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Alto, CA

Full City Profile · California · San Mateo County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
866 Population 6,662/sq mi density
$2,000,001 Home Value $2,016,416 Zillow
59°F Avg Temperature 305 sunny days/yr
76 Violent Crime/100K 1,305 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
76 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
66.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Alto enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 44.4 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

49°F Jan (10°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average49°F (10°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days305 days/yr

Geography

Elevation19 ft (6 m)
Area0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Population Density6,662/sq mi
Coordinates37.9056°N, 122.5187°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountySan Mateo County County
Nearest AirportMetro Oakland International (OAK)
21 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 44.4"
17% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan) 9.02"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.08"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0332 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)12.1 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.34 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)4.5 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score99.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability20.5 / 100
Community Resilience97.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave No Rating
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Tsunami Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4,805 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.0. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 27, 2025.

Aug 24, 2014 The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake M6.0 39 km
Apr 18, 1990 5 km NNW of Aromas, California M5.4 132 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km E of Interlaken, California M5.1 129 km
Jan 16, 1993 9 km E of Gilroy, California M4.9 136 km
May 14, 2002 5 km SSW of Gilroy, California M4.9 132 km
Apr 19, 1996 2 km E of Aromas, California M4.9 139 km
Sep 3, 2000 5 km WSW of Yountville, California M4.9 53 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km NNW of Aromas, California M4.9 133 km
Sep 4, 1995 13 km SW of Middletown, California M4.8 89 km
May 12, 2006 7 km W of Cobb, California M4.7 105 km
May 21, 1996 8 km ESE of East Foothills, California M4.7 93 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km N of Aromas, California M4.7 134 km
Aug 11, 1993 14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California M4.7 99 km
Jan 2, 2025 4 km NW of Cobb, CA M4.7 107 km
Mar 24, 1991 1 km NNE of Interlaken, California M4.6 126 km
Aug 18, 1999 0 km S of Bolinas, California M4.6 15 km
Jan 11, 2000 6 km N of Geyserville, California M4.6 102 km
Feb 18, 2004 4 km WNW of Cobb, California M4.6 106 km
Sep 19, 2023 15 km SW of Westley, CA M4.5 120 km
Jan 12, 2014 8 km W of Cobb, California M4.5 104 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

40 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1998 EF2 74 km 0
Jun 1, 1958 EF2 58 km 0
Jan 11, 1951 EF2 69 km 0
Mar 18, 2011 EF1 63 km 0
Jan 23, 2010 EF1 66 km 0
Mar 20, 2005 EF1 30 km 0
Jan 27, 2005 EF1 95 km 0
Dec 5, 1998 EF1 63 km 0
May 5, 1998 EF1 68 km 0
Dec 23, 1996 EF1 53 km 0
Feb 22, 1996 EF1 74 km 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 61 km 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 64 km 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 76 km 0
Feb 27, 1983 EF1 63 km 0
Jan 14, 1980 EF1 74 km 0
Nov 10, 1964 EF1 74 km 0
Feb 17, 1959 EF1 94 km 0
Apr 1, 1958 EF1 35 km 0
Apr 27, 2016 EF0 76 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1868 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 4.5 m 30 43 km
1989 N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 1.0 m 62 112 km
1856 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.6 m 49 km
1906 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.1 m 23 km
1865 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 96 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Clear Lake (120 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Clear Lake Volcanic field 1,439 m (4,721 ft) Unknown 120 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: HENNESSEY (314,241 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 HENNESSEY 314,241 82 km
2018 COUNTY 92,450 92 km
2020 CZU AUG LIGHTNING 85,894 89 km
2019 KINCADE 77,780 88 km
2015 VALLEY 77,507 99 km
2020 GLASS 68,020 72 km
2017 NUNS 56,883 49 km
2020 WALLBRIDGE 55,194 90 km
2017 ATLAS 51,664 57 km
2004 RUMSEY 39,335 97 km
2017 TUBBS 36,981 75 km
1988 MILLER 35,750 69 km
2024 CORRAL 16,138 98 km
2004 GEYSERS 12,075 94 km
2009 CORRAL 12,006 97 km
1995 VISION 11,931 34 km
1985 LEXINGTON 11,550 100 km
2015 WRAGG 8,455 75 km
2009 LOCKHEED 8,287 95 km
2014 MONTICELLO 6,984 81 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 49°F (10°C) 9.0 in Wettest
February 51°F (11°C) 7.5 in
March 53°F (11°C) 6.3 in
April 55°F (13°C) 2.6 in
May 58°F (15°C) 0.8 in
June 62°F (16°C) 0.2 in
July 68°F (20°C) 0.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 65°F (18°C) 0.2 in
September 65°F (18°C) 0.4 in
October 62°F (16°C) 2.2 in
November 54°F (12°C) 6.3 in
December 49°F (10°C) 7.6 in Coldest

Alto has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 49°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (9.0") and July the driest (0.1").

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