Weather & Climate in Quartzsite, AZ

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

Quartzsite has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C). Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 96°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 4.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45. The city sits at an elevation of 876 feet.

Temperature

53°F Jan (12°C) 96°F Jul (35°C)

Annual Average	73.7°F
	36% above US avg
January Average	53°F (12°C)
July Average	96°F (35°C)
Sunny Days	330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	876 ft (267 m)
Area	36.3 sq mi (94.0 km²)
Population Density	50/sq mi
Coordinates	33.6675°N, 114.2170°W
Timezone	America/Phoenix
County	La Paz County County
Nearest Airport	Yuma Mcas/Yuma International (YUM) 73 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 4.6"

88% below US avg

Snowfall 0.2"

Wettest Month (Aug) 0.83"

Driest Month (Jun) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median	45.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Moderate
Risk Score	83.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability	94.6 / 100
Community Resilience	0.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Hurricane	Very Low
Earthquake	Relatively Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Relatively Moderate
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather	Very Low
Lightning	Very Low
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	No Rating
Landslide	Very Low
Volcano	Very Low
Avalanche	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1,122 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.4.

Aug 26, 2012	4km NNW of Brawley, CA	M5.4	143 km	8 km
Aug 26, 2012	5km NNW of Brawley, CA	M5.3	144 km	8 km
Jun 5, 2021	11km W of Calipatria, CA	M5.3	144 km	6 km
Aug 27, 2012	5km NNE of Brawley, CA	M4.9	141 km	4 km
Aug 26, 2012	5km NW of Brawley, CA	M4.9	144 km	4 km
Mar 24, 2009	4km S of Bombay Beach, CA	M4.8	145 km	6 km
Oct 16, 1999	13km W of Niland, California	M4.7	142 km	6 km
Aug 26, 2012	6km N of Brawley, CA	M4.6	141 km	7 km
Aug 26, 2012	4km N of Brawley, CA	M4.6	142 km	5 km
Jun 14, 2000	7km NE of Imperial, CA	M4.5	148 km	10 km
Oct 16, 1999	11km SE of Bombay Beach, CA	M4.5	139 km	3 km
Aug 26, 2012	6km SSE of Westmorland, CA	M4.4	149 km	10 km
Jul 11, 2025	12 km WNW of Calipatria, CA	M4.3	143 km	11 km
Sep 27, 2016	6km SSE of Bombay Beach, CA	M4.3	145 km	5 km
Apr 30, 2023	8km WSW of Niland, CA	M4.3	138 km	2 km
Sep 26, 2016	6km SSE of Bombay Beach, CA	M4.3	145 km	2 km
Jun 12, 2021	12km WSW of Niland, CA	M4.3	142 km	2 km
Aug 26, 2012	6km W of Brawley, CA	M4.3	148 km	5 km
Jun 5, 2021	10km WNW of Calipatria, CA	M4.3	142 km	4 km
Apr 30, 2023	9 km SW of Niland, CA	M4.3	138 km	2 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

9 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Aug 16, 1973	EF3	39 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 31, 1983	EF1	1 km	0.2 mi	0
Sep 18, 1972	EF1	65 km	0.1 mi	0
Oct 13, 2018	EF0	91 km	0.1 mi	0
Oct 13, 2018	EF0	6 km	0.0 mi	0
Jan 21, 2010	EF0	52 km	14.3 mi	0
Aug 10, 2006	EF0	83 km	10.0 mi	0
Sep 22, 1987	EF0	96 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 7, 1972	EF0	87 km	0.1 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Salton Buttes (140 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Salton Buttes	Lava dome(s)	-40 m (-131 ft)	210	140 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: KING VALLEY (32,964 acres, 2005).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2005	KING VALLEY	32,964	81 km
1999	HARCUVAR	16,305	91 km
2005	BIGHORN	5,699	88 km
2022	LOST LAKE	5,455	46 km
1993	HAQUAHALA	4,849	87 km
2006	CIBOLA	4,703	59 km
2011	THREE SLASHES	4,581	63 km
2005	BOSQUE	3,381	25 km
1989	LAGUNA II	3,042	94 km
1995	LOST LAKE	2,846	45 km
2005	EAGLE EYE	2,303	91 km
1989	FERGUSON	2,284	78 km
1992	WALTERS	2,170	63 km
2005	AGRO	2,078	93 km
2013	ISLAND LAKE	2,021	79 km
2020	BUREN	1,740	98 km
1987	FERGUSONLK	1,692	79 km
1994	BLACK MESA	1,657	94 km
1986	COLORADO 2	1,403	43 km
2021	CLIP	1,295	75 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	53°F (12°C)	0.6 in
February	58°F (15°C)	0.5 in
March	63°F (17°C)	0.5 in
April	70°F (21°C)	0.2 in
May	79°F (26°C)	0.1 in
June	88°F (31°C)	0.0 in	Driest
July	96°F (35°C)	0.4 in	Warmest
August	92°F (34°C)	0.8 in	Wettest
September	86°F (30°C)	0.6 in
October	74°F (23°C)	0.4 in
November	61°F (16°C)	0.4 in
December	53°F (11°C)	0.6 in	Coldest

Quartzsite has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 53°F in December to 96°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 5.1 inches, with August being the wettest month (0.8") and June the driest (0.0").

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