Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gold River enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 49°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 19.2 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 115 feet.
Temperature
49°F Jan (9°C)78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
63.4°F
17% above US avg
January Average
49°F (9°C)
July Average
78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
115 ft (35 m)
Area
2.7 sq mi (7.0 km²)
Population Density
2,880/sq mi
Coordinates
38.6269°N, 121.2492°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Sacramento County County
Nearest Airport
Sacramento International (SMF) 19 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall19.2"
49% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)3.90"
Driest Month (Jul)0.08"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
37.4 / 100
Community Resilience
57.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
No Rating
Volcano
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5,019 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
140 km
14 km
Aug 24, 2014
The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
M6.0
103 km
11 km
Aug 10, 2001
3 km N of Blairsden, California
M5.2
143 km
5 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
135 km
-1 km
Sep 3, 2000
5 km WSW of Yountville, California
M4.9
105 km
9 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
141 km
4 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
127 km
1 km
Sep 4, 1995
13 km SW of Middletown, California
M4.8
130 km
7 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
139 km
-1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
125 km
-2 km
May 12, 2006
7 km W of Cobb, California
M4.7
137 km
4 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
147 km
8 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
141 km
-1 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
123 km
10 km
Jan 2, 2025
4 km NW of Cobb, CA
M4.7
133 km
1 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
149 km
2 km
Aug 18, 1999
0 km S of Bolinas, California
M4.6
149 km
8 km
Dec 12, 1996
4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.6
147 km
-2 km
Jan 11, 2000
6 km N of Geyserville, California
M4.6
145 km
6 km
Feb 18, 2004
4 km WNW of Cobb, California
M4.6
134 km
3 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
72 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 1978
EF2
19 km
1.9 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
100 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
74 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
15 km
6.2 mi
0
Oct 22, 2012
EF1
49 km
4.0 mi
0
Oct 22, 2012
EF1
56 km
0.3 mi
0
Oct 22, 2012
EF1
59 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
91 km
1.6 mi
0
Jan 8, 2005
EF1
96 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 7, 1993
EF1
97 km
0.1 mi
0
Dec 17, 1992
EF1
78 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
9 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
52 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF1
14 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 28, 1970
EF1
93 km
2.3 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
73 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
35 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 8, 2022
EF0
34 km
0.8 mi
0
Nov 18, 2020
EF0
22 km
4.4 mi
0
May 18, 2020
EF0
31 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami 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
127 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Clear Lake (137 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Clear Lake
Volcanic field
1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Unknown
137 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: HENNESSEY (314,241 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
HENNESSEY
314,241
90 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
84 km
2014
KING
99,070
70 km
2018
COUNTY
92,450
79 km
2022
MOSQUITO
77,858
67 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
70 km
2017
ATLAS
51,664
91 km
2004
RUMSEY
39,335
90 km
1999
SIXTEEN
37,162
96 km
1988
49R
36,673
69 km
1988
MILLER
35,750
77 km
2013
AMERICAN
27,938
81 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
75 km
2008
AMERICAN RIVER COMPLEX (GOVERNMENT)
20,709
86 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
84 km
2004
POWER
17,266
85 km
2001
STAR
16,846
84 km
2017
CASCADE
16,155
82 km
2001
DARBY
14,734
95 km
2006
ZAM ASSIST
14,404
59 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
49°F (9°C)
3.9 in
Wettest
February
52°F (11°C)
3.3 in
March
55°F (13°C)
3.2 in
April
60°F (15°C)
1.5 in
May
67°F (19°C)
0.4 in
June
73°F (23°C)
0.2 in
July
78°F (26°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
76°F (25°C)
0.1 in
September
73°F (23°C)
0.4 in
October
65°F (18°C)
1.3 in
November
53°F (12°C)
3.2 in
December
46°F (8°C)
2.9 in
Coldest
Gold River has a seasonal temperature swing of 32°F / from 46°F in December to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (3.9") and July the driest (0.1").