Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Phoenix Lake enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 326 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 29.8 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 2,476 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
63.0°F
17% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
326 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2,476 ft (755 m)
Area
11.1 sq mi (28.9 km²)
Population Density
407/sq mi
Coordinates
38.0113°N, 120.3090°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Calaveras County County
Nearest Airport
Merced Yosemite Regional (MCE) 50 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall29.8"
22% below US avg
Snowfall0.2"
Wettest Month (Jan)7.76"
Driest Month (Jul)0.16"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
86.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
57.9 / 100
Community Resilience
39.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively Moderate
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5,701 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.1.
Sep 12, 1994
4 km S of Carter Springs, Nevada
M6.1
107 km
14 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
90 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
104 km
11 km
May 15, 1999
9 km WSW of Aspen Springs, California
M5.5
142 km
3 km
Sep 18, 2004
27 km NW of Benton, California
M5.4
143 km
3 km
Sep 18, 2004
27 km NW of Benton, California
M5.4
145 km
0 km
Apr 11, 2020
30km SE of Bodie, CA
M5.2
138 km
8 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
100 km
-1 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
90 km
7 km
Jun 9, 1998
8 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California
M4.9
141 km
5 km
Jul 15, 1998
8 km W of Aspen Springs, California
M4.9
141 km
4 km
Nov 30, 1997
2 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California
M4.9
127 km
5 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
98 km
4 km
Nov 22, 1997
3 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California
M4.9
128 km
5 km
Dec 31, 1997
9 km ESE of Mammoth Lakes, California
M4.8
133 km
4 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
143 km
1 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
97 km
-1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
145 km
-2 km
Apr 26, 2008
27km SE of Smith Valley, NV
M4.7
122 km
4 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
95 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
53 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
73 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
21 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
40 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
69 km
3.0 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
73 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
78 km
1.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
55 km
0.6 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
77 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 14, 1995
EF1
99 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
76 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
62 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
81 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
66 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
87 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
73 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
80 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 8, 2022
EF0
95 km
0.8 mi
0
Nov 18, 2020
EF0
92 km
4.4 mi
0
May 18, 2020
EF0
77 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 2, 2019
EF0
77 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mono Lake Volcanic Field (112 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
112 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
115 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
120 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: RIM (257,084 acres, 2013).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2013
RIM
257,084
32 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
79 km
2018
FERGUSON
97,307
61 km
2017
DETWILER
83,297
54 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
38 km
2021
TAMARACK
70,171
93 km
1996
ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON)
58,161
44 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
19 km
1987
LARSON
49,250
45 km
1987
HAMM
39,333
32 km
2018
DONNELL
36,151
59 km
2008
TELEGRAPH
33,479
52 km
2020
SLINK
26,437
86 km
2002
CANNON
23,605
91 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
92 km
2022
OAK
19,408
65 km
2015
WASHINGTON
18,485
88 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
24 km
1990
A-ROCK
17,706
57 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
21 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
7.8 in
Wettest
February
43°F (6°C)
6.9 in
March
45°F (7°C)
6.6 in
April
49°F (10°C)
4.0 in
May
56°F (13°C)
1.1 in
June
64°F (18°C)
0.5 in
July
81°F (27°C)
0.2 in
Warmest, Driest
August
72°F (22°C)
0.3 in
September
66°F (19°C)
0.8 in
October
58°F (14°C)
2.4 in
November
47°F (8°C)
6.7 in
December
41°F (5°C)
6.8 in
Coldest
Phoenix Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 41°F in December to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (7.8") and July the driest (0.2").