Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Garden Farms enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 54°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 326 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 22.4 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 952 feet.
Temperature
54°F Jan (12°C)66°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average
60.6°F
12% above US avg
January Average
54°F (12°C)
July Average
66°F (19°C)
Sunny Days
326 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
952 ft (290 m)
Area
1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
Population Density
228/sq mi
Coordinates
35.4158°N, 120.6140°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
San Luis Obispo County County
Nearest Airport
San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) 15 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall22.4"
41% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)4.21"
Driest Month (Jul)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
95.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
32.8 / 100
Community Resilience
93.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Drought
Very High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively High
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Tsunami
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,363 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.0.
Sep 28, 2004
2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake
M6.0
50 km
8 km
Oct 21, 2012
24 km NE of San Lucas, California
M5.3
102 km
9 km
Aug 7, 2024
24 km SW of Lamont, CA
M5.2
142 km
12 km
Sep 17, 1991
22 km NW of San Simeon, California
M5.2
79 km
9 km
May 28, 1993
21km SW of Lamont, California
M5.2
140 km
21 km
Sep 29, 2004
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M5.0
61 km
11 km
Dec 20, 1994
3 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.9
57 km
8 km
Apr 23, 1995
22 km NNE of Soledad, California
M4.9
142 km
7 km
Sep 30, 2004
13 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.9
64 km
10 km
Feb 24, 2016
6km SSW of Wasco, CA
M4.9
113 km
22 km
Nov 14, 1993
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.8
61 km
11 km
May 29, 2013
6km W of Isla Vista, CA
M4.8
129 km
7 km
Sep 28, 2004
12 km SE of Parkfield, California
M4.7
49 km
6 km
Feb 4, 1991
33 km SE of Big Sur, California
M4.7
110 km
9 km
Aug 27, 2011
21 km NE of Soledad, California
M4.6
140 km
8 km
Aug 7, 2024
25 km SW of Lamont, CA
M4.6
140 km
12 km
Apr 16, 2005
20km ESE of Maricopa, CA
M4.6
137 km
9 km
Mar 17, 2004
9 km WSW of Oak Shores, California
M4.5
54 km
4 km
May 16, 2005
5 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.5
58 km
9 km
Aug 6, 2012
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.5
60 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
8 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 2024
EF1
33 km
0.7 mi
0
Feb 7, 2024
EF1
22 km
4.9 mi
0
Feb 23, 2015
EF0
75 km
0.5 mi
0
Mar 29, 2006
EF0
89 km
—
0
Feb 2, 2004
EF0
35 km
0.5 mi
0
Nov 29, 2001
EF0
54 km
0.1 mi
0
May 5, 1998
EF0
16 km
0.3 mi
0
Dec 29, 1991
EF0
92 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 1.8 m (6 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1927
S. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.8 m
—
69 km
1878
S. CALIFORNIA
Meteorological
1.0 m
1
28 km
1901
MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
66 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: FIFTY-EIGHT (94,704 acres, 1996).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1996
FIFTY-EIGHT
94,704
31 km
2009
LA BREA
84,213
76 km
1985
LAS PILITAS
75,841
17 km
1997
LOGAN
49,627
57 km
1994
41
48,441
7 km
2017
GARZA
48,404
67 km
2016
CHIMNEY
46,950
55 km
1993
MARRE
44,309
97 km
1985
CHERRY
41,654
88 km
2005
UNNAMED
39,070
79 km
2020
MINERAL
29,901
84 km
2017
ALAMO
29,256
59 km
1996
WILD
24,439
92 km
1984
UNNAMED
23,122
80 km
1993
ORCHARD
22,309
61 km
1996
SKYLINE
21,694
83 km
1996
UNNAMED
19,243
81 km
2024
BOONE
17,701
84 km
1999
SPANISH
14,518
72 km
2024
HURRICANE
13,488
90 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
54°F (12°C)
4.2 in
Wettest
February
50°F (10°C)
4.1 in
March
51°F (11°C)
3.7 in
April
54°F (12°C)
1.3 in
May
59°F (15°C)
0.4 in
June
65°F (18°C)
0.1 in
July
66°F (19°C)
0.0 in
Driest
August
69°F (21°C)
0.1 in
Warmest
September
66°F (19°C)
0.4 in
October
60°F (16°C)
0.8 in
November
52°F (11°C)
2.1 in
December
47°F (8°C)
3.0 in
Coldest
Garden Farms has a seasonal temperature swing of 23°F / from 47°F in December to 69°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 20.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (4.2") and July the driest (0.0").