Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Briarcliff enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 303 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 33.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42. The city sits at an elevation of 736 feet.
Temperature
49°F Jan (9°C)83°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average
67.0°F
24% above US avg
January Average
49°F (9°C)
July Average
83°F (29°C)
Sunny Days
303 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
736 ft (224 m)
Area
1.7 sq mi (4.5 km²)
Population Density
1,675/sq mi
Coordinates
30.4093°N, 98.0445°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Blanco County County
Nearest Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) 27 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall33.0"
13% below US avg
Snowfall0.2"
Wettest Month (May)4.65"
Driest Month (Jan)1.69"
Air Quality
AQI Median
42.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
33.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
45.4 / 100
Community Resilience
52.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
51 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.4.
Apr 10, 2021
10 km SSE of Smiley, Texas
M3.4
143 km
5 km
Feb 7, 2021
8 km ESE of Smiley, Texas
M3.2
139 km
6 km
Apr 18, 2020
21 km ENE of Falls City, Texas
M3.1
150 km
5 km
May 14, 2019
1 km SSE of Smiley, Texas
M3.1
134 km
5 km
Feb 19, 2015
3 km N of Hallettsville, Texas
M3.1
149 km
5 km
Jan 1, 2024
18 km S of Gonzales, Texas
M3.0
133 km
3 km
May 10, 2019
13 km SSE of Stockdale, Texas
M3.0
143 km
5 km
Feb 3, 2019
13 km ESE of Smiley, Texas
M3.0
142 km
5 km
Sep 22, 2015
14 km SSW of Nixon, Texas
M2.9
142 km
5 km
Aug 19, 2022
11 km E of Smiley, Texas
M2.9
136 km
7 km
Sep 3, 2015
7 km NNE of Leander, Texas
M2.9
33 km
5 km
May 22, 2023
16 km S of Smiley, Texas
M2.9
148 km
5 km
Oct 20, 2017
5 km W of Flatonia, Texas
M2.9
117 km
3 km
Jul 21, 2021
11 km S of Smiley, Texas
M2.9
144 km
5 km
May 17, 2019
12 km ESE of Smiley, Texas
M2.9
141 km
7 km
Apr 8, 2021
9 km SSE of Smiley, Texas
M2.8
142 km
8 km
Jun 16, 2022
17 km E of Smiley, Texas
M2.8
138 km
7 km
May 4, 2023
17 km S of Nixon, Texas
M2.7
147 km
7 km
Jan 4, 1995
1 km NW of Hallettsville, Texas
M2.7
150 km
5 km
Mar 6, 2014
14 km S of Nixon, Texas
M2.7
144 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
6 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Beryl
Category 1
92 mph
233 km
2021
Nicholas
Category 1
75 mph
289 km
2017
Harvey
Category 4
132 mph
203 km
2008
Ike
Category 2
98 mph
271 km
2003
Claudette
Category 1
92 mph
230 km
1983
Alicia
Category 3
115 mph
257 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
408 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 34 fatalities, 275 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 27, 1997
EF5
61 km
5.1 mi
27
May 27, 1997
EF4
5 km
5.6 mi
1
Apr 12, 2022
EF3
58 km
16.6 mi
0
Oct 12, 2001
EF3
63 km
2.5 mi
0
May 27, 1997
EF3
27 km
9.2 mi
0
May 13, 1994
EF3
28 km
3.5 mi
0
Mar 14, 1990
EF3
90 km
9.0 mi
0
May 17, 1989
EF3
57 km
3.0 mi
1
Apr 7, 1980
EF3
35 km
31.7 mi
1
May 26, 1976
EF3
94 km
2.0 mi
2
Mar 10, 1973
EF3
40 km
7.8 mi
0
May 6, 1969
EF3
62 km
38.9 mi
0
Sep 20, 1967
EF3
85 km
5.0 mi
0
May 10, 1959
EF3
34 km
11.0 mi
0
Apr 24, 1957
EF3
67 km
14.7 mi
0
Apr 30, 1954
EF3
57 km
139.9 mi
0
Apr 28, 1953
EF3
96 km
0.5 mi
0
May 22, 2024
EF2
99 km
2.8 mi
0
Mar 21, 2022
EF2
90 km
7.9 mi
0
Mar 21, 2022
EF2
57 km
12.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX (31,838 acres, 2011).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2011
BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX
31,838
84 km
2011
ROBINETTE
6,039
97 km
2011
UNNAMED
5,706
98 km
2011
DELHI
4,735
89 km
2011
SPICEWOOD
4,239
6 km
2015
HIDDEN PINES
3,807
90 km
1984
STEWAIT
3,696
35 km
2022
TRAINING AREA 23
2,696
93 km
2011
UNNAMED
2,236
94 km
2002
UNNAMED
2,234
20 km
2000
CHEROKEE FIRE
1,597
76 km
2011
UNNAMED
1,581
91 km
2008
BERTRAM
1,567
42 km
2008
HWY 195 FIRE
1,523
52 km
2022
BUDDY
1,521
48 km
2008
CR 208
1,483
59 km
2022
BIG SKY
1,403
72 km
2009
WILDERNESS RIDGE
1,278
89 km
1996
UNNAMED
1,266
94 km
2007
WILLOW CITY
1,235
64 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
49°F (9°C)
1.7 in
Coldest, Driest
February
52°F (11°C)
2.1 in
March
59°F (15°C)
2.0 in
April
67°F (19°C)
2.6 in
May
74°F (23°C)
4.7 in
Wettest
June
80°F (27°C)
3.5 in
July
83°F (29°C)
1.9 in
Warmest
August
83°F (28°C)
2.1 in
September
78°F (25°C)
3.5 in
October
69°F (20°C)
3.4 in
November
58°F (14°C)
2.4 in
December
50°F (10°C)
1.9 in
Briarcliff has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 49°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 31.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.7") and January the driest (1.7").