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Weather & Climate in Plainview, CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Plainview enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 80°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 12.1 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 351 feet.
Temperature
47°F Jan (8°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 62.9°F |
| 16% above US avg | |
| January Average | 47°F (8°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 351 ft (107 m) |
| Area | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,257/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.1430°N, 119.1353°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Kings County County |
| Nearest Airport | Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) 54 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 92.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 65.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 7.7 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Very High |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
6,430 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.
| Jul 6, 2019 | Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence | M7.1 | 144 km | 8 km |
| Sep 28, 2004 | 2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake | M6.0 | 117 km | 8 km |
| Jun 24, 2020 | 18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA | M5.8 | 109 km | 5 km |
| Sep 20, 1995 | 16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California | M5.8 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Jul 11, 1992 | 12km NW of California City, California | M5.7 | 142 km | 10 km |
| Jul 6, 2019 | 15km ESE of Little Lake, CA | M5.5 | 128 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2019 | 20km E of Little Lake, CA | M5.4 | 133 km | 7 km |
| Jul 5, 2019 | 16km W of Searles Valley, CA | M5.4 | 147 km | 7 km |
| Aug 17, 1995 | 17km N of Ridgecrest, California | M5.4 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Nov 27, 1996 | 27km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.3 | 134 km | 0 km |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 28km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.2 | 135 km | 0 km |
| Aug 7, 2024 | 24 km SW of Lamont, CA | M5.2 | 115 km | 12 km |
| Oct 3, 2009 | 18km NE of Olancha, CA | M5.2 | 118 km | -2 km |
| May 28, 1993 | 21km SW of Lamont, California | M5.2 | 111 km | 21 km |
| Jul 17, 2001 | 7km ESE of Coso Junction, CA | M5.2 | 114 km | 2 km |
| Jan 7, 1996 | 16km N of Ridgecrest, California | M5.2 | 141 km | 3 km |
| Mar 7, 1998 | 30km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.0 | 137 km | 0 km |
| Sep 29, 2004 | 25km SSW of Bodfish, California | M5.0 | 96 km | 3 km |
| Sep 29, 2004 | 8 km NW of Parkfield, California | M5.0 | 125 km | 11 km |
| Oct 1, 2009 | 18km NE of Olancha, CA | M5.0 | 118 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
52 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 5 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 5, 1980 | EF2 | 57 km | 15.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1962 | EF2 | 94 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 17, 2019 | EF1 | 86 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1996 | EF1 | 74 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Feb 28, 1991 | EF1 | 36 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1986 | EF1 | 65 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1982 | EF1 | 64 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1980 | EF1 | 87 km | 1.7 mi | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1979 | EF1 | 70 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 1, 1964 | EF1 | 45 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1962 | EF1 | 56 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 1957 | EF1 | 88 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 2019 | EF0 | 98 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 19, 2019 | EF0 | 77 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Mar 22, 2018 | EF0 | 40 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 12, 2018 | EF0 | 68 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Feb 23, 2015 | EF0 | 94 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 9, 2012 | EF0 | 14 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Feb 27, 2010 | EF0 | 95 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 18, 2010 | EF0 | 92 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1901 | MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 124 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 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 |
| Mammoth Mountain | Lava dome(s) | 3,369 m (11,053 ft) | 1260 | 166 km |
| Ubehebe Craters | Maar(s) | 752 m (2,467 ft) | -150 | 179 km |
| Mono-Inyo Craters | Lava dome(s) | 2,796 m (9,173 ft) | 1380 | 185 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 | 51 km |
| 2002 | MCNALLY | 146,540 | 67 km |
| 2015 | ROUGH | 146,369 | 82 km |
| 2021 | WINDY | 97,831 | 51 km |
| 2021 | KNP COMPLEX | 89,960 | 57 km |
| 2000 | MANTER | 76,158 | 89 km |
| 2016 | ERSKINE | 48,066 | 96 km |
| 1997 | LOKERN | 46,139 | 97 km |
| 2017 | PIER | 36,626 | 38 km |
| 2016 | CEDAR | 29,191 | 64 km |
| 2021 | FRENCH | 27,331 | 71 km |
| 2011 | BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX | 27,229 | 93 km |
| 1984 | BODFISH | 23,189 | 92 km |
| 1990 | STORMY | 23,157 | 67 km |
| 1993 | ORCHARD | 22,309 | 96 km |
| 1996 | SKYLINE | 21,694 | 83 km |
| 2017 | LION | 18,576 | 62 km |
| 2011 | LION | 17,671 | 57 km |
| 2010 | BULL | 17,238 | 72 km |
| 2017 | SCHAEFFER | 16,100 | 69 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47°F (8°C) | 1.8 in | Wettest |
| February | 52°F (11°C) | 1.8 in | |
| March | 56°F (13°C) | 1.7 in | |
| April | 61°F (16°C) | 1.0 in | |
| May | 69°F (20°C) | 0.3 in | |
| June | 75°F (24°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 0.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 0.0 in | |
| September | 74°F (23°C) | 0.3 in | |
| October | 65°F (18°C) | 0.6 in | |
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 1.4 in | |
| December | 46°F (8°C) | 1.4 in | Coldest |
Plainview has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 46°F in December to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.8") and July the driest (0.0").