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Weather & Climate in Gerlach, NV
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gerlach experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 322 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 7.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 13.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 3,921 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 54.0°F |
| 0% below US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 322 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,921 ft (1,195 m) |
| Area | 3.1 sq mi (8.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 17/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.6452°N, 119.3613°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Washoe County County |
| Nearest Airport | Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) 82 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 23.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 41.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1,182 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.2.
| Aug 10, 2001 | 3 km N of Blairsden, California | M5.2 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Apr 26, 2008 | 1 km NW of Mogul, Nevada | M5.1 | 134 km | 3 km |
| Feb 10, 1993 | 28 km SW of Empire, Nevada | M4.8 | 32 km | 5 km |
| Apr 26, 2008 | 0 km N of Mogul, Nevada | M4.8 | 134 km | 3 km |
| Sep 14, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.7 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Jul 16, 2015 | 42 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.6 | 141 km | 10 km |
| Nov 15, 1995 | 9 km SW of Cold Springs, Nevada | M4.5 | 128 km | -1 km |
| Jan 22, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.5 | 140 km | 12 km |
| Jul 27, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.5 | 140 km | 11 km |
| Aug 4, 2016 | 5 km WNW of Patton Village, California | M4.5 | 91 km | 7 km |
| Dec 2, 1996 | 9 km N of Sutcliffe, Nevada | M4.4 | 70 km | 5 km |
| Nov 5, 1997 | 3 km ENE of East Quincy, California | M4.4 | 149 km | -1 km |
| Apr 6, 1992 | 4 km NNE of Lemmon Valley, Nevada | M4.4 | 115 km | 10 km |
| Oct 21, 1998 | 4 km SW of Graeagle, California | M4.3 | 149 km | -1 km |
| Jul 20, 2010 | 12 km NNW of Sutcliffe, Nevada | M4.2 | 69 km | 13 km |
| Aug 27, 2013 | 3 km NE of Spanish Springs, Nevada | M4.2 | 112 km | 14 km |
| Nov 19, 2000 | 17 km WSW of Empire, Nevada | M4.2 | 22 km | 5 km |
| Jan 29, 2015 | 43 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.2 | 139 km | 9 km |
| Aug 13, 2015 | 44 km E of Fort Bidwell, California | M4.2 | 140 km | 10 km |
| Aug 29, 1997 | Northern California | M4.2 | 147 km | 44 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
4 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Nov 3, 1973 | EF1 | 61 km | 25.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 2015 | EF0 | 96 km | 3.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 28, 1988 | EF0 | 84 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 28, 1988 | EF0 | 84 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Soda Lakes (131 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Soda Lakes | Maar(s) | 1,251 m (4,104 ft) | Unknown | 131 km |
| Lassen Volcanic Center | Stratovolcano | 3,187 m (10,456 ft) | 1917 | 182 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: RUSH (306,811 acres, 2012).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2012 | RUSH | 306,811 | 62 km |
| 1999 | DUN GLENN COMPLEX (POKER BROWN) | 236,451 | 73 km |
| 2017 | TRUCKEE | 98,411 | 98 km |
| 2017 | TOHAKUM 2 | 92,711 | 41 km |
| 2020 | W-5 COLD SPRINGS | 84,024 | 82 km |
| 2017 | LONG VALLEY | 80,456 | 87 km |
| 2001 | OBSERVATION | 67,432 | 70 km |
| 2012 | LOST | 57,647 | 70 km |
| 2018 | PERRY | 53,734 | 95 km |
| 1999 | FISH COMPLEX (FISH SPRINGS) | 47,030 | 79 km |
| 1987 | CLARK | 39,194 | 100 km |
| 2016 | TULE | 35,341 | 76 km |
| 2001 | BLUE COMPLEX (BLUE) | 30,803 | 95 km |
| 2006 | SAGE | 28,092 | 68 km |
| 2011 | LAST CHANCE | 22,169 | 67 km |
| 2001 | FISH | 21,860 | 86 km |
| 1984 | TWIN | 21,476 | 56 km |
| 2007 | SAND PASS | 18,321 | 55 km |
| 2024 | STOCKADE CANYON | 18,188 | 31 km |
| 2017 | R-4 | 18,047 | 48 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 1.0 in | Wettest |
| February | 36°F (2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 0.6 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 0.8 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 0.6 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 0.3 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 74°F (23°C) | 0.4 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 0.4 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 0.6 in | |
| November | 40°F (5°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 31°F (-0°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest |
Gerlach has a seasonal temperature swing of 47°F / from 31°F in December to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 8.2 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.0") and July the driest (0.3").