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Weather & Climate in Needles, CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Needles has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 76°F (25°C). Winters average 56°F in January while summers reach 99°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 4.3 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 774 feet.
Temperature
56°F Jan (13°C)
99°F Jul (37°C)
| Annual Average | 76.2°F |
| 41% above US avg | |
| January Average | 56°F (13°C) |
| July Average | 99°F (37°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 774 ft (236 m) |
| Area | 31.3 sq mi (81.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 160/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 34.8134°N, 114.6266°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Mohave County County |
| Nearest Airport | Laughlin/Bullhead International (IFP) 24 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 94.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 87.3 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 3.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | No Rating |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
346 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.0.
| Oct 16, 1999 | 25km S of Ludlow, CA | M5.0 | 148 km | 5 km |
| Oct 29, 2002 | 13km NW of Ludlow, CA | M4.8 | 150 km | 4 km |
| Oct 16, 1999 | 26km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.8 | 148 km | -1 km |
| Mar 11, 2003 | 25km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.6 | 147 km | 3 km |
| Oct 25, 1999 | 14km SSW of Ludlow, CA | M4.6 | 149 km | -1 km |
| Oct 18, 1999 | 26km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.6 | 148 km | -1 km |
| Oct 17, 1999 | 25km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.2 | 148 km | -1 km |
| Oct 16, 1999 | 26km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.2 | 147 km | 0 km |
| Oct 17, 1999 | 26km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.2 | 147 km | -1 km |
| Jan 24, 2016 | 8km WSW of Ludlow, CA | M4.1 | 148 km | 3 km |
| Feb 23, 2016 | 8km WSW of Ludlow, CA | M4.1 | 148 km | 2 km |
| Oct 17, 1999 | 26km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M4.1 | 148 km | -1 km |
| Mar 30, 2015 | 12km NW of Ludlow, CA | M4.0 | 149 km | 3 km |
| Oct 20, 1999 | 16km SSW of Ludlow, CA | M4.0 | 149 km | -1 km |
| Oct 16, 1999 | 7km WNW of Ludlow, CA | M4.0 | 147 km | 6 km |
| Aug 26, 2012 | 41 km E of Twentynine Palms, California | M3.9 | 115 km | 9 km |
| Apr 16, 2000 | 13km NW of Ludlow, CA | M3.8 | 150 km | 3 km |
| Oct 16, 1999 | 27km NNW of Twentynine Palms, CA | M3.7 | 149 km | 4 km |
| Jan 14, 2018 | 13km NE of Ludlow, CA | M3.7 | 132 km | 4 km |
| Oct 22, 1996 | 20 km SE of Boulder City, Nevada | M3.7 | 118 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
15 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 4 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 21, 2001 | EF1 | 10 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | EF1 | 39 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 6, 1983 | EF1 | 98 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1979 | EF1 | 93 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1972 | EF1 | 75 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1972 | EF1 | 25 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2020 | EF0 | 83 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 27, 2016 | EF0 | 81 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2010 | EF0 | 74 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 25, 1998 | EF0 | 93 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1997 | EF0 | 24 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | EF0 | 49 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | EF0 | 58 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | EF0 | 78 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1972 | EF0 | 86 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: YORK (94,736 acres, 2023).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2023 | YORK | 94,736 | 76 km |
| 2005 | HACKBERRY COMPLEX | 69,967 | 70 km |
| 1994 | COYOTE | 24,951 | 85 km |
| 2005 | PERKINS COMPLEX | 18,064 | 88 km |
| 2005 | TWIN MILLS | 12,244 | 66 km |
| 2006 | BLACK MOUNTAIN COMPLEX | 8,974 | 63 km |
| 1994 | FORT PIUTE | 6,350 | 61 km |
| 2015 | WILLOW | 6,084 | 8 km |
| 2013 | DEAN PEAK | 5,846 | 79 km |
| 1995 | STOVE | 5,770 | 79 km |
| 2022 | LOST LAKE | 5,455 | 90 km |
| 1994 | WARM | 5,100 | 34 km |
| 1995 | ICEHOUSE | 4,570 | 9 km |
| 2006 | SECRET | 4,537 | 44 km |
| 1994 | LIBERTY | 4,222 | 100 km |
| 2000 | DELUGE | 3,972 | 72 km |
| 2002 | VOCK CYN | 3,668 | 81 km |
| 1993 | JUNCTION | 3,297 | 69 km |
| 1998 | SOUTH DIKE | 3,148 | 7 km |
| 1999 | MOSS BASIN | 3,133 | 73 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56°F (13°C) | 0.7 in | |
| February | 57°F (14°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 63°F (17°C) | 0.6 in | |
| April | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 in | |
| May | 79°F (26°C) | 0.1 in | |
| June | 89°F (32°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| July | 99°F (37°C) | 0.4 in | Warmest |
| August | 93°F (34°C) | 0.7 in | Wettest |
| September | 86°F (30°C) | 0.6 in | |
| October | 74°F (23°C) | 0.3 in | |
| November | 60°F (16°C) | 0.4 in | |
| December | 52°F (11°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
Needles has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 52°F in December to 99°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 5.1 inches, with August being the wettest month (0.7") and June the driest (0.0").