Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Hilmar-Irwin enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 46°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 10.5 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 95 feet.
Temperature
46°F Jan (8°C)75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
59.7°F
11% above US avg
January Average
46°F (8°C)
July Average
75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
95 ft (29 m)
Area
1.5 sq mi (3.9 km²)
Population Density
1,607/sq mi
Coordinates
37.4045°N, 120.8504°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Merced County County
Nearest Airport
Merced Yosemite Regional (MCE) 21 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall10.5"
73% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan)2.13"
Driest Month (Jul)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
96.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
61.7 / 100
Community Resilience
7.3 / 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
Very 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
4,423 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M5.4.
Apr 18, 1990
5 km NNW of Aromas, California
M5.4
89 km
5 km
Oct 21, 2012
24 km NE of San Lucas, California
M5.3
122 km
9 km
Aug 12, 1998
10 km SW of Ridgemark, California
M5.1
90 km
9 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km E of Interlaken, California
M5.1
89 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
69 km
7 km
Apr 23, 1995
22 km NNE of Soledad, California
M4.9
95 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km NNW of Aromas, California
M4.9
89 km
6 km
May 14, 2002
5 km SSW of Gilroy, California
M4.9
82 km
7 km
Apr 19, 1996
2 km E of Aromas, California
M4.9
89 km
5 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km N of Aromas, California
M4.7
88 km
4 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
77 km
8 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
74 km
9 km
Aug 27, 2011
21 km NE of Soledad, California
M4.6
96 km
8 km
Mar 24, 1991
1 km NNE of Interlaken, California
M4.6
92 km
15 km
Sep 19, 2023
15 km SW of Westley, CA
M4.5
40 km
4 km
Jan 12, 2011
9 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
M4.5
91 km
8 km
Jan 20, 2015
27 km ENE of Greenfield, California
M4.4
109 km
9 km
Apr 4, 2023
1km NNW of Tres Pinos, CA
M4.4
79 km
10 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km E of Interlaken, California
M4.4
89 km
7 km
Apr 28, 1990
3 km SSE of North Gate, California
M4.4
112 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
76 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 11, 1985
EF2
79 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
30 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
65 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
76 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
14 km
3.0 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
99 km
1.6 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
30 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
30 km
1.3 mi
0
May 20, 2002
EF1
84 km
2.7 mi
0
Dec 20, 2001
EF1
96 km
0.5 mi
0
Feb 14, 1998
EF1
68 km
3.0 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
41 km
0.6 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
36 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 14, 1995
EF1
60 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
89 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 14, 1980
EF1
91 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
2 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
25 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
30 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
74 km
0.1 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
115 km
1989
N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.0 m
62
100 km
1856
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.6 m
—
128 km
1906
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.1 m
—
149 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
96 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mammoth Mountain (162 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
162 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
167 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
173 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
58 km
2013
RIM
257,084
96 km
2018
FERGUSON
97,307
96 km
2017
DETWILER
83,297
66 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
98 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
85 km
1987
LARSON
49,250
88 km
2007
LICK
47,424
55 km
1987
HAMM
39,333
82 km
2006
CANYON
36,851
44 km
2008
TELEGRAPH
33,479
77 km
2022
OAK
19,408
88 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
92 km
1990
A-ROCK
17,706
99 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
85 km
2003
ANNIE
17,383
40 km
1996
MERCY
16,993
60 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
60 km
1996
PANOCHE II
14,760
94 km
2001
DARBY
14,734
100 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
46°F (8°C)
2.1 in
Wettest
February
50°F (10°C)
1.9 in
March
55°F (13°C)
1.7 in
April
60°F (16°C)
0.9 in
May
67°F (19°C)
0.2 in
June
72°F (22°C)
0.1 in
July
75°F (24°C)
0.0 in
Warmest, Driest
August
74°F (24°C)
0.1 in
September
71°F (22°C)
0.2 in
October
64°F (18°C)
0.6 in
November
53°F (12°C)
1.8 in
December
45°F (7°C)
1.5 in
Coldest
Hilmar-Irwin has a seasonal temperature swing of 30°F / from 45°F in December to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 11.2 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.1") and July the driest (0.0").