Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
East Sonora enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (14°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 317 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 32.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 2,187 feet.
Temperature
44°F Jan (7°C)75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
57.7°F
7% above US avg
January Average
44°F (7°C)
July Average
75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
317 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2,187 ft (667 m)
Area
2.5 sq mi (6.4 km²)
Population Density
1,152/sq mi
Coordinates
37.9742°N, 120.3380°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Merced County County
Nearest Airport
Merced Yosemite Regional (MCE) 47 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall32.8"
14% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)5.20"
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
5,792 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
111 km
14 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
94 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
107 km
11 km
May 15, 1999
9 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California
M5.5
143 km
3 km
Sep 18, 2004
27 km NW of Benton, California
M5.4
146 km
3 km
Sep 18, 2004
27 km NW of Benton, California
M5.4
147 km
0 km
Apr 11, 2020
30km SE of Bodie, CA
M5.2
141 km
8 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
105 km
-1 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
94 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
145 km
7 km
Jun 9, 1998
8 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California
M4.9
142 km
5 km
Jul 15, 1998
8 km W of Aspen Springs, California
M4.9
142 km
4 km
Nov 30, 1997
2 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California
M4.9
128 km
5 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
103 km
4 km
Nov 22, 1997
3 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California
M4.9
129 km
5 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
148 km
1 km
Dec 31, 1997
9 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California
M4.8
135 km
4 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
102 km
-1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
150 km
-2 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
140 km
8 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
56 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
68 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
18 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
39 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
65 km
3.0 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
68 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
73 km
1.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
50 km
0.6 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
72 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 14, 1995
EF1
95 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
74 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
58 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
76 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
62 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
84 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
68 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
80 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 8, 2022
EF0
95 km
0.8 mi
0
Nov 18, 2020
EF0
93 km
4.4 mi
0
May 18, 2020
EF0
78 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 2, 2019
EF0
75 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mono Lake Volcanic Field (115 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
115 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
116 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
121 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: RIM (257,084 acres, 2013).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2013
RIM
257,084
33 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
84 km
2018
FERGUSON
97,307
60 km
2017
DETWILER
83,297
51 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
39 km
2021
TAMARACK
70,171
98 km
1996
ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON)
58,161
46 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
19 km
1987
LARSON
49,250
44 km
1987
HAMM
39,333
31 km
2018
DONNELL
36,151
64 km
2008
TELEGRAPH
33,479
50 km
2020
SLINK
26,437
91 km
2002
CANNON
23,605
95 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
96 km
2022
OAK
19,408
64 km
2015
WASHINGTON
18,485
93 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
26 km
1990
A-ROCK
17,706
57 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
21 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
44°F (7°C)
5.2 in
Coldest, Wettest
February
48°F (9°C)
4.7 in
March
50°F (10°C)
4.7 in
April
55°F (13°C)
2.6 in
May
62°F (16°C)
0.6 in
June
70°F (21°C)
0.2 in
July
75°F (24°C)
0.1 in
Driest
August
77°F (25°C)
0.2 in
Warmest
September
72°F (22°C)
0.5 in
October
63°F (17°C)
1.6 in
November
52°F (11°C)
4.4 in
December
45°F (7°C)
4.2 in
East Sonora has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 44°F in January to 77°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 28.9 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.2") and July the driest (0.1").