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Bear Creek, CA

Full City Profile · California · Merced County County

1.3 /5.0
F Poor
231 Population 3,850/sq mi density
62°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
699 Violent Crime/100K 3,225 property/100K
F
Overall
1.3 / 5.0
Below average overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
699 violent crimes/100K (84% above avg)
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Bear Creek enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 11.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

46°F Jan (8°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average62.3°F
15% above US avg
January Average46°F (8°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation191 ft (58 m)
Area0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Population Density3,850/sq mi
Coordinates37.2966°N, 120.4177°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyMerced County County
Nearest AirportMerced Yosemite Regional (MCE)
5 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 11.8"
69% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan) 2.28"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0467 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)10.3 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.0 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score96.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability61.7 / 100
Community Resilience7.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

6,850 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.8. Most recent: M2.6 on Aug 24, 2025.

Oct 24, 1990 3 km NE of Mono City, California M5.8 143 km
May 15, 1999 9 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California M5.5 144 km
Apr 18, 1990 5 km NNW of Aromas, California M5.4 117 km
Oct 21, 2012 24 km NE of San Lucas, California M5.3 117 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km E of Interlaken, California M5.1 118 km
Aug 12, 1998 10 km SW of Ridgemark, California M5.1 111 km
Sep 29, 2004 8 km NW of Parkfield, California M5.0 150 km
Jan 16, 1993 9 km E of Gilroy, California M4.9 98 km
May 14, 2002 5 km SSW of Gilroy, California M4.9 111 km
Jul 15, 1998 8 km W of Aspen Springs, California M4.9 145 km
Apr 23, 1995 22 km NNE of Soledad, California M4.9 104 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km NNW of Aromas, California M4.9 117 km
Jun 9, 1998 8 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California M4.9 147 km
Apr 19, 1996 2 km E of Aromas, California M4.9 116 km
Sep 30, 2004 13 km NW of Parkfield, California M4.9 146 km
Nov 30, 1997 2 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California M4.9 135 km
Nov 22, 1997 3 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California M4.9 136 km
Nov 14, 1993 8 km NW of Parkfield, California M4.8 150 km
Dec 31, 1997 9 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California M4.8 142 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km N of Aromas, California M4.7 116 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

75 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2. Total: 3 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Sep 5, 2020 EF2 96 km 0
Mar 22, 1962 EF2 78 km 0
Apr 27, 1953 EF2 65 km 0
Mar 11, 2023 EF1 71 km 0
Jan 10, 2023 EF1 93 km 0
Jan 17, 2019 EF1 92 km 0
Nov 15, 2015 EF1 44 km 0
Apr 14, 2006 EF1 65 km 0
Dec 16, 2002 EF1 10 km 0
May 20, 2002 EF1 49 km 0
Feb 14, 1998 EF1 48 km 0
Dec 12, 1996 EF1 65 km 0
Nov 22, 1996 EF1 5 km 0
Jan 14, 1995 EF1 24 km 0
Feb 19, 1980 EF1 85 km 0
Mar 4, 1978 EF1 52 km 0
Mar 4, 1978 EF1 41 km 0
Mar 1, 1978 EF1 61 km 0
Apr 22, 1967 EF1 70 km 0
Apr 22, 1967 EF1 37 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.0 m (3 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1989 N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 1.0 m 62 133 km
1901 MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 144 km
1865 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 132 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Mammoth Mountain (128 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Mammoth Mountain Lava dome(s) 3,369 m (11,053 ft) 1260 128 km
Mono-Inyo Craters Lava dome(s) 2,796 m (9,173 ft) 1380 135 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field Pyroclastic cone(s) 2,121 m (6,959 ft) 1790 145 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (405,787 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX 405,787 98 km
2013 RIM 257,084 79 km
2018 FERGUSON 97,307 66 km
2017 DETWILER 83,297 39 km
1996 ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON) 58,161 87 km
1987 PAPER 49,296 73 km
1987 LARSON 49,250 64 km
2007 LICK 47,424 90 km
1987 HAMM 39,333 64 km
2006 CANYON 36,851 82 km
2008 TELEGRAPH 33,479 50 km
2022 OAK 19,408 56 km
1992 GULCH 18,019 99 km
1990 A-ROCK 17,706 71 km
1996 ROGGE 17,559 72 km
2003 ANNIE 17,383 74 km
1996 MERCY 16,993 60 km
2024 CORRAL 16,138 99 km
1996 PANOCHE II 14,760 82 km
2014 FRENCH 14,534 94 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 46°F (8°C) 2.3 in Wettest
February 50°F (10°C) 2.3 in
March 55°F (13°C) 2.2 in
April 60°F (15°C) 0.9 in
May 67°F (19°C) 0.4 in
June 73°F (23°C) 0.1 in
July 79°F (26°C) 0.0 in Warmest, Driest
August 76°F (25°C) 0.0 in
September 72°F (22°C) 0.2 in
October 64°F (18°C) 0.7 in
November 53°F (11°C) 1.6 in
December 45°F (7°C) 1.7 in Coldest

Bear Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 45°F in December to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.3") and July the driest (0.0").

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