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Weather & Climate in Poplar-Cotton Center, CA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Poplar-Cotton Center enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 83°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 11.0 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 364 feet.

Temperature

49°F Jan (10°C) 83°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average65.7°F
22% above US avg
January Average49°F (10°C)
July Average83°F (29°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation364 ft (111 m)
Area1.3 sq mi (3.3 km²)
Population Density856/sq mi
Coordinates36.0577°N, 119.1502°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKings County County
Nearest AirportFresno Yosemite International (FAT)
59 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 11.0"
71% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan) 1.81"
Driest Month (Aug) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score92.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability65.7 / 100
Community Resilience7.7 / 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

6,281 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.

Jul 6, 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence M7.1 143 km 8 km
Sep 28, 2004 2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake M6.0 113 km 8 km
Jun 24, 2020 18km SSE of Lone Pine, CA M5.8 114 km 5 km
Sep 20, 1995 16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California M5.8 140 km 5 km
Jul 11, 1992 12km NW of California City, California M5.7 136 km 10 km
Jul 6, 2019 15km ESE of Little Lake, CA M5.5 127 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 M5.4 146 km 7 km
Aug 17, 1995 17km N of Ridgecrest, California M5.4 138 km 5 km
Nov 27, 1996 27km E of Coso Junction, California M5.3 135 km 0 km
Mar 6, 1998 28km E of Coso Junction, California M5.2 136 km 0 km
Aug 7, 2024 24 km SW of Lamont, CA M5.2 106 km 12 km
May 28, 1993 21km SW of Lamont, California M5.2 101 km 21 km
Oct 3, 2009 18km NE of Olancha, CA M5.2 121 km -2 km
Jul 17, 2001 7km ESE of Coso Junction, CA M5.2 115 km 2 km
Jan 7, 1996 16km N of Ridgecrest, California M5.2 139 km 3 km
Mar 7, 1998 30km E of Coso Junction, California M5.0 138 km 0 km
Sep 29, 2004 25km SSW of Bodfish, California M5.0 88 km 3 km
Sep 29, 2004 8 km NW of Parkfield, California M5.0 122 km 11 km
Oct 1, 2009 18km NE of Olancha, CA M5.0 122 km 4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

50 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 5 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 5, 1980 EF2 60 km 15.0 mi 0
Jan 17, 2019 EF1 94 km 0.3 mi 0
Nov 22, 1996 EF1 76 km 0.8 mi 0
Feb 28, 1991 EF1 42 km 0.2 mi 0
Mar 8, 1986 EF1 71 km 4.0 mi 0
Mar 28, 1982 EF1 71 km 5.0 mi 0
Feb 19, 1980 EF1 94 km 1.7 mi 0
Mar 14, 1979 EF1 76 km 2.0 mi 0
Nov 1, 1964 EF1 39 km 1.0 mi 0
Feb 19, 1962 EF1 60 km 0.6 mi 0
May 19, 1957 EF1 94 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 2, 2019 EF0 89 km 0.2 mi 0
May 19, 2019 EF0 77 km 0.4 mi 0
Mar 22, 2018 EF0 49 km 1.2 mi 0
Feb 12, 2018 EF0 75 km 0.3 mi 0
Feb 23, 2015 EF0 86 km 0.5 mi 0
Nov 9, 2012 EF0 14 km 0.3 mi 0
Feb 27, 2010 EF0 85 km 0.5 mi 0
Jan 18, 2010 EF0 98 km 0.5 mi 0
Jan 27, 2008 EF0 36 km 2.0 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 — — 122 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Golden Trout Creek (82 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Golden Trout Creek Volcanic field 2,886 m (9,469 ft) -5550 82 km
Mammoth Mountain Lava dome(s) 3,369 m (11,053 ft) 1260 175 km
Ubehebe Craters Maar(s) 752 m (2,467 ft) -150 186 km
Mono-Inyo Craters Lava dome(s) 2,796 m (9,173 ft) 1380 195 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 55 km
2002 MCNALLY 146,540 67 km
2015 ROUGH 146,369 92 km
2021 WINDY 97,831 50 km
2021 KNP COMPLEX 89,960 66 km
2000 MANTER 76,158 88 km
2016 ERSKINE 48,066 92 km
1997 LOKERN 46,139 88 km
2017 PIER 36,626 40 km
2008 PIUTE 36,251 96 km
2016 CEDAR 29,191 60 km
2021 FRENCH 27,331 66 km
2011 BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX 27,229 85 km
1984 BODFISH 23,189 87 km
1990 STORMY 23,157 63 km
1993 ORCHARD 22,309 90 km
1996 SKYLINE 21,694 80 km
2017 LION 18,576 66 km
2011 LION 17,671 61 km
2010 BULL 17,238 69 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 49°F (10°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 83°F (29°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

Poplar-Cotton Center has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 46°F in December to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.4 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.8") and July the driest (0.0").

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