Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
French Camp enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 78°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 13.5 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 20 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
63.0°F
17% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Area
3.1 sq mi (8.1 km²)
Population Density
1,127/sq mi
Coordinates
37.8660°N, 121.2742°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
San Joaquin County County
Nearest Airport
Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC) 50 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall13.5"
65% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan)2.72"
Driest Month (Jul)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
39.7 / 100
Community Resilience
47.0 / 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
Relatively 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
4,065 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.0.
Aug 24, 2014
The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
M6.0
99 km
11 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km NNW of Aromas, California
M5.4
109 km
5 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km E of Interlaken, California
M5.1
107 km
7 km
Aug 12, 1998
10 km SW of Ridgemark, California
M5.1
125 km
9 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
96 km
7 km
Apr 19, 1996
2 km E of Aromas, California
M4.9
113 km
5 km
Sep 3, 2000
5 km WSW of Yountville, California
M4.9
115 km
9 km
Apr 23, 1995
22 km NNE of Soledad, California
M4.9
141 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km NNW of Aromas, California
M4.9
109 km
6 km
May 14, 2002
5 km SSW of Gilroy, California
M4.9
104 km
7 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
69 km
8 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km N of Aromas, California
M4.7
109 km
4 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
71 km
9 km
Aug 27, 2011
21 km NE of Soledad, California
M4.6
143 km
8 km
Mar 24, 1991
1 km NNE of Interlaken, California
M4.6
108 km
15 km
Aug 18, 1999
0 km S of Bolinas, California
M4.6
124 km
8 km
Sep 19, 2023
15 km SW of Westley, CA
M4.5
48 km
4 km
Aug 3, 2006
5 km W of Glen Ellen, California
M4.5
128 km
9 km
Jan 12, 2011
9 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
M4.5
123 km
8 km
Apr 4, 2023
1km NNW of Tres Pinos, CA
M4.4
119 km
10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
87 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 5 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 5, 1998
EF2
87 km
0.6 mi
0
Feb 7, 1978
EF2
94 km
1.9 mi
0
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
34 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 11, 1951
EF2
93 km
5.7 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
66 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
51 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
94 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
55 km
3.0 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
44 km
1.6 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
34 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
89 km
1.3 mi
0
May 5, 1998
EF1
92 km
0.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
39 km
0.6 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
94 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
36 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
91 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF1
95 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 1980
EF1
69 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
47 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
62 km
1.0 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
75 km
1989
N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.0 m
62
107 km
1856
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.6 m
—
99 km
1906
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.1 m
—
109 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
92 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Clear Lake (179 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Clear Lake
Volcanic field
1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Unknown
179 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
197 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
197 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
199 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
46 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
75 km
2007
LICK
47,424
73 km
2006
CANYON
36,851
57 km
1988
MILLER
35,750
95 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
78 km
2003
ANNIE
17,383
71 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
30 km
2001
DARBY
14,734
92 km
2018
WAVERLY
12,238
40 km
2009
CORRAL
12,006
36 km
1985
LEXINGTON
11,550
98 km
2001
CREEK
9,793
92 km
1992
MOCCASIN
9,565
86 km
1996
SCOTT
8,828
80 km
2015
WRAGG
8,455
98 km
2009
KNIGHT
8,140
98 km
2003
BIRD
7,727
35 km
1984
SITE 300 3
6,911
30 km
1988
BRIDGE
6,775
88 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
2.7 in
Wettest
February
51°F (11°C)
2.3 in
March
55°F (13°C)
2.3 in
April
60°F (15°C)
0.9 in
May
66°F (19°C)
0.4 in
June
72°F (22°C)
0.1 in
July
78°F (26°C)
0.0 in
Warmest, Driest
August
75°F (24°C)
0.1 in
September
72°F (22°C)
0.3 in
October
64°F (18°C)
0.8 in
November
53°F (12°C)
2.0 in
December
46°F (8°C)
2.0 in
Coldest
French Camp has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 46°F in December to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.7") and July the driest (0.0").