Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Bolinas enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 305 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 44.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 280 feet.
Temperature
49°F Jan (10°C)68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average
59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average
49°F (10°C)
July Average
68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
280 ft (85 m)
Area
5.8 sq mi (15.1 km²)
Population Density
202/sq mi
Coordinates
37.9177°N, 122.7095°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
San Mateo County County
Nearest Airport
San Francisco International (SFO) 28 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall44.4"
17% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)9.21"
Driest Month (Jul)0.12"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
99.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
20.5 / 100
Community Resilience
97.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively High
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Tsunami
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4,275 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
48 km
11 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km NNW of Aromas, California
M5.4
144 km
5 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km E of Interlaken, California
M5.1
140 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
149 km
7 km
Sep 3, 2000
5 km WSW of Yountville, California
M4.9
57 km
9 km
May 14, 2002
5 km SSW of Gilroy, California
M4.9
144 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km NNW of Aromas, California
M4.9
144 km
6 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
100 km
4 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km N of Aromas, California
M4.7
145 km
4 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
107 km
8 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
113 km
9 km
Jan 2, 2025
4 km NW of Cobb, CA
M4.7
103 km
1 km
Mar 24, 1991
1 km NNE of Interlaken, California
M4.6
137 km
15 km
Aug 18, 1999
0 km S of Bolinas, California
M4.6
2 km
8 km
Jan 11, 2000
6 km N of Geyserville, California
M4.6
96 km
6 km
Feb 18, 2004
4 km WNW of Cobb, California
M4.6
102 km
3 km
Jan 12, 2014
8 km W of Cobb, California
M4.5
100 km
2 km
Sep 19, 2023
15 km SW of Westley, CA
M4.5
135 km
4 km
Sep 25, 2012
3 km N of Talmage, California
M4.5
145 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
36 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 5, 1998
EF2
85 km
0.6 mi
0
Jun 1, 1958
EF2
47 km
15.0 mi
0
Jan 11, 1951
EF2
80 km
5.7 mi
0
Mar 18, 2011
EF1
60 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
83 km
1.6 mi
0
Mar 20, 2005
EF1
39 km
3.0 mi
0
Jan 27, 2005
EF1
86 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 5, 1998
EF1
59 km
1.5 mi
0
May 5, 1998
EF1
79 km
0.3 mi
0
Dec 23, 1996
EF1
42 km
6.0 mi
0
Feb 22, 1996
EF1
70 km
1.0 mi
0
Dec 2, 1992
EF1
55 km
1.0 mi
0
Dec 2, 1992
EF1
71 km
3.0 mi
0
Dec 2, 1992
EF1
56 km
7.5 mi
0
Feb 27, 1983
EF1
59 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 14, 1980
EF1
88 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 10, 1964
EF1
69 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 17, 1959
EF1
82 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
46 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 27, 2016
EF0
84 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
59 km
1989
N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.0 m
62
122 km
1856
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.6 m
—
59 km
1906
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.1 m
—
30 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
107 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Clear Lake (117 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Clear Lake
Volcanic field
1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Unknown
117 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: HENNESSEY (314,241 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
HENNESSEY
314,241
87 km
2018
COUNTY
92,450
98 km
2020
CZU AUG LIGHTNING
85,894
96 km
2019
KINCADE
77,780
84 km
2015
VALLEY
77,507
97 km
2020
GLASS
68,020
72 km
2017
NUNS
56,883
51 km
2020
WALLBRIDGE
55,194
82 km
2017
ATLAS
51,664
65 km
2017
TUBBS
36,981
72 km
1988
MILLER
35,750
78 km
2017
POCKET
18,691
96 km
2004
GEYSERS
12,075
90 km
1995
VISION
11,931
20 km
2015
WRAGG
8,455
84 km
2014
MONTICELLO
6,984
89 km
2016
COLD
6,289
88 km
1988
BLUE RIDGE
5,130
93 km
1988
UNNAMED
5,076
96 km
1991
GEYSERS
4,993
95 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
49°F (10°C)
9.2 in
Coldest, Wettest
February
51°F (10°C)
7.6 in
March
52°F (11°C)
6.5 in
April
54°F (12°C)
2.7 in
May
56°F (14°C)
0.9 in
June
59°F (15°C)
0.3 in
July
68°F (20°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
63°F (17°C)
0.2 in
September
63°F (17°C)
0.5 in
October
60°F (16°C)
2.5 in
November
54°F (12°C)
6.5 in
December
49°F (10°C)
7.8 in
Bolinas has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 49°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.7 inches, with January being the wettest month (9.2") and July the driest (0.1").