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Weather & Climate in Bowles, CA

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

Bowles enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 85°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 11.8 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 279 feet.

Temperature

50°F Jan (10°C) 85°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average66.7°F
24% above US avg
January Average50°F (10°C)
July Average85°F (29°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation279 ft (85 m)
Area0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²)
Population Density537/sq mi
Coordinates36.6089°N, 119.7526°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyFresno County County
Nearest AirportFresno Yosemite International (FAT)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 11.8"
69% below US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 1.89"
Driest Month (Jun) 0.12"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score99.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability60.3 / 100
Community Resilience16.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

5,933 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.0.

Sep 28, 2004 2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake M6.0 104 km 8 km
May 15, 1999 9 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California M5.5 132 km 3 km
Oct 21, 2012 24 km NE of San Lucas, California M5.3 104 km 9 km
Sep 29, 2004 8 km NW of Parkfield, California M5.0 99 km 11 km
Jul 15, 1998 8 km W of Aspen Springs, California M4.9 135 km 4 km
Dec 20, 1994 3 km NW of Parkfield, California M4.9 100 km 8 km
Jun 9, 1998 8 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California M4.9 138 km 5 km
Apr 23, 1995 22 km NNE of Soledad, California M4.9 129 km 7 km
Sep 30, 2004 13 km NW of Parkfield, California M4.9 99 km 10 km
Nov 30, 1997 2 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California M4.9 135 km 5 km
Feb 24, 2016 6km SSW of Wasco, CA M4.9 123 km 22 km
Nov 22, 1997 3 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California M4.9 135 km 5 km
Nov 14, 1993 8 km NW of Parkfield, California M4.8 99 km 11 km
Dec 31, 1997 9 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California M4.8 138 km 4 km
Feb 16, 2016 8 km S of Wilkerson, California M4.8 137 km 15 km
Sep 28, 2004 12 km SE of Parkfield, California M4.7 104 km 6 km
May 15, 1999 11 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California M4.7 130 km 5 km
Aug 27, 2011 21 km NE of Soledad, California M4.6 128 km 8 km
Jun 12, 2007 14km SE of Mammoth Lakes, CA M4.6 130 km 8 km
Nov 22, 1997 California-Nevada border region M4.5 136 km 6 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: 5 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Sep 5, 2020 EF2 90 km 12.0 mi 0
Apr 5, 1980 EF2 27 km 15.0 mi 0
Mar 22, 1962 EF2 22 km 0.5 mi 0
Sep 5, 2020 EF1 87 km 1.1 mi 0
Jan 17, 2019 EF1 31 km 0.3 mi 0
May 20, 2002 EF1 48 km 2.7 mi 0
Feb 14, 1998 EF1 71 km 3.0 mi 0
Nov 22, 1996 EF1 35 km 0.8 mi 0
Jan 14, 1995 EF1 73 km 1.0 mi 0
Feb 28, 1991 EF1 40 km 0.2 mi 0
Mar 8, 1986 EF1 11 km 4.0 mi 0
Mar 28, 1982 EF1 13 km 5.0 mi 0
Feb 19, 1980 EF1 18 km 1.7 mi 0
Mar 14, 1979 EF1 7 km 2.0 mi 0
Apr 22, 1967 EF1 83 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF1 49 km 0.1 mi 0
Nov 1, 1964 EF1 84 km 1.0 mi 0
May 19, 1957 EF1 12 km 0.1 mi 0
Mar 1, 2024 EF0 54 km 0.4 mi 0
May 19, 2019 EF0 50 km 0.4 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1901 MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake — — 95 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Mammoth Mountain (130 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Mammoth Mountain Lava dome(s) 3,369 m (11,053 ft) 1260 130 km
Golden Trout Creek Volcanic field 2,886 m (9,469 ft) -5550 131 km
Mono-Inyo Craters Lava dome(s) 2,796 m (9,173 ft) 1380 148 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field Pyroclastic cone(s) 2,121 m (6,959 ft) 1790 167 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CREEK (381,441 acres, 2020).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2020 CREEK 381,441 92 km
2015 ROUGH 146,369 82 km
2021 KNP COMPLEX 89,960 85 km
2017 GARZA 48,404 88 km
2020 MINERAL 29,901 87 km
2013 ASPEN 23,564 88 km
1996 SKYLINE 21,694 73 km
1985 LOSGATOSIV 20,357 79 km
2024 BOONE 17,701 89 km
1996 MERCY 16,993 100 km
1996 PANOCHE II 14,760 78 km
2014 FRENCH 14,534 84 km
2017 RAILROAD 12,765 93 km
2008 TEHIPITE 12,205 92 km
1989 POWERHOUSE 11,532 62 km
1986 DEER 10,963 78 km
2017 ELM 2 10,765 83 km
2021 RIVER 10,183 81 km
2010 SHEEP COMPLEX 9,614 94 km
2006 THREE ROCKS 9,336 68 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 50°F (10°C) 1.9 in
February 51°F (11°C) 1.8 in
March 56°F (13°C) 1.9 in Wettest
April 61°F (16°C) 0.8 in
May 68°F (20°C) 0.3 in
June 75°F (24°C) 0.1 in
July 85°F (29°C) 0.0 in Warmest, Driest
August 79°F (26°C) 0.0 in
September 74°F (23°C) 0.2 in
October 64°F (18°C) 0.5 in
November 52°F (11°C) 1.1 in
December 44°F (7°C) 1.2 in Coldest

Bowles has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 44°F in December to 85°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (1.9") and July the driest (0.0").

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