Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Big Lagoon experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 282 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 81 feet.
Temperature
44°F Jan (7°C)58°F Jul (15°C)
Annual Average
50.9°F
6% below US avg
January Average
44°F (7°C)
July Average
58°F (15°C)
Sunny Days
282 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
81 ft (25 m)
Area
0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
Population Density
189/sq mi
Coordinates
41.1594°N, 124.1297°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Humboldt County County
Nearest Airport
Redding Regional (RDD) 106 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Wettest Month (Dec)9.92"
Driest Month (Jul)0.24"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
96.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
74.7 / 100
Community Resilience
56.4 / 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
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively High
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Tsunami
Relatively High
Volcano
No Rating
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4,991 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M7.2.
Apr 25, 1992
The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake
M7.2
92 km
10 km
Mar 10, 2014
77 km WNW of Indianola, California
M6.8
92 km
16 km
Apr 26, 1992
32 km SW of Ferndale, California
M6.6
94 km
22 km
Jan 10, 2010
The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake
M6.5
74 km
29 km
Apr 26, 1992
30 km WSW of Ferndale, California
M6.5
89 km
19 km
Aug 17, 1991
30 km SSW of Scotia, California
M6.0
102 km
8 km
Feb 4, 2010
61 km WSW of Ferndale, California
M5.9
109 km
23 km
Mar 9, 2020
69km W of Petrolia, CA
M5.8
118 km
3 km
Jan 28, 2015
40 km SW of Ferndale, California
M5.7
102 km
17 km
Mar 16, 2000
85 km WSW of Ferndale, California
M5.7
127 km
5 km
Feb 13, 2012
26 km NNW of Willow Creek, California
M5.6
29 km
27 km
Jan 22, 1997
33 km SW of Scotia, California
M5.6
101 km
23 km
May 21, 2023
108km W of Petrolia, CA
M5.6
149 km
10 km
Jun 23, 2019
6km SSW of Petrolia, CA
M5.6
100 km
9 km
Oct 4, 1997
100 km WNW of Samoa, California
M5.5
102 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1990
30 km NW of Shelter Cove, California
M5.4
103 km
4 km
Feb 26, 2007
52km W of Ferndale, CA
M5.4
85 km
5 km
Dec 26, 1994
7 km WNW of Fields Landing, California
M5.4
49 km
23 km
Nov 27, 1998
87 km W of Ferndale, California
M5.4
112 km
4 km
Feb 26, 2007
51 km W of Ferndale, California
M5.4
84 km
-1 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
10 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 29, 1958
EF2
23 km
2.0 mi
0
Dec 30, 1992
EF1
66 km
0.2 mi
0
Dec 11, 1992
EF1
66 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 25, 2018
EF0
39 km
0.0 mi
0
Nov 9, 2002
EF0
100 km
0.5 mi
0
Jan 20, 1996
EF0
66 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 20, 1996
EF0
88 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF0
100 km
0.1 mi
0
May 13, 1960
EF0
45 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 10, 1958
EF0
66 km
0.8 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
1873
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
3.1 m
—
94 km
1992
CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.8 m
—
89 km
2024
CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
0.1 m
—
115 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Shasta (164 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Shasta
Stratovolcano
4,317 m (14,163 ft)
1250
164 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: MONUMENT (226,125 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
MONUMENT
226,125
88 km
2021
HAYPRESS
204,549
96 km
2020
SLATER
157,784
99 km
2020
RED SALMON COMPLEX
147,535
61 km
1999
MEGRAM- ORLEANS
125,337
60 km
2014
HAPPY CAMP COMPLEX
118,491
99 km
2006
PIGEON
100,962
81 km
2008
SISKIYOU-BLUE 2 COMPLEX (BLUE 2)
100,823
64 km
2021
MCCASH
95,762
79 km
2017
OAK
95,692
80 km
2023
KELLY
90,267
87 km
2015
RIVER COMPLEX
78,531
70 km
2008
PANTHER
71,448
76 km
1987
KING TITUS
71,390
82 km
2017
ISLAND
62,931
88 km
1987
YELLOW 2
53,626
74 km
2008
BEAR WALLOW COMPLEX (UKONOM)
40,029
72 km
2018
NATCHEZ
38,800
94 km
2023
MOSQUITO
36,111
52 km
2015
ROUTE COMPLEX
35,444
79 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
44°F (7°C)
9.0 in
Coldest
February
47°F (8°C)
7.7 in
March
48°F (9°C)
7.8 in
April
50°F (10°C)
4.2 in
May
53°F (12°C)
2.2 in
June
56°F (13°C)
0.9 in
July
58°F (15°C)
0.2 in
Driest
August
60°F (15°C)
0.7 in
Warmest
September
59°F (15°C)
1.4 in
October
55°F (13°C)
4.0 in
November
49°F (10°C)
9.3 in
December
46°F (8°C)
9.9 in
Wettest
Big Lagoon has a seasonal temperature swing of 16°F / from 44°F in January to 60°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 57.4 inches, with December being the wettest month (9.9") and July the driest (0.2").