Elk Plain, WA climate
Elk Plain has mild winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 35°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Elk Plain feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Elk Plain weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 35° | 5.7" | 1.5" | 20 | 2 | 36° – 46° |
| February | 49° | 35° | 4.0" | 0.5" | 15 | 0 | 35° – 47° |
| March | 54° | 37° | 4.6" | 0.6" | 20 | 1 | 41° – 49° |
| April | 59° | 40° | 3.8" | 0 | 16 | 0 | 45° – 54° |
| May | 66° | 46° | 2.7" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 51° – 59° |
| June | 70° | 50° | 2.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 57° – 65° |
| July | 77° | 54° | 0.8" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 61° – 69° |
| August | 77° | 54° | 1.0" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| September | 71° | 50° | 1.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57° – 64° |
| October | 60° | 43° | 4.1" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 48° – 56° |
| November | 51° | 38° | 6.3" | 1.5" | 19 | 1 | 40° – 49° |
| December | 46° | 34° | 6.0" | 1.5" | 20 | 2 | 36° – 42° |
| Year | 60° | 43° | 42.9" | 5.6" | 166 | 5 |
“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 Elk Plain
Elk Plain gets 43 inches of rain and melted snow a year. November is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 166 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 5 days of the year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 30. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Elk Plain
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Elk Plain, 98% of that work is heating and 2% 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.
Elk Plain and its neighbors
Elk Plain borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.5°. Graham has the coldest January nights (35°) and South Creek the hottest July afternoons (77°). Elk Plain’s January low is 35° and its July high 77°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.6°). The shift is smaller than in 70% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Elk Plain’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 35° to 47°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Elk Plain’s climate
What is the coldest month in Elk Plain?
December, with a typical high of 46° and a low of 34°.
What is the hottest month in Elk Plain?
August, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 54°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Elk Plain get?
About 6 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Elk Plain?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 30, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in Elk Plain?
November, with 6.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 43 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Elk Plain itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mcmillin Rsvr, WA (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.