Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Blue Lake experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 57°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 275 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 46.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 83 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)57°F Jul (14°C)
Annual Average
52.5°F
3% below US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
57°F (14°C)
Sunny Days
275 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
83 ft (25 m)
Area
0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
Population Density
1,608/sq mi
Coordinates
40.8810°N, 123.9949°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Humboldt County County
Nearest Airport
Redding Regional (RDD) 93 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall46.1"
21% above US avg
Wettest Month (Dec)10.04"
Driest Month (Jul)0.20"
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
5,143 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M7.2.
Apr 25, 1992
The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake
M7.2
64 km
10 km
Mar 10, 2014
77 km WNW of Indianola, California
M6.8
96 km
16 km
Apr 26, 1992
32 km SW of Ferndale, California
M6.6
73 km
22 km
Jan 10, 2010
The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake
M6.5
64 km
29 km
Apr 26, 1992
30 km WSW of Ferndale, California
M6.5
69 km
19 km
Aug 17, 1991
30 km SSW of Scotia, California
M6.0
74 km
8 km
Feb 4, 2010
61 km WSW of Ferndale, California
M5.9
97 km
23 km
Mar 9, 2020
69km W of Petrolia, CA
M5.8
108 km
3 km
Jan 28, 2015
40 km SW of Ferndale, California
M5.7
81 km
17 km
Mar 16, 2000
85 km WSW of Ferndale, California
M5.7
118 km
5 km
Feb 13, 2012
26 km NNW of Willow Creek, California
M5.6
34 km
27 km
Jan 22, 1997
33 km SW of Scotia, California
M5.6
75 km
23 km
Jun 23, 2019
6km SSW of Petrolia, CA
M5.6
72 km
9 km
May 21, 2023
108km W of Petrolia, CA
M5.6
144 km
10 km
Oct 4, 1997
100 km WNW of Samoa, California
M5.5
115 km
7 km
Nov 27, 1998
87 km W of Ferndale, California
M5.4
112 km
4 km
Jan 13, 2001
off the coast of Northern California
M5.4
106 km
2 km
Dec 26, 1994
7 km WNW of Fields Landing, California
M5.4
30 km
23 km
Jan 16, 1990
30 km NW of Shelter Cove, California
M5.4
76 km
4 km
Feb 26, 2007
52km W of Ferndale, CA
M5.4
78 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
7 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 29, 1958
EF2
12 km
2.0 mi
0
Dec 30, 1992
EF1
98 km
0.2 mi
0
Dec 11, 1992
EF1
98 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 25, 2018
EF0
16 km
0.0 mi
0
Jan 20, 1996
EF0
98 km
0.1 mi
0
May 13, 1960
EF0
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 10, 1958
EF0
98 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
—
124 km
1992
CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.8 m
—
63 km
2024
CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
0.1 m
—
103 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Shasta (162 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Shasta
Stratovolcano
4,317 m (14,163 ft)
1250
162 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
64 km
2021
HAYPRESS
204,549
89 km
2020
RED SALMON COMPLEX
147,535
56 km
1999
MEGRAM- ORLEANS
125,337
50 km
2006
PIGEON
100,962
67 km
2008
SISKIYOU-BLUE 2 COMPLEX (BLUE 2)
100,823
86 km
2021
MCCASH
95,762
93 km
2015
RIVER COMPLEX
78,531
53 km
2008
PANTHER
71,448
90 km
1987
KING TITUS
71,390
98 km
2017
ISLAND
62,931
94 km
1987
YELLOW 2
53,626
82 km
2008
BEAR WALLOW COMPLEX (UKONOM)
40,029
78 km
2023
MOSQUITO
36,111
71 km
2015
ROUTE COMPLEX
35,444
49 km
2014
WHITES
34,506
94 km
2008
IRON AND ALPS COMPLEXES (EAGLE)
32,397
73 km
2015
PATTISON
31,129
53 km
2022
CAMPBELL
30,392
38 km
2008
IRON AND ALPS COMPLEXES (BUCKHORN)
29,446
62 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
9.2 in
February
46°F (8°C)
7.8 in
March
47°F (8°C)
7.8 in
April
49°F (9°C)
4.1 in
May
53°F (12°C)
2.0 in
June
57°F (14°C)
0.8 in
July
57°F (14°C)
0.2 in
Driest
August
63°F (17°C)
0.7 in
Warmest
September
61°F (16°C)
1.3 in
October
56°F (13°C)
3.9 in
November
49°F (9°C)
9.2 in
December
45°F (7°C)
10.0 in
Coldest, Wettest
Blue Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 45°F in December to 63°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 56.9 inches, with December being the wettest month (10.0") and July the driest (0.2").