Ephrata, WA climate
Ephrata has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 23°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Ephrata feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ephrata 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° | 0.8" | 20° – 36° |
| February | 43° | 27° | 0.6" | 24° – 42° |
| March | 55° | 31° | 0.7" | 36° – 49° |
| April | 64° | 38° | 0.7" | 45° – 58° |
| May | 73° | 46° | 0.7" | 54° – 66° |
| June | 80° | 53° | 0.6" | 62° – 76° |
| July | 89° | 59° | 0.3" | 65° – 78° |
| August | 88° | 57° | 0.2" | 67° – 76° |
| September | 78° | 48° | 0.2" | 60° – 67° |
| October | 63° | 38° | 0.6" | 45° – 57° |
| November | 46° | 29° | 0.9" | 31° – 45° |
| December | 36° | 24° | 1.0" | 22° – 35° |
| Year | 63° | 39° | 7.3" |
“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 Ephrata
Ephrata gets 7 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and August the driest.
About 175 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 22 and the first one by October 17. That leaves about 175 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 54% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Ephrata
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Ephrata, 87% of that work is heating and 13% 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 Ephrata 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 Ephrata averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.1°). The shift is smaller than in 58% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Ephrata’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 24° to 42°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Ephrata’s climate
What is the coldest month in Ephrata?
January, with a typical high of 36° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Ephrata?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 59°. About 40 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Ephrata?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 17, and the last spring frost by April 22.
What is the rainiest month in Ephrata?
December, with 1.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 7 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Ephrata itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Ephrata Municipal Airport, WA (1 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.