Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Los Osos enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 56°F in January while summers reach 62°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. 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 17.0 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 196 feet.
Temperature
56°F Jan (13°C)62°F Jul (17°C)
Annual Average
59.5°F
10% above US avg
January Average
56°F (13°C)
July Average
62°F (17°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
196 ft (60 m)
Area
12.8 sq mi (33.1 km²)
Population Density
1,179/sq mi
Coordinates
35.3071°N, 120.8245°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
San Luis Obispo County County
Nearest Airport
San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) 15 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall17.0"
55% below US avg
Snowfall0.1"
Wettest Month (Jan)5.08"
Driest Month (Jul)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
95.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
32.8 / 100
Community Resilience
93.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Drought
Very High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively High
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Tsunami
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2,924 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.0.
Sep 28, 2004
2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake
M6.0
70 km
8 km
Oct 21, 2012
24 km NE of San Lucas, California
M5.3
112 km
9 km
Sep 17, 1991
22 km NW of San Simeon, California
M5.2
73 km
9 km
Sep 29, 2004
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M5.0
78 km
11 km
Apr 23, 1995
22 km NNE of Soledad, California
M4.9
148 km
7 km
Dec 20, 1994
3 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.9
75 km
8 km
Sep 30, 2004
13 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.9
80 km
10 km
Feb 24, 2016
6km SSW of Wasco, CA
M4.9
134 km
22 km
Nov 14, 1993
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.8
78 km
11 km
May 29, 2013
6km W of Isla Vista, CA
M4.8
130 km
7 km
Sep 28, 2004
12 km SE of Parkfield, California
M4.7
70 km
6 km
Feb 4, 1991
33 km SE of Big Sur, California
M4.7
105 km
9 km
Aug 27, 2011
21 km NE of Soledad, California
M4.6
146 km
8 km
Mar 17, 2004
9 km WSW of Oak Shores, California
M4.5
52 km
4 km
May 16, 2005
5 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.5
76 km
9 km
Aug 6, 2012
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M4.5
77 km
11 km
Jan 20, 2015
27 km ENE of Greenfield, California
M4.4
126 km
9 km
May 9, 2004
15km W of Isla Vista, CA
M4.4
125 km
4 km
Jun 20, 2009
11 km SW of Lake Nacimiento, California
M4.4
39 km
6 km
Sep 16, 1992
2 km ESE of Kettleman City, California
M4.4
111 km
10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
8 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 2024
EF1
28 km
0.7 mi
0
Feb 7, 2024
EF1
1 km
4.9 mi
0
Feb 23, 2015
EF0
96 km
0.5 mi
0
Mar 29, 2006
EF0
83 km
—
0
Feb 2, 2004
EF0
29 km
0.5 mi
0
Nov 29, 2001
EF0
54 km
0.1 mi
0
May 5, 1998
EF0
14 km
0.3 mi
0
Dec 29, 1991
EF0
89 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 3.4 m (11 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1812
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
3.4 m
1
149 km
1927
S. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.8 m
—
55 km
1878
S. CALIFORNIA
Meteorological
1.0 m
1
17 km
1901
MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
82 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: FIFTY-EIGHT (94,704 acres, 1996).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1996
FIFTY-EIGHT
94,704
48 km
2009
LA BREA
84,213
83 km
1985
LAS PILITAS
75,841
29 km
1997
LOGAN
49,627
69 km
1994
41
48,441
16 km
2017
GARZA
48,404
87 km
2016
CHIMNEY
46,950
53 km
1985
CHERRY
41,654
90 km
2005
UNNAMED
39,070
78 km
2020
MINERAL
29,901
99 km
2017
ALAMO
29,256
62 km
1996
WILD
24,439
89 km
1984
UNNAMED
23,122
78 km
1993
ORCHARD
22,309
83 km
1996
UNNAMED
19,243
80 km
2024
BOONE
17,701
99 km
2008
CHALK
15,420
98 km
1999
SPANISH
14,518
83 km
2016
CANYON
12,749
82 km
2006
RICO
11,807
84 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
56°F (13°C)
5.1 in
Wettest
February
53°F (12°C)
4.9 in
March
54°F (12°C)
4.3 in
April
55°F (13°C)
1.3 in
May
57°F (14°C)
0.4 in
June
60°F (16°C)
0.1 in
July
62°F (17°C)
0.0 in
Driest
August
64°F (18°C)
0.1 in
Warmest
September
63°F (17°C)
0.4 in
October
61°F (16°C)
0.9 in
November
56°F (14°C)
2.4 in
December
52°F (11°C)
3.6 in
Coldest
Los Osos has a seasonal temperature swing of 12°F / from 52°F in December to 64°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 23.5 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.1") and July the driest (0.0").