Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Bear Valley Springs experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 72°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 12.7 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 4,415 feet.
Temperature
42°F Jan (5°C)72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
54.5°F
1% above US avg
January Average
42°F (5°C)
July Average
72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
4,415 ft (1,346 m)
Area
41.6 sq mi (107.6 km²)
Population Density
149/sq mi
Coordinates
35.1784°N, 118.6696°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Kern County County
Nearest Airport
Bob Hope (BUR) 70 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall12.7"
67% below US avg
Wettest Month (Mar)1.89"
Driest Month (Jul)0.04"
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
8,397 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M7.1.
Jul 6, 2019
Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
M7.1
117 km
8 km
Jan 17, 1994
Northridge, California, earthquake
M6.7
108 km
18 km
Jul 4, 2019
Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
M6.4
121 km
11 km
Jan 17, 1994
1km ENE of Granada Hills, California
M5.9
102 km
5 km
Jun 28, 1991
The 1991 Sierra Madre, California Earthquake
M5.8
118 km
8 km
Sep 20, 1995
16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California
M5.8
114 km
5 km
Jul 11, 1992
12km NW of California City, California
M5.7
55 km
10 km
Jan 17, 1994
7km NNE of Simi Valley, California
M5.6
95 km
9 km
Feb 28, 1990
The 1990 Upland, California Earthquake
M5.5
145 km
3 km
Jun 4, 2020
17km S of Searles Valley, CA
M5.5
123 km
8 km
Jul 6, 2019
15km ESE of Little Lake, CA
M5.5
116 km
5 km
Jul 6, 2019
20km E of Little Lake, CA
M5.4
121 km
7 km
Jul 5, 2019
16km W of Searles Valley, CA
M5.4
118 km
7 km
Aug 17, 1995
17km N of Ridgecrest, California
M5.4
113 km
5 km
Nov 27, 1996
27km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.3
136 km
0 km
Jan 18, 1994
10km ESE of Piru, California
M5.2
89 km
11 km
Mar 20, 1994
3km WNW of Panorama City, California
M5.2
107 km
12 km
Mar 6, 1998
28km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.2
136 km
0 km
Aug 7, 2024
24 km SW of Lamont, CA
M5.2
40 km
12 km
Jan 17, 1994
9km N of Chatsworth, California
M5.2
93 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
18 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 17, 1991
EF1
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 2, 2019
EF0
18 km
0.2 mi
0
Feb 27, 2010
EF0
56 km
0.5 mi
0
Sep 1, 2007
EF0
77 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2007
EF0
56 km
13.1 mi
0
Aug 15, 2005
EF0
81 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 28, 2000
EF0
94 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 3, 1999
EF0
33 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 21, 1997
EF0
83 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 22, 1997
EF0
87 km
0.2 mi
0
Feb 17, 1997
EF0
37 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF0
32 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 26, 1995
EF0
67 km
2.0 mi
0
May 13, 1995
EF0
98 km
2.5 mi
0
Feb 23, 1993
EF0
75 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 20, 1988
EF0
13 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 5, 1987
EF0
80 km
0.2 mi
0
Dec 20, 1952
EF0
88 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 3.1 m (10 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1930
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
3.1 m
1
128 km
1994
WEST COAST, USA
Earthquake
0.1 m
57
108 km
1855
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
-
-
131 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Golden Trout Creek (135 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Golden Trout Creek
Volcanic field
2,886 m (9,469 ft)
-5550
135 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: THOMAS (281,982 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
THOMAS
281,982
99 km
2006
DAY
159,713
68 km
1985
WHEELER 2
126,854
97 km
2003
SIMI
107,756
94 km
2021
WINDY
97,831
88 km
2000
MANTER
76,158
95 km
2003
PIRU
63,920
80 km
2016
ERSKINE
48,066
53 km
1985
FERNDALE
46,724
96 km
1997
LOKERN
46,139
77 km
2016
SAND
41,561
92 km
2007
BUCKWEED
41,332
77 km
2007
RANCH
37,009
74 km
2008
PIUTE
36,251
46 km
2013
POWERHOUSE
32,329
60 km
2020
LAKE
30,971
56 km
2016
CEDAR
29,191
69 km
2021
FRENCH
27,331
58 km
2011
BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX
27,229
24 km
1993
STECKEL
26,202
99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
42°F (5°C)
1.5 in
Coldest
February
52°F (11°C)
1.5 in
March
55°F (13°C)
1.9 in
Wettest
April
60°F (16°C)
0.9 in
May
68°F (20°C)
0.3 in
June
75°F (24°C)
0.1 in
July
72°F (22°C)
0.0 in
Driest
August
80°F (27°C)
0.1 in
Warmest
September
75°F (24°C)
0.2 in
October
66°F (19°C)
0.4 in
November
54°F (12°C)
1.2 in
December
47°F (8°C)
1.1 in
Bear Valley Springs has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 42°F in January to 80°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 9.3 inches, with March being the wettest month (1.9") and July the driest (0.0").