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Weather & Climate in Alta Sierra CDP (Kern County), CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Alta Sierra CDP (Kern County) experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 19.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 6.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 5,672 feet.
Temperature
42°F Jan (6°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 54.2°F |
| 0% below US avg | |
| January Average | 42°F (6°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,672 ft (1,729 m) |
| Area | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 13/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.7258°N, 118.5452°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Kern County County |
| Nearest Airport | Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) 98 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 98.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 61.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 6.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
6,888 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.
| Jul 6, 2019 | Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence | M7.1 | 86 km | 8 km |
| Jul 4, 2019 | Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence | M6.4 | 94 km | 11 km |
| Jun 24, 2020 | 18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA | M5.8 | 95 km | 5 km |
| Sep 20, 1995 | 16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California | M5.8 | 82 km | 5 km |
| Jul 11, 1992 | 12km NW of California City, California | M5.7 | 72 km | 10 km |
| Jun 4, 2020 | 17km S of Searles Valley, CA | M5.5 | 102 km | 8 km |
| Jul 6, 2019 | 15km ESE of Little Lake, CA | M5.5 | 74 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2019 | 20km E of Little Lake, CA | M5.4 | 80 km | 7 km |
| Jul 5, 2019 | 16km W of Searles Valley, CA | M5.4 | 88 km | 7 km |
| Aug 17, 1995 | 17km N of Ridgecrest, California | M5.4 | 80 km | 5 km |
| Nov 27, 1996 | 27km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.3 | 90 km | 0 km |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 28km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.2 | 90 km | 0 km |
| Aug 7, 2024 | 24 km SW of Lamont, CA | M5.2 | 85 km | 12 km |
| May 28, 1993 | 21km SW of Lamont, California | M5.2 | 82 km | 21 km |
| Oct 3, 2009 | 18km NE of Olancha, CA | M5.2 | 96 km | -2 km |
| Jul 17, 2001 | 7km ESE of Coso Junction, CA | M5.2 | 69 km | 2 km |
| Jan 7, 1996 | 16km N of Ridgecrest, California | M5.2 | 81 km | 3 km |
| Jan 19, 1994 | 10km SSW of Valencia, California | M5.1 | 150 km | 11 km |
| Mar 7, 1998 | 30km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.0 | 92 km | 0 km |
| Sep 29, 2004 | 25km SSW of Bodfish, California | M5.0 | 38 km | 3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
20 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Nov 1, 1964 | EF1 | 90 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1962 | EF1 | 56 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 2019 | EF0 | 49 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2019 | EF0 | 83 km | 1.6 mi | 0 |
| Nov 9, 2012 | EF0 | 80 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Feb 27, 2010 | EF0 | 81 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 27, 2008 | EF0 | 99 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1999 | EF0 | 57 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1997 | EF0 | 79 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 17, 1997 | EF0 | 57 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jan 20, 1997 | EF0 | 85 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | EF0 | 44 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1996 | EF0 | 86 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1995 | EF0 | 98 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 1995 | EF0 | 59 km | 2.5 mi | 0 |
| Feb 23, 1993 | EF0 | 62 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1993 | EF0 | 80 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 26, 1991 | EF0 | 79 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 25, 1991 | EF0 | 78 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1988 | EF0 | 73 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Golden Trout Creek (73 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Golden Trout Creek | Volcanic field | 2,886 m (9,469 ft) | -5550 | 73 km |
| Ubehebe Craters | Maar(s) | 752 m (2,467 ft) | -150 | 174 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CASTLE (174,424 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | CASTLE | 174,424 | 57 km |
| 2002 | MCNALLY | 146,540 | 40 km |
| 2021 | WINDY | 97,831 | 28 km |
| 2021 | KNP COMPLEX | 89,960 | 98 km |
| 2000 | MANTER | 76,158 | 40 km |
| 2016 | ERSKINE | 48,066 | 26 km |
| 1997 | LOKERN | 46,139 | 98 km |
| 2020 | COLES FLAT | 41,143 | 93 km |
| 2017 | PIER | 36,626 | 46 km |
| 2008 | PIUTE | 36,251 | 32 km |
| 2016 | CEDAR | 29,191 | 8 km |
| 2021 | FRENCH | 27,331 | 4 km |
| 2011 | BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX | 27,229 | 40 km |
| 2011 | COMANCHE | 25,965 | 70 km |
| 1984 | BODFISH | 23,189 | 22 km |
| 1990 | STORMY | 23,157 | 9 km |
| 2017 | LION | 18,576 | 63 km |
| 2011 | LION | 17,671 | 64 km |
| 2010 | BULL | 17,238 | 13 km |
| 2017 | SCHAEFFER | 16,100 | 44 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42°F (6°C) | 4.3 in | Wettest |
| February | 39°F (4°C) | 3.8 in | |
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 3.9 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 2.3 in | |
| May | 51°F (11°C) | 0.7 in | |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 0.3 in | |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 0.1 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 67°F (19°C) | 0.3 in | |
| September | 62°F (17°C) | 0.6 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 0.9 in | |
| November | 45°F (7°C) | 3.1 in | |
| December | 39°F (4°C) | 3.8 in | Coldest |
Alta Sierra CDP (Kern County) has a seasonal temperature swing of 32°F / from 39°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.1 inches, with January being the wettest month (4.3") and July the driest (0.1").