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Weather & Climate in Alturas, CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Alturas experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 316 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 11.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 4,366 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (0°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 48.4°F |
| 10% below US avg | |
| January Average | 33°F (0°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 316 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 4,366 ft (1,331 m) |
| Area | 2.5 sq mi (6.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 952/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.4891°N, 120.5513°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Modoc County County |
| Nearest Airport | Crater Lake/Klamath Regional (LMT) 76 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 39.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 66.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 21.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1,018 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.0.
| Dec 4, 1993 | 20 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon | M5.1 | 150 km | 5 km |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 12 km NE of Burney, CA | M5.0 | 103 km | 16 km |
| Feb 10, 1993 | 28 km SW of Empire, Nevada | M4.8 | 142 km | 5 km |
| Sep 14, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.7 | 87 km | 10 km |
| Jul 16, 2015 | 42 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.6 | 89 km | 10 km |
| Jul 27, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.5 | 89 km | 11 km |
| Jan 22, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.5 | 88 km | 12 km |
| May 10, 2005 | 10 km NW of Burney, California | M4.4 | 118 km | 17 km |
| Jun 30, 2004 | 10 km NNE of New Pine Creek, Oregon | M4.4 | 71 km | 9 km |
| Jun 14, 1991 | 8 km SW of Hat Creek, California | M4.4 | 118 km | 11 km |
| Dec 20, 2000 | 12 km NNW of Burney, California | M4.4 | 111 km | 17 km |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 12 km NE of Burney, CA | M4.3 | 104 km | 12 km |
| Dec 20, 2000 | 11 km NNW of Burney, California | M4.3 | 110 km | 18 km |
| May 15, 2002 | 9 km W of Klamath Falls, Oregon | M4.3 | 139 km | 6 km |
| Jul 22, 2004 | Oregon | M4.3 | 72 km | 0 km |
| Jan 9, 1994 | 12 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon | M4.3 | 142 km | 1 km |
| Jan 19, 1994 | 15 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon | M4.3 | 146 km | -1 km |
| Jan 29, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.2 | 88 km | 9 km |
| Nov 19, 2000 | 17 km WSW of Empire, Nevada | M4.2 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Aug 13, 2015 | 44 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.2 | 89 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
1 tornado (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 22, 1958 | EF1 | 90 km | 2.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Medicine Lake (85 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Medicine Lake | Shield | 2,412 m (7,913 ft) | 1060 | 85 km |
| Lassen Volcanic Center | Stratovolcano | 3,187 m (10,456 ft) | 1917 | 137 km |
| Shasta | Stratovolcano | 4,317 m (14,163 ft) | 1250 | 137 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BARRY POINT (91,487 acres, 2012).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2012 | BARRY POINT | 91,487 | 60 km |
| 2020 | W-5 COLD SPRINGS | 84,024 | 56 km |
| 2020 | CALDWELL | 81,870 | 80 km |
| 2001 | OBSERVATION | 67,432 | 90 km |
| 2012 | LOST | 57,647 | 87 km |
| 2017 | STEELE | 49,153 | 52 km |
| 2014 | BALD | 39,770 | 94 km |
| 2018 | STONE | 39,455 | 39 km |
| 2017 | COVE | 30,884 | 45 km |
| 2001 | BLUE COMPLEX (BLUE) | 30,803 | 43 km |
| 1999 | PINE | 24,124 | 49 km |
| 1996 | AMBROSE COMPLEX (DAMON-LONG) | 24,090 | 59 km |
| 2005 | BARREL | 23,077 | 77 km |
| 2020 | GOLD | 21,623 | 53 km |
| 1984 | TWIN | 21,476 | 99 km |
| 2018 | WHALEBACK | 18,640 | 99 km |
| 1990 | SHINN | 17,966 | 94 km |
| 2014 | COLEMAN | 14,999 | 78 km |
| 2019 | TUCKER | 14,128 | 66 km |
| 2014 | DAY | 13,750 | 68 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (0°C) | 1.8 in | |
| February | 35°F (1°C) | 1.5 in | |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 1.5 in | |
| April | 44°F (7°C) | 1.2 in | |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 1.3 in | |
| June | 60°F (15°C) | 0.9 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 0.3 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 0.5 in | |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 0.7 in | |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 38°F (3°C) | 1.8 in | Wettest |
| December | 31°F (-1°C) | 1.8 in | Coldest |
Alturas has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 31°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.3 inches, with November being the wettest month (1.8") and July the driest (0.3").