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Weather & Climate in Carson City, NV

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

Carson City experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 72°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 9.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 14.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45. 74% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 4,649 feet.

Temperature

35°F Jan (2°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average51.7°F
4% below US avg
January Average35°F (2°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation4,649 ft (1,417 m)
Area157.2 sq mi (407.3 km²)
Population Density404/sq mi
Coordinates39.1531°N, 119.7474°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyCarson City County
Nearest AirportReno/Tahoe International (RNO)
24 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 9.3"
75% below US avg
Snowfall 14.0"
Wettest Month (Jan) 1.54"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.31"

Air Quality

AQI Median45.0
RatingGood
Good Days %73.8%
Unhealthy Days1

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score76.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability20.2 / 100
Community Resilience17.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

3,019 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.1.

Sep 12, 1994 4 km S of Carter Springs, Nevada M6.1 38 km 14 km
Jul 8, 2021 Antelope Valley, CA M6.0 75 km 7 km
Oct 24, 1990 3 km NE of Mono City, California M5.8 133 km 11 km
Aug 10, 2001 3 km N of Blairsden, California M5.2 105 km 5 km
Apr 26, 2008 1 km NW of Mogul, Nevada M5.1 44 km 3 km
Sep 12, 1994 8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California M5.1 42 km -1 km
Jul 8, 2021 32km SE of Markleeville, CA M5.0 74 km 7 km
Dec 22, 1995 California-Nevada border region M4.9 49 km 4 km
Apr 26, 2008 0 km N of Mogul, Nevada M4.8 44 km 3 km
Dec 28, 1995 9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada M4.8 49 km -1 km
Oct 1, 2011 7 km SSE of Schurz, Nevada M4.8 90 km 4 km
Feb 10, 1993 28 km SW of Empire, Nevada M4.8 142 km 5 km
Oct 30, 1998 4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California M4.8 30 km 1 km
Jun 26, 2005 8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California M4.8 34 km -2 km
Apr 26, 2008 27km SE of Smith Valley, NV M4.7 80 km 4 km
Mar 9, 2007 13 km SE of Walker, California M4.7 87 km 7 km
Dec 23, 1995 8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada M4.7 48 km -1 km
May 7, 2021 19km NW of Truckee, CA M4.7 60 km 10 km
Jul 8, 2021 29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA M4.6 77 km 2 km
Dec 12, 1996 4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada M4.6 57 km -2 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

26 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Aug 15, 2020 EF1 72 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 14, 2020 EF1 72 km 0.4 mi 0
Jul 16, 1973 EF1 50 km 1.0 mi 0
May 26, 1964 EF1 50 km 2.0 mi 0
Sep 21, 2017 EF0 23 km 0.4 mi 0
Sep 13, 2017 EF0 19 km 2.0 mi 0
Jul 20, 2015 EF0 91 km 3.2 mi 0
Jul 8, 2015 EF0 34 km 2.7 mi 0
Apr 27, 2005 EF0 8 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 24, 2004 EF0 53 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 2, 2003 EF0 19 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 2, 2003 EF0 46 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 1, 2002 EF0 50 km 0.1 mi 0
Feb 10, 2000 EF0 44 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 13, 1999 EF0 44 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 30, 1998 EF0 53 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 11, 1998 EF0 59 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 11, 1998 EF0 66 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 14, 1997 EF0 89 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 9, 1997 EF0 39 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Soda Lakes (86 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Soda Lakes Maar(s) 1,251 m (4,104 ft) Unknown 86 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field Pyroclastic cone(s) 2,121 m (6,959 ft) 1790 143 km
Mono-Inyo Craters Lava dome(s) 2,796 m (9,173 ft) 1380 163 km
Mammoth Mountain Lava dome(s) 3,369 m (11,053 ft) 1260 180 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CALDOR (226,583 acres, 2021).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2021 CALDOR 226,583 67 km
2021 SUGAR 108,368 97 km
2014 KING 99,070 73 km
2017 TRUCKEE 98,411 84 km
2017 LONG VALLEY 80,456 95 km
2022 MOSQUITO 77,858 82 km
2021 TAMARACK 70,171 50 km
2018 PERRY 53,734 75 km
1994 COTTONWOOD 47,912 63 km
1999 FISH COMPLEX (FISH SPRINGS) 47,030 98 km
2020 LOYALTON 45,484 69 km
2018 DONNELL 36,151 86 km
2016 TULE 35,341 95 km
2017 EARTHSTONE 35,305 53 km
2020 NORTH 34,120 80 km
1985 GOOSEBERRY 29,290 49 km
2013 AMERICAN 27,938 73 km
2020 SLINK 26,437 72 km
2013 BISON 23,611 34 km
2002 CANNON 23,605 80 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 35°F (2°C) 1.5 in Wettest
February 36°F (2°C) 1.4 in
March 41°F (5°C) 1.0 in
April 46°F (8°C) 0.5 in
May 54°F (12°C) 0.6 in
June 63°F (17°C) 0.5 in
July 72°F (22°C) 0.3 in Warmest, Driest
August 69°F (20°C) 0.4 in
September 61°F (16°C) 0.5 in
October 51°F (10°C) 0.6 in
November 40°F (4°C) 1.3 in
December 32°F (0°C) 1.3 in Coldest

Carson City has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 32°F in December to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.9 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.5") and July the driest (0.3").

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