Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Onyx enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 318 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 3,685 feet.
Temperature
45°F Jan (7°C)82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
61.2°F
13% above US avg
January Average
45°F (7°C)
July Average
82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
318 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
3,685 ft (1,123 m)
Area
11.5 sq mi (29.9 km²)
Population Density
50/sq mi
Coordinates
35.6702°N, 118.2272°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Kern County County
Nearest Airport
Bob Hope (BUR) 102 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Wettest Month (Jan)2.87"
Driest Month (Jul)0.16"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
61.1 / 100
Community Resilience
6.5 / 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
7,871 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M7.1.
Jul 6, 2019
Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
M7.1
58 km
8 km
Jul 4, 2019
Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
M6.4
65 km
11 km
Jun 24, 2020
18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA
M5.8
89 km
5 km
Sep 20, 1995
16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California
M5.8
54 km
5 km
Jul 11, 1992
12km NW of California City, California
M5.7
53 km
10 km
Jun 4, 2020
17km S of Searles Valley, CA
M5.5
73 km
8 km
Jul 6, 2019
15km ESE of Little Lake, CA
M5.5
50 km
5 km
Jul 6, 2019
20km E of Little Lake, CA
M5.4
56 km
7 km
Jul 5, 2019
16km W of Searles Valley, CA
M5.4
60 km
7 km
Aug 17, 1995
17km N of Ridgecrest, California
M5.4
52 km
5 km
Nov 27, 1996
27km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.3
69 km
0 km
Mar 18, 1997
20km ENE of Barstow, California
M5.3
150 km
1 km
Mar 6, 1998
28km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.2
69 km
0 km
Aug 7, 2024
24 km SW of Lamont, CA
M5.2
101 km
12 km
Oct 3, 2009
18km NE of Olancha, CA
M5.2
87 km
-2 km
May 28, 1993
21km SW of Lamont, California
M5.2
98 km
21 km
Jul 17, 2001
7km ESE of Coso Junction, CA
M5.2
50 km
2 km
Jan 7, 1996
16km N of Ridgecrest, California
M5.2
53 km
3 km
Jan 19, 1994
10km SSW of Valencia, California
M5.1
148 km
11 km
Mar 7, 1998
30km E of Coso Junction, California
M5.0
71 km
0 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
13 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 19, 1962
EF1
68 km
0.6 mi
0
Jun 2, 2019
EF0
62 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 16, 2019
EF0
53 km
1.6 mi
0
Sep 1, 2007
EF0
92 km
13.1 mi
0
Apr 3, 1999
EF0
76 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 17, 1997
EF0
78 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF0
63 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 26, 1995
EF0
80 km
2.0 mi
0
May 13, 1995
EF0
88 km
2.5 mi
0
Feb 23, 1993
EF0
91 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 26, 1991
EF0
50 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 25, 1991
EF0
49 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 20, 1988
EF0
76 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Golden Trout Creek (77 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Golden Trout Creek
Volcanic field
2,886 m (9,469 ft)
-5550
77 km
Ubehebe Craters
Maar(s)
752 m (2,467 ft)
-150
165 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CASTLE (174,424 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
CASTLE
174,424
70 km
2002
MCNALLY
146,540
47 km
2021
WINDY
97,831
48 km
2000
MANTER
76,158
29 km
2016
ERSKINE
48,066
15 km
2020
COLES FLAT
41,143
72 km
2017
PIER
36,626
66 km
2008
PIUTE
36,251
22 km
2016
CEDAR
29,191
34 km
2021
FRENCH
27,331
31 km
2011
BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX
27,229
53 km
2011
COMANCHE
25,965
78 km
1984
BODFISH
23,189
18 km
1990
STORMY
23,157
31 km
2017
LION
18,576
72 km
2011
LION
17,671
75 km
2010
BULL
17,238
26 km
2017
SCHAEFFER
16,100
49 km
2008
CLOVER
14,778
53 km
2011
CANYON
14,707
74 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
45°F (7°C)
2.9 in
Wettest
February
41°F (5°C)
2.7 in
March
44°F (7°C)
2.4 in
April
49°F (10°C)
1.2 in
May
57°F (14°C)
0.4 in
June
65°F (19°C)
0.2 in
July
82°F (28°C)
0.2 in
Warmest, Driest
August
72°F (22°C)
0.4 in
September
66°F (19°C)
0.6 in
October
57°F (14°C)
0.6 in
November
46°F (8°C)
2.1 in
December
40°F (4°C)
2.5 in
Coldest
Onyx has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 40°F in December to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.9") and July the driest (0.2").