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Weather & Climate in Keene, CA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Keene experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 72°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 12.7 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 3,629 feet.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average54.5°F
1% above US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,629 ft (1,106 m)
Area9.7 sq mi (25.0 km²)
Population Density48/sq mi
Coordinates35.2318°N, 118.6131°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKern County County
Nearest AirportBob Hope (BUR)
73 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.7"
67% below US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 2.32"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.08"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability61.1 / 100
Community Resilience6.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Relatively High
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8,706 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.

Jul 6, 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence M7.1 110 km 8 km
Jan 17, 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake M6.7 114 km 18 km
Jul 4, 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence M6.4 113 km 11 km
Jan 17, 1994 1km ENE of Granada Hills, California M5.9 107 km 5 km
Jun 28, 1991 The 1991 Sierra Madre, California Earthquake M5.8 121 km 8 km
Jun 24, 2020 18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA M5.8 147 km 5 km
Sep 20, 1995 16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California M5.8 106 km 5 km
Jul 11, 1992 12km NW of California City, California M5.7 50 km 10 km
Jan 17, 1994 7km NNE of Simi Valley, California M5.6 101 km 9 km
Jun 4, 2020 17km S of Searles Valley, CA M5.5 116 km 8 km
Feb 28, 1990 The 1990 Upland, California Earthquake M5.5 147 km 3 km
Jul 6, 2019 15km ESE of Little Lake, CA M5.5 108 km 5 km
Jul 6, 2019 20km E of Little Lake, CA M5.4 113 km 7 km
Jul 5, 2019 16km W of Searles Valley, CA M5.4 111 km 7 km
Aug 17, 1995 17km N of Ridgecrest, California M5.4 105 km 5 km
Nov 27, 1996 27km E of Coso Junction, California M5.3 128 km 0 km
Mar 20, 1994 3km WNW of Panorama City, California M5.2 112 km 12 km
Jan 18, 1994 10km ESE of Piru, California M5.2 95 km 11 km
Mar 6, 1998 28km E of Coso Junction, California M5.2 128 km 0 km
Aug 7, 2024 24 km SW of Lamont, CA M5.2 46 km 12 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

21 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Mar 17, 1991 EF1 80 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 2, 2019 EF0 17 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 16, 2019 EF0 98 km 1.6 mi 0
Feb 27, 2010 EF0 60 km 0.5 mi 0
Sep 1, 2007 EF0 79 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 1, 2007 EF0 57 km 13.1 mi 0
Aug 15, 2005 EF0 81 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 28, 2000 EF0 95 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 3, 1999 EF0 35 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 21, 1997 EF0 85 km 0.1 mi 0
Mar 22, 1997 EF0 88 km 0.2 mi 0
Feb 17, 1997 EF0 38 km 0.3 mi 0
Nov 22, 1996 EF0 30 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 26, 1995 EF0 65 km 2.0 mi 0
May 13, 1995 EF0 95 km 2.5 mi 0
Feb 23, 1993 EF0 75 km 0.1 mi 0
Mar 26, 1991 EF0 95 km 0.1 mi 0
Mar 25, 1991 EF0 98 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 20, 1988 EF0 18 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 5, 1987 EF0 82 km 0.2 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.1 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1930 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 3.1 m 1 134 km
1994 WEST COAST, USA Earthquake 0.1 m 57 114 km
1855 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake — — 134 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Golden Trout Creek (128 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Golden Trout Creek Volcanic field 2,886 m (9,469 ft) -5550 128 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: DAY (159,713 acres, 2006).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2006 DAY 159,713 76 km
2002 MCNALLY 146,540 95 km
2021 WINDY 97,831 82 km
2000 MANTER 76,158 87 km
2003 PIRU 63,920 87 km
2016 ERSKINE 48,066 45 km
1997 LOKERN 46,139 81 km
2016 SAND 41,561 97 km
2007 BUCKWEED 41,332 81 km
2007 RANCH 37,009 80 km
2017 PIER 36,626 99 km
2008 PIUTE 36,251 38 km
2013 POWERHOUSE 32,329 64 km
2020 LAKE 30,971 61 km
2016 CEDAR 29,191 62 km
2021 FRENCH 27,331 52 km
2011 BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX 27,229 19 km
2011 COMANCHE 25,965 18 km
1997 HOPPER 24,072 86 km
1984 BODFISH 23,189 44 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 2.1 in Coldest
February 46°F (8°C) 2.0 in
March 48°F (9°C) 2.3 in Wettest
April 53°F (12°C) 1.1 in
May 60°F (16°C) 0.4 in
June 68°F (20°C) 0.1 in
July 72°F (22°C) 0.1 in Driest
August 75°F (24°C) 0.2 in Warmest
September 69°F (21°C) 0.4 in
October 61°F (16°C) 0.5 in
November 50°F (10°C) 1.7 in
December 44°F (7°C) 1.8 in

Keene has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 42°F in January to 75°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 12.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (2.3") and July the driest (0.1").

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