Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Copperopolis enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 79°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 12.3 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 753 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
63.1°F
17% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
753 ft (230 m)
Area
21.4 sq mi (55.5 km²)
Population Density
349/sq mi
Coordinates
37.9391°N, 120.6251°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Merced County County
Nearest Airport
Merced Yosemite Regional (MCE) 45 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall12.3"
68% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan)4.49"
Driest Month (Jul)0.08"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
96.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
61.7 / 100
Community Resilience
7.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively High
Drought
Very High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,998 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
130 km
14 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
117 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
133 km
11 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km NNW of Aromas, California
M5.4
144 km
5 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
123 km
-1 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km E of Interlaken, California
M5.1
144 km
7 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
117 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
126 km
7 km
May 14, 2002
5 km SSW of Gilroy, California
M4.9
138 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km NNW of Aromas, California
M4.9
144 km
6 km
Apr 19, 1996
2 km E of Aromas, California
M4.9
146 km
5 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
123 km
4 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
121 km
-1 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
123 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km N of Aromas, California
M4.7
144 km
4 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
123 km
-1 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
116 km
8 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
116 km
9 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
112 km
2 km
Mar 24, 1991
1 km NNE of Interlaken, California
M4.6
146 km
15 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
66 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
46 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
8 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
20 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
95 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
48 km
3.0 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
46 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
68 km
1.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
27 km
0.6 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
70 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 14, 1995
EF1
96 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
53 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
95 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
39 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
61 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
40 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
59 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 22, 1967
EF1
94 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
54 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
62 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 8, 2022
EF0
75 km
0.8 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1868
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
4.5 m
30
132 km
1989
N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.0 m
62
150 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
-
-
139 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mono Lake Volcanic Field (140 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
140 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
141 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
144 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (405,787 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX
405,787
92 km
2013
RIM
257,084
58 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
92 km
2018
FERGUSON
97,307
79 km
2017
DETWILER
83,297
62 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
37 km
1996
ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON)
58,161
71 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
43 km
1987
LARSON
49,250
65 km
1987
HAMM
39,333
52 km
2006
CANYON
36,851
90 km
2018
DONNELL
36,151
86 km
2008
TELEGRAPH
33,479
65 km
2022
OAK
19,408
80 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
30 km
1990
A-ROCK
17,706
78 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
45 km
2003
ANNIE
17,383
96 km
2004
POWER
17,266
70 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
81 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
4.5 in
Wettest
February
49°F (9°C)
4.1 in
March
52°F (11°C)
4.1 in
April
57°F (14°C)
2.1 in
May
64°F (18°C)
0.6 in
June
72°F (22°C)
0.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
78°F (26°C)
0.1 in
September
73°F (23°C)
0.4 in
October
65°F (18°C)
1.4 in
November
53°F (12°C)
3.6 in
December
46°F (8°C)
3.5 in
Coldest
Copperopolis has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 46°F in December to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.8 inches, with January being the wettest month (4.5") and July the driest (0.1").