Cle Elum, WA climate
Cle Elum has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 23°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Cle Elum feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Cle Elum weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 23° | 3.9" | 20° – 36° |
| February | 41° | 24° | 2.6" | 24° – 40° |
| March | 49° | 29° | 2.3" | 34° – 45° |
| April | 57° | 34° | 1.4" | 40° – 52° |
| May | 66° | 41° | 1.2" | 48° – 60° |
| June | 72° | 47° | 0.9" | 56° – 69° |
| July | 81° | 52° | 0.4" | 59° – 70° |
| August | 81° | 51° | 0.4" | 60° – 70° |
| September | 74° | 43° | 0.8" | 54° – 63° |
| October | 58° | 34° | 2.6" | 42° – 51° |
| November | 44° | 28° | 3.8" | 30° – 42° |
| December | 34° | 23° | 4.0" | 24° – 33° |
| Year | 58° | 36° | 24.1" |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Cle Elum
Cle Elum gets 24 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and August the driest.
About 132 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 13 and the first one by September 25. That leaves about 132 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 94% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Cle Elum
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Cle Elum, 97% of that work is heating and 3% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Cle Elum compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Cle Elum averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.8°). The shift is larger than in 68% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Cle Elum’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 20° to 36°. September is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Cle Elum’s climate
What is the coldest month in Cle Elum?
January, with a typical high of 36° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Cle Elum?
August, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 51°. About 15 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Cle Elum?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 25, and the last spring frost by May 13.
What is the rainiest month in Cle Elum?
December, with 4.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 24 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Cle Elum itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Cle Elum, WA (2 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.