Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Channel Islands Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 56°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. 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 12.9 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 13 feet.
Temperature
56°F Jan (13°C)67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average
61.2°F
13% above US avg
January Average
56°F (13°C)
July Average
67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Area
0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density
6,990/sq mi
Coordinates
34.1690°N, 119.2285°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Ventura County County
Nearest Airport
Santa Barbara Municipal (SBA) 36 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall12.9"
66% below US avg
Wettest Month (Feb)3.74"
Driest Month (Jun)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
99.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
29.8 / 100
Community Resilience
33.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
No Rating
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Very High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively High
Coastal Flood
Relatively Moderate
Tsunami
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,449 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.7.
Jan 17, 1994
Northridge, California, earthquake
M6.7
64 km
18 km
Jan 17, 1994
1km ENE of Granada Hills, California
M5.9
69 km
5 km
Jun 28, 1991
The 1991 Sierra Madre, California Earthquake
M5.8
114 km
8 km
Jan 17, 1994
7km NNE of Simi Valley, California
M5.6
52 km
9 km
Feb 28, 1990
The 1990 Upland, California Earthquake
M5.5
141 km
3 km
Apr 5, 2018
31km SW of Santa Cruz Is. (E end), CA
M5.3
61 km
10 km
Jan 18, 1994
10km ESE of Piru, California
M5.2
54 km
11 km
Mar 20, 1994
3km WNW of Panorama City, California
M5.2
70 km
12 km
Aug 7, 2024
24 km SW of Lamont, CA
M5.2
105 km
12 km
Jan 17, 1994
9km N of Chatsworth, California
M5.2
60 km
5 km
May 28, 1993
21km SW of Lamont, California
M5.2
110 km
21 km
Mar 29, 2014
2km NW of Brea, CA
M5.1
124 km
5 km
Aug 20, 2023
7 km SE of Ojai, CA
M5.1
27 km
5 km
Jan 19, 1994
10km SSW of Valencia, California
M5.1
61 km
11 km
Apr 26, 1997
12km ESE of Piru, California
M5.1
56 km
16 km
Jan 29, 1994
6km NNE of Chatsworth, California
M5.1
62 km
1 km
Jan 19, 1994
8km ESE of Piru, California
M5.1
53 km
14 km
Sep 29, 2004
25km SSW of Bodfish, California
M5.0
147 km
3 km
Jun 26, 1995
11km SW of Valencia, California
M5.0
57 km
13 km
Apr 27, 1997
11km SW of Valencia, California
M4.9
58 km
15 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: 45 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 1, 1983
EF2
82 km
3.5 mi
0
Nov 9, 1982
EF2
72 km
1.0 mi
0
Nov 7, 1966
EF2
91 km
0.1 mi
0
Nov 7, 1966
EF2
90 km
10.3 mi
0
Mar 20, 1992
EF1
97 km
0.2 mi
0
Oct 1, 1983
EF1
86 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 9, 1982
EF1
53 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 31, 1979
EF1
79 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 3, 1977
EF1
62 km
0.1 mi
0
Nov 9, 1964
EF1
79 km
1.0 mi
0
May 14, 1962
EF1
92 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 18, 1955
EF1
87 km
3.0 mi
0
May 4, 2023
EF0
95 km
0.1 mi
0
May 4, 2023
EF0
99 km
0.7 mi
0
Mar 21, 2023
EF0
40 km
0.2 mi
0
Dec 25, 2019
EF0
8 km
0.8 mi
0
Dec 12, 2014
EF0
89 km
0.7 mi
0
Jan 21, 2010
EF0
10 km
1.5 mi
0
Jan 19, 2010
EF0
66 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 24, 2008
EF0
11 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 3.4 m (11 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1812
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
3.4 m
1
62 km
1930
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
3.1 m
1
56 km
1994
WEST COAST, USA
Earthquake
0.1 m
57
64 km
1855
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
104 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: THOMAS (281,982 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
THOMAS
281,982
33 km
2007
ZACA
241,846
71 km
2006
DAY
159,713
55 km
1985
WHEELER 2
126,854
40 km
2003
SIMI
107,756
44 km
2018
WOOLSEY
97,962
38 km
2003
PIRU
63,920
48 km
1985
FERNDALE
46,724
28 km
1993
MARRE
44,309
91 km
2016
SAND
41,561
84 km
2007
BUCKWEED
41,332
82 km
1993
GREEN MEADOWS
38,115
24 km
2007
RANCH
37,009
60 km
2016
REY
33,323
65 km
2013
POWERHOUSE
32,329
90 km
2020
LAKE
30,971
84 km
1993
STECKEL
26,202
25 km
2005
TOPANGA
24,133
49 km
1997
HOPPER
24,072
51 km
2013
SPRINGS
24,042
21 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
56°F (13°C)
3.5 in
February
56°F (13°C)
3.7 in
Wettest
March
56°F (13°C)
3.1 in
April
59°F (15°C)
0.8 in
May
61°F (16°C)
0.2 in
June
64°F (18°C)
0.0 in
July
67°F (19°C)
0.0 in
Driest
August
68°F (20°C)
0.0 in
Warmest
September
67°F (20°C)
0.2 in
October
65°F (18°C)
0.4 in
November
59°F (15°C)
1.7 in
December
55°F (13°C)
2.3 in
Coldest
Channel Islands Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 13°F / from 55°F in December to 68°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 15.9 inches, with February being the wettest month (3.7") and July the driest (0.0").