Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
California Pines experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 316 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 11.7 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 4,417 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (-0°C)68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average
47.6°F
12% below US avg
January Average
32°F (-0°C)
July Average
68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days
316 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
4,417 ft (1,346 m)
Area
7.4 sq mi (19.2 km²)
Population Density
48/sq mi
Coordinates
41.4138°N, 120.6653°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Modoc County County
Nearest Airport
Crater Lake/Klamath Regional (LMT) 75 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall11.7"
69% below US avg
Wettest Month (Nov)1.81"
Driest Month (Jul)0.28"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
39.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
66.8 / 100
Community Resilience
21.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Very Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1,258 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M5.7.
May 24, 2013
2 km NNE of Canyondam, California
M5.7
140 km
8 km
May 11, 2023
Lake Almanor Earthquake
M5.5
140 km
6 km
May 12, 2023
4km NW of Canyondam, CA
M5.2
140 km
6 km
Dec 4, 1993
20 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon
M5.1
148 km
5 km
Sep 8, 2023
12 km NE of Burney, CA
M5.0
91 km
16 km
May 24, 2013
1km NNW of Canyondam, CA
M4.9
142 km
4 km
Feb 10, 1993
28 km SW of Empire, Nevada
M4.8
141 km
5 km
Sep 14, 2015
43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California
M4.7
100 km
10 km
Jul 16, 2015
42 km E of Fort Bidwell, California
M4.6
101 km
10 km
Jan 22, 2015
43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California
M4.5
100 km
12 km
Jul 27, 2015
43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California
M4.5
101 km
11 km
Aug 4, 2016
5 km WNW of Patton Village, California
M4.5
145 km
7 km
May 10, 2005
10 km NW of Burney, California
M4.4
105 km
17 km
Jun 30, 2004
10 km NNE of New Pine Creek, Oregon
M4.4
82 km
9 km
Dec 20, 2000
12 km NNW of Burney, California
M4.4
98 km
17 km
Jun 14, 1991
8 km SW of Hat Creek, California
M4.4
105 km
11 km
Sep 8, 2023
12 km NE of Burney, CA
M4.3
91 km
12 km
Jul 22, 2004
Oregon
M4.3
83 km
0 km
Jan 19, 1994
15 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon
M4.3
144 km
-1 km
Jan 9, 1994
12 km WNW of Klamath Falls, Oregon
M4.3
140 km
1 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
1 tornado (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 22, 1958
EF1
87 km
2.7 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Medicine Lake (77 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Medicine Lake
Shield
2,412 m (7,913 ft)
1060
77 km
Lassen Volcanic Center
Stratovolcano
3,187 m (10,456 ft)
1917
125 km
Shasta
Stratovolcano
4,317 m (14,163 ft)
1250
127 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: ANTELOPE (141,960 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
ANTELOPE
141,960
95 km
2012
BARRY POINT
91,487
67 km
2020
W-5 COLD SPRINGS
84,024
57 km
2020
CALDWELL
81,870
75 km
2001
OBSERVATION
67,432
86 km
2012
LOST
57,647
94 km
2017
STEELE
49,153
55 km
2014
BALD
39,770
81 km
2018
STONE
39,455
29 km
2017
COVE
30,884
32 km
2001
BLUE COMPLEX (BLUE)
30,803
44 km
1999
PINE
24,124
49 km
1996
AMBROSE COMPLEX (DAMON-LONG)
24,090
51 km
1987
LOST
23,599
95 km
2005
BARREL
23,077
89 km
2020
GOLD
21,623
41 km
1984
TWIN
21,476
97 km
2018
WHALEBACK
18,640
89 km
2017
R-4
18,047
99 km
1990
SHINN
17,966
90 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (-0°C)
1.8 in
February
35°F (1°C)
1.5 in
March
39°F (4°C)
1.5 in
April
44°F (7°C)
1.2 in
May
52°F (11°C)
1.3 in
June
60°F (15°C)
0.9 in
July
68°F (20°C)
0.3 in
Warmest, Driest
August
66°F (19°C)
0.5 in
September
59°F (15°C)
0.7 in
October
49°F (10°C)
1.1 in
November
38°F (3°C)
1.8 in
Wettest
December
31°F (-1°C)
1.8 in
Coldest
California Pines has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 31°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.3 inches, with November being the wettest month (1.8") and July the driest (0.3").