Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Penitas has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 73°F (23°C). Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 85°F in July. The area gets 312 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 20.2 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42. The city sits at an elevation of 170 feet.
Temperature
58°F Jan (14°C)85°F Jul (30°C)
Annual Average
73.4°F
36% above US avg
January Average
58°F (14°C)
July Average
85°F (30°C)
Sunny Days
312 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
170 ft (52 m)
Area
9.4 sq mi (24.3 km²)
Population Density
678/sq mi
Coordinates
26.2583°N, 98.4386°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Hidalgo County County
Nearest Airport
Mc Allen International (MFE) 15 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall20.2"
47% below US avg
Snowfall0.2"
Wettest Month (Sep)3.74"
Driest Month (Mar)0.55"
Air Quality
AQI Median
42.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
99.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
92.7 / 100
Community Resilience
0.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively High
Hurricane
Very High
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Very High
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Very High
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Very High
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
12 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.4.
Jun 14, 2009
35 km E of Ciudad General Terán, Mexico
M4.4
140 km
18 km
Mar 18, 2014
18 km E of Pueblo Nuevo, Mexico
M4.1
144 km
1 km
Jan 19, 2014
12 km SSW of China, Mexico
M4.1
113 km
12 km
Dec 22, 2013
19 km NE of Ciudad General Terán, Mexico
M4.0
148 km
37 km
Feb 11, 2014
31 km SSE of China, Mexico
M4.0
115 km
41 km
Mar 4, 2014
27 km SE of Los Ramones, Mexico
M4.0
131 km
5 km
Nov 25, 2013
23 km SE of Los Ramones, Mexico
M4.0
133 km
10 km
Mar 2, 2014
15 km SW of China, Mexico
M4.0
116 km
8 km
Nov 30, 2013
26 km SE of Los Ramones, Mexico
M3.9
132 km
2 km
Mar 5, 2014
18 km SSW of China, Mexico
M3.9
116 km
10 km
Nov 26, 2013
22 km S of China, Mexico
M3.6
116 km
37 km
Aug 30, 2016
11 km N of Los Ramones, Mexico
M3.6
131 km
38 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
11 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2021
Nicholas
Category 1
75 mph
294 km
2020
Hanna
Category 1
92 mph
58 km
2017
Harvey
Category 4
132 mph
229 km
2010
Alex
Category 2
109 mph
235 km
2008
Dolly
Category 2
98 mph
69 km
2005
Emily
Category 3
127 mph
142 km
2003
Erika
Category 1
75 mph
145 km
1999
Bret
Category 4
144 mph
98 km
1988
Gilbert
Category 4
132 mph
188 km
1983
Barry
Category 1
81 mph
134 km
1980
Allen
Category 4
144 mph
60 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
109 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 28 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 15, 1983
EF3
26 km
6.1 mi
0
May 12, 1969
EF3
76 km
0.1 mi
0
May 12, 1969
EF3
86 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 19, 1965
EF3
50 km
1.5 mi
0
May 5, 1991
EF2
29 km
1.0 mi
0
Aug 9, 1980
EF2
94 km
4.6 mi
0
May 24, 1970
EF2
72 km
25.5 mi
0
Apr 26, 1967
EF2
7 km
40.2 mi
0
Jun 1, 1962
EF2
70 km
1.0 mi
0
Jan 26, 1950
EF2
76 km
4.7 mi
0
Oct 30, 2015
EF1
77 km
0.7 mi
0
Jun 30, 2011
EF1
29 km
0.4 mi
0
Jul 16, 2007
EF1
22 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 30, 2003
EF1
3 km
0.3 mi
0
May 21, 2001
EF1
13 km
0.2 mi
0
May 21, 2001
EF1
11 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 14, 1994
EF1
25 km
0.5 mi
0
Sep 16, 1988
EF1
74 km
0.5 mi
0
Sep 7, 1983
EF1
31 km
2.0 mi
0
Aug 29, 1981
EF1
14 km
2.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BURNS RANCH FIRE (58,395 acres, 2008).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2008
BURNS RANCH FIRE
58,395
54 km
2022
HAYFIELD SOUTH
11,038
94 km
2021
KING
9,793
80 km
2022
VIB
7,817
83 km
2017
HOPPER
7,150
90 km
2022
BLANKET
5,823
90 km
2022
POLO
5,571
94 km
2008
ENCINO
3,979
77 km
2021
NORTH JONES
3,541
85 km
2008
UNNAMED
3,389
70 km
2011
KING RANCH
3,075
83 km
2008
JONES RANCH
2,998
72 km
2005
2686
2,979
70 km
2009
HOPPER
2,929
89 km
2009
SAN CARLOS
2,849
98 km
2021
JONES
2,178
78 km
2010
ENCINITOS RANCH
1,967
57 km
2022
755
1,846
78 km
2011
ENCINITOS
1,748
59 km
2022
DEER
1,657
97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
58°F (14°C)
1.4 in
Coldest
February
62°F (17°C)
1.1 in
March
70°F (21°C)
0.6 in
Driest
April
75°F (24°C)
1.3 in
May
80°F (27°C)
3.1 in
June
84°F (29°C)
2.8 in
July
85°F (30°C)
1.8 in
August
86°F (30°C)
2.2 in
Warmest
September
82°F (28°C)
3.7 in
Wettest
October
76°F (24°C)
2.3 in
November
67°F (20°C)
1.0 in
December
61°F (16°C)
1.1 in
Penitas has a seasonal temperature swing of 28°F / from 58°F in January to 86°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 22.4 inches, with September being the wettest month (3.7") and March the driest (0.6").