Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Helper experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 75°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 8.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 5,909 feet.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-4°C)75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
49.5°F
8% below US avg
January Average
26°F (-4°C)
July Average
75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
5,909 ft (1,801 m)
Area
1.8 sq mi (4.5 km²)
Population Density
1,481/sq mi
Coordinates
39.6896°N, 110.8596°W
Timezone
America/Denver
County
Carbon County County
Nearest Airport
Carbon County Regional/Buck Davis Field (PUC) 8 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall8.4"
78% below US avg
Wettest Month (Aug)1.46"
Driest Month (Apr)0.87"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
8.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
33.6 / 100
Community Resilience
48.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
581 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.3.
Jun 24, 1992
30 km WSW of Emery, Utah
M4.3
117 km
5 km
Apr 17, 2003
6 km SSW of Levan, Utah
M4.2
90 km
1 km
Jul 19, 2001
31 km NNE of Fremont, Utah
M4.2
121 km
7 km
Mar 16, 1992
6 km S of Herriman, Utah
M4.2
132 km
12 km
Mar 7, 2000
7 km N of Helper, Utah
M4.2
7 km
-3 km
Jun 29, 2014
6 km SE of Spring City, Utah
M4.2
57 km
9 km
May 25, 2016
15 km NNE of Tabiona, Utah
M4.0
91 km
16 km
Apr 7, 1990
28 km WNW of Bonanza, Utah
M4.0
125 km
11 km
May 1, 2025
4 km WNW of Independence, Utah
M3.9
79 km
14 km
Jan 6, 1996
15 km SE of Castle Dale, Utah
M3.9
62 km
6 km
Feb 5, 1998
7 km N of Helper, Utah
M3.8
7 km
-2 km
Feb 6, 1991
7 km WNW of Hiawatha, Utah
M3.8
28 km
5 km
Oct 11, 1999
2 km W of Glenwood, Utah
M3.8
143 km
9 km
Dec 22, 1999
31 km SW of Emery, Utah
M3.7
119 km
2 km
Nov 8, 1991
17 km WNW of Bonanza, Utah
M3.7
137 km
4 km
Feb 15, 2019
3 km SSW of Bluffdale, Utah
M3.7
126 km
9 km
Mar 2, 1991
27 km SSW of Jensen, Utah
M3.7
130 km
-3 km
Jan 8, 1999
31 km SW of Emery, Utah
M3.7
119 km
5 km
Jul 29, 2005
2 km NNW of Richfield, Utah
M3.7
146 km
8 km
Jul 31, 2012
22 km WNW of Emery, Utah
M3.7
93 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
27 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 11, 1993
EF3
76 km
17.0 mi
0
Jun 19, 2022
EF2
24 km
2.1 mi
0
Sep 8, 2002
EF2
81 km
2.7 mi
0
Nov 2, 1967
EF2
92 km
0.1 mi
0
May 4, 1961
EF2
99 km
9.4 mi
0
Jun 16, 1955
EF2
98 km
2.7 mi
0
Dec 2, 1970
EF1
100 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 17, 1966
EF1
80 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 9, 1965
EF1
97 km
0.4 mi
0
May 28, 2018
EF0
56 km
0.3 mi
0
Jul 26, 2010
EF0
20 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 8, 2006
EF0
96 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 25, 2005
EF0
50 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 23, 2005
EF0
60 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 9, 2003
EF0
84 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 12, 2002
EF0
71 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 8, 2001
EF0
49 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 25, 2001
EF0
11 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 26, 1991
EF0
92 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 26, 1991
EF0
93 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Black Rock Desert (162 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Black Rock Desert
Volcanic field
1,800 m (5,906 ft)
1290
162 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: POLE CREEK (102,426 acres, 2018).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2018
POLE CREEK
102,426
66 km
2018
DOLLAR RIDGE
69,817
47 km
2012
WOOD HOLLOW
46,763
59 km
2012
SEELEY
44,626
26 km
2018
COAL HOLLOW
30,239
47 km
2000
OLDROYD COMPLEX (MONA WEST)
28,774
98 km
2007
SALT CREEK
26,924
70 km
2018
BALD MOUNTAIN
21,016
76 km
1996
LEAMINGTON COMPLEX (EAST SAGE)
18,360
93 km
2018
TRAIL MOUNTAIN
18,342
41 km
2021
BEAR
12,660
8 km
2017
TANK HOLLOW
11,003
49 km
1995
TURKEY
9,568
91 km
2018
BEAR TRAP
9,215
95 km
2019
GOOSE POINT
9,186
93 km
1999
WEST MOUNTAIN II
8,476
94 km
2021
BENNION CREEK
8,314
35 km
2001
MOLLIE
7,850
81 km
2012
CHURCH CAMP
7,016
29 km
2003
CHERRY CREEK 2
6,443
76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
26°F (-4°C)
1.1 in
February
25°F (-4°C)
1.1 in
March
32°F (0°C)
1.2 in
April
40°F (4°C)
0.9 in
Driest
May
49°F (9°C)
1.1 in
June
58°F (15°C)
0.9 in
July
75°F (24°C)
1.3 in
Warmest
August
64°F (18°C)
1.5 in
Wettest
September
56°F (13°C)
1.4 in
October
44°F (7°C)
1.3 in
November
32°F (-0°C)
1.1 in
December
23°F (-5°C)
1.1 in
Coldest
Helper has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 23°F in December to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 13.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.5") and April the driest (0.9").