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Weather & Climate in Benicia, CA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Benicia enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (16°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 326 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 21.5 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 395 feet.

Temperature

50°F Jan (10°C) 71°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average61.6°F
14% above US avg
January Average50°F (10°C)
July Average71°F (21°C)
Sunny Days326 days/yr

Geography

Elevation395 ft (120 m)
Area15.7 sq mi (40.7 km²)
Population Density2,097/sq mi
Coordinates38.0727°N, 122.1552°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyNapa County County
Nearest AirportMetro Oakland International (OAK)
25 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 21.5"
43% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan) 4.80"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability38.5 / 100
Community Resilience76.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

4,818 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.0.

Aug 24, 2014 The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake M6.0 21 km 11 km
Apr 18, 1990 5 km NNW of Aromas, California M5.4 134 km 5 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km E of Interlaken, California M5.1 131 km 7 km
Jan 16, 1993 9 km E of Gilroy, California M4.9 132 km 7 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km NNW of Aromas, California M4.9 134 km 6 km
May 14, 2002 5 km SSW of Gilroy, California M4.9 132 km 7 km
Apr 19, 1996 2 km E of Aromas, California M4.9 140 km 5 km
Sep 3, 2000 5 km WSW of Yountville, California M4.9 41 km 9 km
Sep 4, 1995 13 km SW of Middletown, California M4.8 85 km 7 km
May 12, 2006 7 km W of Cobb, California M4.7 101 km 4 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km N of Aromas, California M4.7 135 km 4 km
May 21, 1996 8 km ESE of East Foothills, California M4.7 88 km 8 km
Aug 11, 1993 14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California M4.7 94 km 9 km
Jan 2, 2025 4 km NW of Cobb, CA M4.7 101 km 1 km
Aug 18, 1999 0 km S of Bolinas, California M4.6 50 km 8 km
Mar 24, 1991 1 km NNE of Interlaken, California M4.6 129 km 15 km
Jan 11, 2000 6 km N of Geyserville, California M4.6 102 km 6 km
Feb 18, 2004 4 km WNW of Cobb, California M4.6 100 km 3 km
Jan 12, 2014 8 km W of Cobb, California M4.5 101 km 2 km
Sep 19, 2023 15 km SW of Westley, CA M4.5 103 km 4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

70 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 5, 1998 EF2 79 km 0.6 mi 0
Feb 7, 1978 EF2 93 km 1.9 mi 0
Jun 1, 1958 EF2 76 km 15.0 mi 0
Jan 11, 1951 EF2 78 km 5.7 mi 0
Mar 18, 2011 EF1 64 km 0.1 mi 0
Jan 23, 2010 EF1 38 km 1.6 mi 0
Mar 20, 2005 EF1 52 km 3.0 mi 0
Dec 5, 1998 EF1 63 km 1.5 mi 0
May 5, 1998 EF1 77 km 0.3 mi 0
Dec 23, 1996 EF1 71 km 6.0 mi 0
Feb 22, 1996 EF1 73 km 1.0 mi 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 75 km 7.5 mi 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 69 km 1.0 mi 0
Dec 2, 1992 EF1 79 km 3.0 mi 0
Apr 19, 1988 EF1 89 km 0.2 mi 0
Feb 27, 1983 EF1 63 km 0.8 mi 0
Jan 14, 1980 EF1 70 km 0.3 mi 0
May 31, 1967 EF1 76 km 0.1 mi 0
Nov 10, 1964 EF1 76 km 1.0 mi 0
Apr 1, 1958 EF1 53 km 0.2 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

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 42 km
1989 N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 1.0 m 62 118 km
1856 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.6 m — 65 km
1906 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.1 m — 51 km
1865 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake — — 100 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Clear Lake (113 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Clear Lake Volcanic field 1,439 m (4,721 ft) Unknown 113 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

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

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2020 SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX 405,787 86 km
2020 HENNESSEY 314,241 62 km
2015 ROCKY 96,125 97 km
2018 COUNTY 92,450 68 km
2019 KINCADE 77,780 86 km
2015 VALLEY 77,507 89 km
2020 GLASS 68,020 63 km
2017 NUNS 56,883 43 km
2020 WALLBRIDGE 55,194 96 km
2017 ATLAS 51,664 33 km
2004 RUMSEY 39,335 77 km
1999 SIXTEEN 37,162 83 km
2017 TUBBS 36,981 72 km
1988 MILLER 35,750 40 km
2024 CORRAL 16,138 78 km
2006 ZAM ASSIST 14,404 79 km
2004 GEYSERS 12,075 89 km
2009 CORRAL 12,006 79 km
1995 VISION 11,931 62 km
2015 WRAGG 8,455 46 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 50°F (10°C) 4.8 in Wettest
February 51°F (11°C) 4.1 in
March 54°F (12°C) 3.2 in
April 58°F (15°C) 1.2 in
May 63°F (17°C) 0.5 in
June 68°F (20°C) 0.1 in
July 71°F (21°C) 0.0 in Driest
August 71°F (22°C) 0.1 in Warmest
September 69°F (21°C) 0.3 in
October 63°F (17°C) 1.2 in
November 54°F (12°C) 3.2 in
December 47°F (8°C) 3.4 in Coldest

Benicia has a seasonal temperature swing of 24°F / from 47°F in December to 71°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 21.9 inches, with January being the wettest month (4.8") and July the driest (0.0").

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