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Weather & Climate in Desert Shores, CA

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

Desert Shores has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 77°F (25°C). Winters average 59°F in January while summers reach 96°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 4.0 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 -205 feet.

Temperature

59°F Jan (15°C) 96°F Jul (35°C)
Annual Average76.6°F
42% above US avg
January Average59°F (15°C)
July Average96°F (35°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation-205 ft (-62 m)
Area0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)
Population Density653/sq mi
Coordinates33.4038°N, 116.0392°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyRiverside County County
Nearest AirportJacqueline Cochran Regional (TRM)
17 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 4.0"
89% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan) 0.83"
Driest Month (Jun) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery High
Risk Score99.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability33.3 / 100
Community Resilience13.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very High
Wildfire Very High
Flood Very High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Relatively High
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

15,809 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.3.

Jun 28, 1992 The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake M7.3 96 km 0 km
Apr 4, 2010 The 2010 Sierra El Mayor, B.C., Mexico Earthquake M7.2 142 km 10 km
Oct 16, 1999 The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake M7.1 135 km 14 km
Jun 28, 1992 The 1992 Big Bear, California Earthquake M6.3 115 km 4 km
Apr 23, 1992 The 1992 Joshua Tree, California Earthquake M6.1 67 km 12 km
Dec 30, 2009 12km N of Delta, B.C., MX M5.8 131 km 6 km
Oct 16, 1999 13km WSW of Ludlow, CA M5.8 144 km 14 km
Jun 28, 1992 3km NE of Yucca Valley, California M5.8 88 km -1 km
Jun 15, 2010 8km ESE of Ocotillo, CA M5.7 79 km 9 km
Jun 28, 1992 2km SSW of Joshua Tree, California M5.7 84 km 6 km
Feb 22, 2002 13km WSW of Delta, B.C., MX M5.7 138 km 7 km
Jun 29, 1992 3km ESE of Yucca Valley, California M5.7 85 km 10 km
Oct 16, 1999 7km ENE of Running Springs, CA M5.6 131 km 6 km
Jun 28, 1992 11km SSE of Big Bear Lake, California M5.5 113 km 10 km
Jun 28, 1992 0km E of Yucca Valley, CA M5.5 87 km 8 km
Apr 4, 2010 9km SW of Delta, B.C., MX M5.4 143 km 10 km
Jul 7, 2010 20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA M5.4 40 km 12 km
Jul 5, 1992 21km SW of Ludlow, California M5.4 134 km 5 km
Aug 26, 2012 4km NNW of Brawley, CA M5.4 63 km 8 km
Jun 28, 1992 26km NNW of Yucca Valley, CA M5.4 113 km 4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

21 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 11 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Feb 9, 1978 EF3 38 km 2.0 mi 0
Sep 7, 1982 EF2 97 km 0.5 mi 0
Aug 6, 2015 EF1 19 km 4.0 mi 0
Dec 22, 1996 EF1 89 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 29, 1993 EF1 76 km 0.1 mi 0
Oct 22, 1974 EF1 92 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 20, 1974 EF1 93 km 1.0 mi 0
Aug 16, 2018 EF0 63 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 21, 2015 EF0 74 km 10.0 mi 0
Mar 11, 2006 EF0 90 km 2.0 mi 0
Jul 23, 2005 EF0 92 km 2.0 mi 0
Jan 9, 2005 EF0 93 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 7, 2001 EF0 85 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 12, 1999 EF0 55 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 24, 1997 EF0 77 km 1.5 mi 0
May 20, 1997 EF0 27 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 12, 1994 EF0 89 km 0.1 mi 0
May 5, 1992 EF0 76 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 27, 1987 EF0 81 km 1.5 mi 0
Sep 18, 1985 EF0 16 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.2 m (4 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1862 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 1.2 m — 134 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Salton Buttes (46 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Salton Buttes Lava dome(s) -40 m (-131 ft) 210 46 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CEDAR (268,362 acres, 2003).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2003 CEDAR 268,362 85 km
2007 WITCH 167,551 77 km
2006 MILLARD 86,585 96 km
2002 PINES 65,407 57 km
2003 PARADISE 55,995 85 km
2007 POOMACHA 47,496 83 km
2006 ESPERANZA 40,566 93 km
2022 FAIRVIEW 28,680 83 km
2013 MOUNTAIN 28,202 66 km
1993 CALIFORNIA 23,899 95 km
1995 VERBENIA 21,601 89 km
1994 PALM 21,040 52 km
2013 SILVER 20,863 88 km
2003 COYOTE 19,215 50 km
1993 GUEJITO 17,141 91 km
2006 HORSE 16,659 93 km
2020 VALLEY 16,517 96 km
1989 VAIL 15,632 84 km
2011 EAGLE 14,743 42 km
1985 CABANZO 14,091 75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 59°F (15°C) 0.8 in Wettest
February 59°F (15°C) 0.7 in
March 63°F (17°C) 0.6 in
April 69°F (21°C) 0.2 in
May 76°F (24°C) 0.1 in
June 84°F (29°C) 0.0 in Driest
July 96°F (35°C) 0.2 in Warmest
August 89°F (32°C) 0.4 in
September 84°F (29°C) 0.3 in
October 74°F (24°C) 0.2 in
November 63°F (17°C) 0.4 in
December 55°F (13°C) 0.6 in Coldest

Desert Shores has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 55°F in December to 96°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 4.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (0.8") and June the driest (0.0").

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