature-peer codes.

National state rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average temperature in Washington?
Washington averages 50°F a year across NOAA's 1991-2020 Climate Normals, cooler than 64% of U.S. states. That is 3.2°F below the 53.1°F average across all 50 states.
Does the climate vary a lot within Washington?
Yes. Annual averages inside Washington run from Rainier Paradise Ranger Station at 38°F to Priest Rapids Dam at 56°F -- an 18°F spread between the state's coldest and warmest measured station-mapped locations. A single statewide average can mask this kind of local variation.
Where does Washington rank nationally for temperature?
Washington ranks #32 warmest and #19 coldest out of 50 U.S. states and territories with NOAA normals data, based on statewide average annual temperature.
What is the most comfortable station-mapped location in Washington?
Seattle Sand Point Wsfo scores the highest established comfort rating in Washington at 77/100, a PlainClimate composite of annual temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, snowfall burden, and frost-free growing-season length.

Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). For informational purposes only.

Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.