Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
El Rancho enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 80°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 12.1 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 390 feet.
Temperature
47°F Jan (8°C)80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
62.9°F
16% above US avg
January Average
47°F (8°C)
July Average
80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
390 ft (119 m)
Area
0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Population Density
7,450/sq mi
Coordinates
36.2207°N, 119.0684°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Kings County County
Nearest Airport
Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) 53 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall12.1"
68% below US avg
Snowfall0.2"
Wettest Month (Jan)2.28"
Driest Month (Aug)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
92.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
65.7 / 100
Community Resilience
7.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Drought
Very High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
7,670 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M7.1.
Jul 6, 2019
Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
M7.1
141 km
8 km
Sep 28, 2004
2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake
M6.0
125 km
8 km
Jun 24, 2020
18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA
M5.8
101 km
5 km
Sep 20, 1995
16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California
M5.8
139 km
5 km
Jul 11, 1992
12km NW of California City, California
M5.7
144 km
10 km
May 15, 1999
9 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California
M5.5
147 km
3 km
Jul 6, 2019
15km ESE of Little Lake, CA
M5.5
124 km
5 km
Jul 6, 2019
20km E of Little Lake, CA
M5.4
129 km
7 km
Jul 5, 2019
16km W of Searles Valley, CA
M5.4
144 km
7 km
Aug 17, 1995
17km N of Ridgecrest, California
M5.4
136 km
5 km
Nov 27, 1996
27km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.3
128 km
0 km
Mar 6, 1998
28km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.2
130 km
0 km
Aug 7, 2024
24 km SW of Lamont, CA
M5.2
124 km
12 km
May 28, 1993
21km SW of Lamont, California
M5.2
119 km
21 km
Oct 3, 2009
18km NE of Olancha, CA
M5.2
110 km
-2 km
Jan 7, 1996
16km N of Ridgecrest, California
M5.2
138 km
3 km
Jul 17, 2001
7km ESE of Coso Junction, CA
M5.2
110 km
2 km
Mar 7, 1998
30km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.0
131 km
0 km
Sep 29, 2004
25km SSW of Bodfish, California
M5.0
101 km
3 km
Sep 29, 2004
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M5.0
132 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
51 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 5 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 5, 1980
EF2
59 km
15.0 mi
0
Mar 22, 1962
EF2
92 km
0.5 mi
0
Jan 17, 2019
EF1
82 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
78 km
0.8 mi
0
Feb 28, 1991
EF1
37 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 8, 1986
EF1
64 km
4.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1982
EF1
63 km
5.0 mi
0
Feb 19, 1980
EF1
84 km
1.7 mi
0
Mar 14, 1979
EF1
68 km
2.0 mi
0
Nov 1, 1964
EF1
56 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 19, 1962
EF1
49 km
0.6 mi
0
May 19, 1957
EF1
87 km
0.1 mi
0
May 19, 2019
EF0
83 km
0.4 mi
0
Mar 22, 2018
EF0
34 km
1.2 mi
0
Feb 12, 2018
EF0
64 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 9, 2012
EF0
23 km
0.3 mi
0
Jan 18, 2010
EF0
91 km
0.5 mi
0
Jan 27, 2008
EF0
29 km
2.0 mi
0
May 9, 2005
EF0
71 km
—
0
Oct 20, 2004
EF0
37 km
0.5 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1901
MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
131 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Golden Trout Creek (69 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Golden Trout Creek
Volcanic field
2,886 m (9,469 ft)
-5550
69 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
157 km
Ubehebe Craters
Maar(s)
752 m (2,467 ft)
-150
170 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
176 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
198 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CASTLE (174,424 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
CASTLE
174,424
44 km
2002
MCNALLY
146,540
62 km
2015
ROUGH
146,369
72 km
2021
WINDY
97,831
50 km
2021
KNP COMPLEX
89,960
46 km
2000
MANTER
76,158
86 km
2016
ERSKINE
48,066
98 km
2017
PIER
36,626
34 km
2016
CEDAR
29,191
66 km
2007
INYO COMPLEX (OAK)
28,447
99 km
2021
FRENCH
27,331
74 km
2011
BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX
27,229
98 km
1984
BODFISH
23,189
94 km
1990
STORMY
23,157
67 km
1996
SKYLINE
21,694
91 km
2017
LION
18,576
54 km
2011
LION
17,671
49 km
2010
BULL
17,238
72 km
2017
SCHAEFFER
16,100
65 km
2008
CLOVER
14,778
89 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
47°F (8°C)
2.3 in
Wettest
February
52°F (11°C)
2.2 in
March
56°F (13°C)
2.2 in
April
61°F (16°C)
1.1 in
May
69°F (20°C)
0.4 in
June
76°F (24°C)
0.1 in
July
80°F (27°C)
0.0 in
Warmest, Driest
August
79°F (26°C)
0.0 in
September
74°F (23°C)
0.4 in
October
65°F (19°C)
0.7 in
November
54°F (12°C)
1.6 in
December
46°F (8°C)
1.7 in
Coldest
El Rancho has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 46°F in December to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.5 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.3") and July the driest (0.0").