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Weather & Climate in Lee Vining, CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Lee Vining experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 69°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 15.1 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 69.5 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 6,856 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
69°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 48.6°F |
| 10% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 69°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 6,856 ft (2,090 m) |
| Area | 5.2 sq mi (13.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 107/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.9549°N, 119.1220°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Mariposa County County |
| Nearest Airport | Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) 88 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 86.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 93.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 21.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
7,309 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.5.
| May 15, 2020 | Monte Cristo Range, NV Earthquake | M6.5 | 114 km | 3 km |
| May 17, 1993 | 46km E of Big Pine, California | M6.1 | 148 km | 4 km |
| Sep 12, 1994 | 4 km S of Carter Springs, Nevada | M6.1 | 107 km | 14 km |
| Jul 8, 2021 | Antelope Valley, CA | M6.0 | 70 km | 7 km |
| Oct 24, 1990 | 3 km NE of Mono City, California | M5.8 | 12 km | 11 km |
| May 15, 1999 | 9 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California | M5.5 | 54 km | 3 km |
| Nov 2, 1997 | 16 km NNW of Dyer, Nevada | M5.4 | 88 km | 5 km |
| Sep 18, 2004 | 27 km NW of Benton, California | M5.4 | 39 km | 3 km |
| Sep 18, 2004 | 27 km NW of Benton, California | M5.4 | 41 km | 0 km |
| Apr 11, 2020 | 30km SE of Bodie, CA | M5.2 | 36 km | 8 km |
| May 15, 2020 | 31 km SE of Mina, Nevada | M5.1 | 112 km | 7 km |
| Sep 12, 1994 | 8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California | M5.1 | 105 km | -1 km |
| May 22, 2020 | 32 km ESE of Mina, Nevada | M5.1 | 120 km | 7 km |
| Feb 13, 2013 | 39 km N of Dyer, Nevada | M5.1 | 94 km | 8 km |
| Jul 8, 2021 | 32km SE of Markleeville, CA | M5.0 | 70 km | 7 km |
| Jun 30, 2020 | 29 km SSE of Mina, Nevada | M5.0 | 104 km | 8 km |
| May 20, 2020 | 38 km ESE of Mina, Nevada | M5.0 | 124 km | 12 km |
| Jul 15, 1998 | 8 km W of Aspen Springs, California | M4.9 | 52 km | 4 km |
| Jun 9, 1998 | 8 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California | M4.9 | 50 km | 5 km |
| Jun 19, 2020 | 34 km SE of Mina, Nevada | M4.9 | 115 km | 7 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
6 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Sep 5, 2020 | EF2 | 70 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 5, 2020 | EF1 | 79 km | 1.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2015 | EF1 | 78 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Feb 2, 2019 | EF0 | 99 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Mar 3, 2018 | EF0 | 89 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 15, 1972 | EF0 | 65 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Mono Lake Volcanic Field (10 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Mono Lake Volcanic Field | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 2,121 m (6,959 ft) | 1790 | 10 km |
| Mono-Inyo Craters | Lava dome(s) | 2,796 m (9,173 ft) | 1380 | 19 km |
| Mammoth Mountain | Lava dome(s) | 3,369 m (11,053 ft) | 1260 | 37 km |
| Soda Lakes | Maar(s) | 1,251 m (4,104 ft) | Unknown | 177 km |
| Ubehebe Craters | Maar(s) | 752 m (2,467 ft) | -150 | 181 km |
| Golden Trout Creek | Volcanic field | 2,886 m (9,469 ft) | -5550 | 191 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CREEK (381,441 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | CREEK | 381,441 | 71 km |
| 2013 | RIM | 257,084 | 74 km |
| 2018 | FERGUSON | 97,307 | 70 km |
| 2017 | DETWILER | 83,297 | 99 km |
| 2021 | TAMARACK | 70,171 | 98 km |
| 1996 | ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON) | 58,161 | 61 km |
| 1987 | PAPER | 49,296 | 89 km |
| 1987 | LARSON | 49,250 | 76 km |
| 1987 | HAMM | 39,333 | 84 km |
| 2018 | DONNELL | 36,151 | 78 km |
| 2008 | TELEGRAPH | 33,479 | 88 km |
| 2020 | SLINK | 26,437 | 74 km |
| 2002 | CANNON | 23,605 | 64 km |
| 2013 | ASPEN | 23,564 | 75 km |
| 2022 | OAK | 19,408 | 80 km |
| 2015 | WASHINGTON | 18,485 | 92 km |
| 1990 | A-ROCK | 17,706 | 65 km |
| 1996 | ROGGE | 17,559 | 87 km |
| 2014 | FRENCH | 14,534 | 76 km |
| 2020 | MOUNTAIN VIEW | 14,416 | 71 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.6 in | Wettest |
| February | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 in | |
| March | 35°F (1°C) | 1.8 in | |
| April | 40°F (4°C) | 0.9 in | |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 0.7 in | |
| June | 55°F (13°C) | 0.6 in | |
| July | 69°F (21°C) | 0.5 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 63°F (17°C) | 0.5 in | |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 0.7 in | |
| October | 46°F (8°C) | 0.7 in | |
| November | 37°F (3°C) | 1.9 in | |
| December | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.2 in | Coldest |
Lee Vining has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 30°F in December to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.6") and July the driest (0.5").