Climate - Spokane (Washington_state)

The climate of Spokane is slightly continental. Winters are cold, while summers are warm to hot during the day, but with cool nights.
The city is located in the north-west of the United States, in the eastern part of the state of Washington (therefore to the east of the Cascade Range, in the most continental and arid area of the state), and about 600 meters (2,000 ft) above sea level.
During the winter, sometimes as early as in mid-November, cold spells can occur, in which the temperature drops to -18 °C (0 °F) or below. The temperature dropped to -26.5 °C (-15.5 °F) in January 1979, to -23 °C (-9.5 °F) in January 2004 and to -25 °C (-13 °F) in December 1990. On average, 115 cm (45 in) of snow fall per year.
In summer, the temperature range between night and day is high, so it can sometimes get very cool at night, but at other times it can reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F) during the day. In June 2015, the temperature reached 42.2 °C (108 °F), while during the heat wave of late June 2021, it reached 45 °C (113 °F).
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of -0.4 °C (31.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 21.9 °C (71.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 440 millimeters (17.4 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 15 mm (0.6 in) in the driest months (July, August, September) to 55 mm (2.2 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,575 sunshine hours per year. Summer is a dry and sunny season. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best times to visit Spokane are spring and autumn, and in particular the months of May and September, to avoid both the winter cold and the summer heat.

Back to the climate of Washington state.

Spokane - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Spokane is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.1 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -3.4 °C (25.8 °F) and a maximum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (9 °F). However, it dropped to -23.9 °C (-11 °F) in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it reached 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) in January 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Spokane is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.4 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -2.9 °C (26.7 °F) and a maximum of 5.8 °C (42.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13 °F). However, it dropped to -23.9 °C (-11 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In March, the weather in Spokane is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.3 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -0.2 °C (31.7 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.7 °C (1.9 °F) in March 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In April, the weather in Spokane is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.6 °F) and a maximum of 15.3 °C (59.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In May, the weather in Spokane is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.8 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.9 °C (69.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in May 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In June, the weather in Spokane is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.3 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.8 °C (37 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Spokane is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.0 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (56 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in July 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In August, the weather in Spokane is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and a maximum of 30.1 °C (86.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In September, the weather in Spokane is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.3 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (76 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In October, the weather in Spokane is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 3.3 °C (38 °F) and a maximum of 15.7 °C (60.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -11.1 °C (12 °F) in October 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) in October 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In November, the weather in Spokane is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.3 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) and a maximum of 7.3 °C (45.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (17 °F). However, it dropped to -19 °C (-2.2 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Spokane is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -3.5 °C (25.7 °F) and a maximum of 2.7 °C (36.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -19.4 °C (-2.9 °F) in December 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (51.5 °F). However, it reached 17.2 °C (63 °F) in December 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).