Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Dogtown enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 76°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 18.4 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 115 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)76°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
62.2°F
15% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
76°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
115 ft (35 m)
Area
13.0 sq mi (33.6 km²)
Population Density
245/sq mi
Coordinates
38.2087°N, 121.1548°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Sacramento County County
Nearest Airport
Sacramento International (SMF) 41 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall18.4"
52% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)3.98"
Driest Month (Jul)0.08"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
37.4 / 100
Community Resilience
57.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
No Rating
Volcano
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,391 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
147 km
14 km
Aug 24, 2014
The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
M6.0
101 km
11 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
148 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km NNW of Aromas, California
M5.4
149 km
5 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
141 km
-1 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km E of Interlaken, California
M5.1
147 km
7 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
148 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
135 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km NNW of Aromas, California
M4.9
149 km
6 km
Sep 3, 2000
5 km WSW of Yountville, California
M4.9
111 km
9 km
May 14, 2002
5 km SSW of Gilroy, California
M4.9
144 km
7 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
144 km
4 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
142 km
-1 km
Sep 4, 1995
13 km SW of Middletown, California
M4.8
148 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km N of Aromas, California
M4.7
149 km
4 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
107 km
8 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
145 km
-1 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
110 km
9 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
144 km
2 km
Mar 24, 1991
1 km NNE of Interlaken, California
M4.6
147 km
15 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
75 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 1978
EF2
60 km
1.9 mi
0
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
64 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
63 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
37 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
55 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
81 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 22, 2012
EF1
93 km
4.0 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
63 km
1.6 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
64 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
56 km
0.6 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
4 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
52 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF1
59 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
70 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
92 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
63 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
29 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
89 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
12 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 8, 2022
EF0
20 km
0.8 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
5 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
100 km
1989
N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.0 m
62
145 km
1856
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.6 m
—
128 km
1906
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.1 m
—
131 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
130 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Clear Lake (164 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Clear Lake
Volcanic field
1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Unknown
164 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
187 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
192 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
197 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
85 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
95 km
2014
KING
99,070
96 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
50 km
2017
ATLAS
51,664
96 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
95 km
2006
CANYON
36,851
96 km
1988
MILLER
35,750
86 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
94 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
59 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
98 km
2004
POWER
17,266
83 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
69 km
2001
DARBY
14,734
74 km
2006
ZAM ASSIST
14,404
89 km
2018
WAVERLY
12,238
36 km
2009
CORRAL
12,006
74 km
2001
CREEK
9,793
94 km
1992
MOCCASIN
9,565
86 km
1996
SCOTT
8,828
41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
4.0 in
Wettest
February
51°F (10°C)
3.5 in
March
54°F (12°C)
3.4 in
April
59°F (15°C)
1.4 in
May
66°F (19°C)
0.5 in
June
73°F (23°C)
0.2 in
July
76°F (24°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
76°F (24°C)
0.1 in
September
72°F (22°C)
0.4 in
October
64°F (18°C)
1.2 in
November
53°F (12°C)
2.9 in
December
46°F (8°C)
2.8 in
Coldest
Dogtown has a seasonal temperature swing of 30°F / from 46°F in December to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (4.0") and July the driest (0.1").