Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Fernley experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 297 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 4,535 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (1°C)76°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
52.5°F
3% below US avg
January Average
33°F (1°C)
July Average
76°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
297 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
4,535 ft (1,382 m)
Area
6.7 sq mi (17.5 km²)
Population Density
193/sq mi
Coordinates
39.5648°N, 119.1894°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Storey County County
Nearest Airport
Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) 31 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Wettest Month (Jan)0.75"
Driest Month (Apr)0.35"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
25.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
8.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2,950 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
92 km
14 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
121 km
7 km
Aug 10, 2001
3 km N of Blairsden, California
M5.2
125 km
5 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
98 km
-1 km
Apr 26, 2008
1 km NW of Mogul, Nevada
M5.1
65 km
3 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
120 km
7 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
101 km
4 km
Oct 1, 2011
7 km SSE of Schurz, Nevada
M4.8
83 km
4 km
Feb 10, 1993
28 km SW of Empire, Nevada
M4.8
103 km
5 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
80 km
1 km
Apr 26, 2008
0 km N of Mogul, Nevada
M4.8
64 km
3 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
103 km
-1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
83 km
-2 km
Apr 26, 2008
27km SE of Smith Valley, NV
M4.7
106 km
4 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
127 km
7 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
100 km
-1 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
97 km
10 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
125 km
2 km
Apr 17, 2011
18 km SW of Hawthorne, Nevada
M4.6
136 km
5 km
Dec 12, 1996
4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.6
105 km
-2 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
26 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 15, 2020
EF1
83 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 2020
EF1
83 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 3, 1973
EF1
77 km
25.9 mi
0
Jul 16, 1973
EF1
50 km
1.0 mi
0
May 26, 1964
EF1
63 km
2.0 mi
0
Sep 21, 2017
EF0
89 km
0.4 mi
0
Sep 13, 2017
EF0
79 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 20, 2015
EF0
82 km
3.2 mi
0
Apr 27, 2005
EF0
60 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 24, 2004
EF0
55 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
70 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
75 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 1, 2002
EF0
44 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 10, 2000
EF0
50 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 13, 1999
EF0
50 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 30, 1998
EF0
59 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
7 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
7 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 14, 1997
EF0
61 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 9, 1997
EF0
31 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Soda Lakes (28 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Soda Lakes
Maar(s)
1,251 m (4,104 ft)
Unknown
28 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
175 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
196 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: SUGAR (108,368 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
SUGAR
108,368
95 km
2017
TRUCKEE
98,411
23 km
2017
TOHAKUM 2
92,711
81 km
2017
LONG VALLEY
80,456
79 km
2018
PERRY
53,734
37 km
1994
COTTONWOOD
47,912
86 km
1999
FISH COMPLEX (FISH SPRINGS)
47,030
76 km
2020
LOYALTON
45,484
81 km
2016
TULE
35,341
63 km
2017
EARTHSTONE
35,305
28 km
2020
NORTH
34,120
75 km
1985
GOOSEBERRY
29,290
18 km
2013
BISON
23,611
75 km
2001
FISH
21,860
86 km
2017
BRAVO17
21,562
97 km
2020
NUMBERS
18,998
85 km
2007
SAND PASS
18,321
86 km
1985
HUNGRY VA3
18,177
50 km
1984
INDIAN
16,990
94 km
1984
FREDS MT 2
16,832
64 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
33°F (1°C)
0.8 in
Coldest, Wettest
February
38°F (3°C)
0.7 in
March
44°F (6°C)
0.6 in
April
49°F (10°C)
0.4 in
Driest
May
58°F (15°C)
0.6 in
June
67°F (19°C)
0.6 in
July
76°F (25°C)
0.4 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
0.4 in
September
66°F (19°C)
0.4 in
October
54°F (12°C)
0.4 in
November
42°F (5°C)
0.7 in
December
34°F (1°C)
0.7 in
Fernley has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 33°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 6.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (0.8") and April the driest (0.4").