Weather & Climate in Fairfield, ID

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

Fairfield has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 42°F (6°C). Winters average 18°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 302 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 14.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 33. The city sits at an elevation of 5,070 feet.

Temperature

18°F Jan (-8°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)

Annual Average	42.1°F
	22% below US avg
January Average	18°F (-8°C)
July Average	67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days	302 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	5,070 ft (1,545 m)
Area	0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²)
Population Density	590/sq mi
Coordinates	43.3480°N, 114.8008°W
Timezone	America/Boise
County	Camas County County
Nearest Airport	Joslin Field/Magic Valley Regional (TWF) 62 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 14.6"

62% below US avg

Wettest Month (Jan) 2.40"

Driest Month (Jul) 0.71"

Air Quality

AQI Median	33.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	6.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability	46.3 / 100
Community Resilience	37.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Very Low
Heat Wave	Very Low
Winter Weather	Very Low
Lightning	Very Low
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Very Low
Landslide	Very Low
Volcano	Very Low
Avalanche	Relatively High

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1,508 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.5.

Mar 31, 2020	Stanley, Idaho	M6.5	127 km	12 km
Jan 3, 2015	9 km E of Challis, Idaho	M5.0	140 km	9 km
Apr 1, 2020	21 km WNW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.8	112 km	10 km
Jun 7, 1994	18 km E of Challis, Idaho	M4.8	142 km	5 km
Apr 13, 2014	15 km NNW of Challis, Idaho	M4.8	146 km	4 km
Jun 25, 2020	27 km NW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.6	121 km	8 km
May 4, 1992	20 km E of Challis, Idaho	M4.6	145 km	10 km
Apr 14, 2014	13 km NW of Challis, Idaho	M4.4	144 km	7 km
Dec 28, 1991	southern Idaho	M4.4	146 km	5 km
May 21, 2020	26 km NW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.4	120 km	6 km
May 14, 2020	31 km NW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.4	123 km	13 km
Apr 1, 2020	23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.4	115 km	7 km
May 6, 1992	17 km E of Challis, Idaho	M4.4	141 km	5 km
Mar 22, 1992	11 km NE of Challis, Idaho	M4.3	148 km	5 km
Jun 8, 2025	24 km E of Clayton, Idaho	M4.3	117 km	7 km
Feb 17, 1992	33 km NNE of Stanley, Idaho	M4.3	128 km	5 km
Jan 28, 1995	33 km NNE of Stanley, Idaho	M4.3	128 km	5 km
Jan 27, 2025	26 km NW of Clayton, Idaho	M4.2	118 km	9 km
Jun 9, 2020	11 km NW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.2	107 km	10 km
Jun 14, 2020	10 km NW of Stanley, Idaho	M4.2	105 km	8 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

39 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jun 9, 1990	EF2	74 km	0.2 mi	0
Jun 10, 1990	EF1	64 km	0.2 mi	0
Apr 20, 1988	EF1	77 km	1.0 mi	0
Apr 20, 1988	EF1	41 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 21, 1987	EF1	57 km	0.2 mi	0
Aug 10, 1986	EF1	57 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 24, 1986	EF1	83 km	0.5 mi	0
Sep 8, 1985	EF1	90 km	0.2 mi	0
May 2, 1985	EF1	50 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 5, 1961	EF1	23 km	5.1 mi	0
Jun 2, 1961	EF1	41 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 3, 1956	EF1	50 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 25, 2024	EF0	60 km	0.6 mi	0
May 27, 2019	EF0	56 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 30, 2016	EF0	71 km	1.5 mi	0
May 26, 2013	EF0	90 km	3.9 mi	0
May 8, 2013	EF0	69 km	1.0 mi	0
Mar 16, 2011	EF0	87 km	7.4 mi	0
Oct 4, 2006	EF0	56 km	0.2 mi	0
Oct 4, 2006	EF0	57 km	0.1 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Black Butte Crater Lava Field (41 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Black Butte Crater Lava Field	Shield	1,478 m (4,849 ft)	-8400	41 km
Craters of the Moon	Pyroclastic cone(s)	2,005 m (6,578 ft)	-130	105 km
Wapi Lava Field	Shield	1,604 m (5,262 ft)	-300	139 km
Hell's Half Acre	Shield	1,631 m (5,351 ft)	-3250	191 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: LONG BUTTE (302,546 acres, 2010).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2010	LONG BUTTE	302,546	69 km
1992	FOOTHILLS	228,631	76 km
2005	CLOVER	199,023	87 km
1996	RICHFIELDS	178,385	78 km
2012	KINYON ROAD	171,409	88 km
1994	IDAHO CITY COMPLEX (RABBIT CREEK)	150,456	81 km
2013	PONY COMPLEX	148,188	69 km
1992	BLACK RIDGE	147,833	85 km
2012	TRINITY RIDGE	141,807	63 km
2013	ELK COMPLEX	129,565	57 km
2013	BEAVER CREEK	111,286	37 km
2012	FLAT TOP 2	102,340	83 km
1990	THORN CREEK	70,365	29 km
2019	POT HOLE	67,826	97 km
1987	BROWNS CRK	66,024	82 km
2018	SHARPS	63,895	64 km
1985	CROWS NEST	62,780	99 km
2006	SAILOR CAP	62,699	95 km
1986	BLUE BUTTE	62,445	86 km
2017	MAMMOTH CAVE	50,391	54 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	18°F (-8°C)	2.4 in	Coldest, Wettest
February	22°F (-5°C)	1.8 in
March	29°F (-2°C)	1.4 in
April	39°F (4°C)	1.2 in
May	47°F (8°C)	1.4 in
June	55°F (13°C)	1.3 in
July	67°F (19°C)	0.7 in	Warmest, Driest
August	63°F (17°C)	0.7 in
September	55°F (13°C)	0.9 in
October	45°F (7°C)	0.9 in
November	31°F (-0°C)	2.0 in
December	21°F (-6°C)	2.4 in

Fairfield has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 18°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 17.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.4") and July the driest (0.7").

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