Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Dayton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 73°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 11.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 46.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 4,302 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
50.6°F
6% below US avg
January Average
34°F (1°C)
July Average
73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
4,302 ft (1,311 m)
Area
31.6 sq mi (81.7 km²)
Population Density
455/sq mi
Coordinates
39.2716°N, 119.5449°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Storey County County
Nearest Airport
Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) 20 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall11.7"
69% below US avg
Snowfall46.4"
Wettest Month (Jan)1.14"
Driest Month (Jul)0.31"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
25.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
8.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,053 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
51 km
14 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
85 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
140 km
11 km
Aug 10, 2001
3 km N of Blairsden, California
M5.2
110 km
5 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
57 km
-1 km
Apr 26, 2008
1 km NW of Mogul, Nevada
M5.1
44 km
3 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
85 km
7 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
62 km
4 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
63 km
-1 km
Feb 10, 1993
28 km SW of Empire, Nevada
M4.8
129 km
5 km
Apr 26, 2008
0 km N of Mogul, Nevada
M4.8
43 km
3 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
43 km
1 km
Oct 1, 2011
7 km SSE of Schurz, Nevada
M4.8
79 km
4 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
47 km
-2 km
Apr 26, 2008
27km SE of Smith Valley, NV
M4.7
82 km
4 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
61 km
-1 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
95 km
7 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
69 km
10 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
88 km
2 km
Dec 12, 1996
4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.6
68 km
-2 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
27 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 15, 2020
EF1
71 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 2020
EF1
72 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 3, 1973
EF1
98 km
25.9 mi
0
Jul 16, 1973
EF1
41 km
1.0 mi
0
May 26, 1964
EF1
42 km
2.0 mi
0
Sep 21, 2017
EF0
45 km
0.4 mi
0
Sep 13, 2017
EF0
37 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 20, 2015
EF0
85 km
3.2 mi
0
Jul 8, 2015
EF0
56 km
2.7 mi
0
Apr 27, 2005
EF0
16 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 24, 2004
EF0
46 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
35 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
48 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 1, 2002
EF0
39 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 10, 2000
EF0
37 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 13, 1999
EF0
37 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 30, 1998
EF0
48 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
38 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
44 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 14, 1997
EF0
72 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 (65 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Soda Lakes
Maar(s)
1,251 m (4,104 ft)
Unknown
65 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
148 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
169 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
188 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
89 km
2021
SUGAR
108,368
94 km
2014
KING
99,070
94 km
2017
TRUCKEE
98,411
63 km
2017
LONG VALLEY
80,456
86 km
2021
TAMARACK
70,171
65 km
2018
PERRY
53,734
59 km
1994
COTTONWOOD
47,912
67 km
1999
FISH COMPLEX (FISH SPRINGS)
47,030
88 km
2020
LOYALTON
45,484
69 km
2016
TULE
35,341
82 km
2017
EARTHSTONE
35,305
36 km
2020
NORTH
34,120
75 km
1985
GOOSEBERRY
29,290
28 km
2013
AMERICAN
27,938
91 km
2020
SLINK
26,437
84 km
2013
BISON
23,611
38 km
2002
CANNON
23,605
89 km
2001
FISH
21,860
93 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
91 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
34°F (1°C)
1.1 in
Wettest
February
37°F (3°C)
1.1 in
March
41°F (5°C)
0.8 in
April
47°F (8°C)
0.4 in
May
55°F (13°C)
0.6 in
June
64°F (18°C)
0.6 in
July
73°F (23°C)
0.3 in
Warmest, Driest
August
71°F (22°C)
0.4 in
September
63°F (17°C)
0.5 in
October
52°F (11°C)
0.5 in
November
41°F (5°C)
0.9 in
December
33°F (1°C)
1.0 in
Coldest
Dayton has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 33°F in December to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 8.2 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.1") and July the driest (0.3").