Weather & Climate in Salton Sea Beach, CA

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

Salton Sea Beach has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 77°F (25°C). Winters average 59°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 4.0 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 -220 feet.

Temperature

59°F Jan (15°C) 96°F Jul (35°C)

Annual Average	76.6°F
	42% above US avg
January Average	59°F (15°C)
July Average	96°F (35°C)
Sunny Days	330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	-220 ft (-67 m)
Area	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Population Density	639/sq mi
Coordinates	33.3759°N, 116.0115°W
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
County	Riverside County County
Nearest Airport	Jacqueline Cochran Regional (TRM) 19 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 4.0"

89% below US avg

Wettest Month (Jan) 0.83"

Driest Month (Jun) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median	48.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very High
Risk Score	99.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability	33.3 / 100
Community Resilience	13.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively Moderate
Hurricane	Very Low
Earthquake	Very High
Wildfire	Very High
Flood	Very High
Hail	Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind	Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave	Relatively High
Winter Weather	Relatively Moderate
Lightning	Relatively Moderate
Drought	Relatively Low
Cold Wave	Very Low
Landslide	Relatively High
Volcano	Very Low
Avalanche	Very Low

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

Earthquake History

15,916 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.3.

Jun 28, 1992	The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake	M7.3	100 km	0 km
Apr 4, 2010	The 2010 Sierra El Mayor, B.C., Mexico Earthquake	M7.2	138 km	10 km
Oct 16, 1999	The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake	M7.1	139 km	14 km
Jun 28, 1992	The 1992 Big Bear, California Earthquake	M6.3	119 km	4 km
Apr 23, 1992	The 1992 Joshua Tree, California Earthquake	M6.1	71 km	12 km
Dec 30, 2009	12km N of Delta, B.C., MX	M5.8	127 km	6 km
Oct 16, 1999	13km WSW of Ludlow, CA	M5.8	147 km	14 km
Jun 28, 1992	3km NE of Yucca Valley, California	M5.8	92 km	-1 km
Jun 15, 2010	8km ESE of Ocotillo, CA	M5.7	75 km	9 km
Jun 28, 1992	2km SSW of Joshua Tree, California	M5.7	88 km	6 km
Feb 22, 2002	13km WSW of Delta, B.C., MX	M5.7	134 km	7 km
Jun 29, 1992	3km ESE of Yucca Valley, California	M5.7	89 km	10 km
Oct 16, 1999	7km ENE of Running Springs, CA	M5.6	135 km	6 km
Jun 28, 1992	11km SSE of Big Bear Lake, California	M5.5	117 km	10 km
Jun 28, 1992	0km E of Yucca Valley, CA	M5.5	91 km	8 km
Apr 4, 2010	9km SW of Delta, B.C., MX	M5.4	139 km	10 km
Jul 7, 2010	20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA	M5.4	43 km	12 km
Jul 5, 1992	21km SW of Ludlow, California	M5.4	137 km	5 km
Aug 26, 2012	4km NNW of Brawley, CA	M5.4	59 km	8 km
Jun 28, 1992	26km NNW of Yucca Valley, CA	M5.4	117 km	4 km

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

Tornado History

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

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Feb 9, 1978	EF3	39 km	2.0 mi	0
Aug 6, 2015	EF1	23 km	4.0 mi	0
Dec 22, 1996	EF1	93 km	0.1 mi	0
Aug 29, 1993	EF1	72 km	0.1 mi	0
Oct 22, 1974	EF1	95 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 20, 1974	EF1	96 km	1.0 mi	0
Aug 16, 2018	EF0	66 km	0.2 mi	0
Apr 21, 2015	EF0	74 km	10.0 mi	0
Mar 11, 2006	EF0	91 km	2.0 mi	0
Jul 23, 2005	EF0	96 km	2.0 mi	0
Jan 9, 2005	EF0	97 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 7, 2001	EF0	89 km	1.0 mi	0
Aug 30, 2000	EF0	97 km	3.0 mi	0
Jul 12, 1999	EF0	55 km	0.1 mi	0
Sep 24, 1997	EF0	74 km	1.5 mi	0
May 20, 1997	EF0	28 km	0.1 mi	0
Aug 12, 1994	EF0	92 km	0.1 mi	0
May 5, 1992	EF0	72 km	0.2 mi	0
Jul 27, 1987	EF0	84 km	1.5 mi	0
Sep 18, 1985	EF0	18 km	0.1 mi	0

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

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.2 m (4 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
1862	S. CALIFORNIA	Eruption + Earthquake	1.2 m	—	134 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Salton Buttes (42 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Salton Buttes	Lava dome(s)	-40 m (-131 ft)	210	42 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CEDAR (268,362 acres, 2003).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2003	CEDAR	268,362	85 km
2007	WITCH	167,551	78 km
2006	MILLARD	86,585	100 km
2002	PINES	65,407	58 km
2003	PARADISE	55,995	86 km
2007	POOMACHA	47,496	85 km
2006	ESPERANZA	40,566	97 km
2022	FAIRVIEW	28,680	86 km
2013	MOUNTAIN	28,202	70 km
1993	CALIFORNIA	23,899	99 km
1995	VERBENIA	21,601	93 km
1994	PALM	21,040	56 km
2013	SILVER	20,863	92 km
2003	COYOTE	19,215	53 km
1993	GUEJITO	17,141	92 km
2006	HORSE	16,659	92 km
2020	VALLEY	16,517	95 km
1989	VAIL	15,632	87 km
2011	EAGLE	14,743	44 km
1985	CABANZO	14,091	79 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	59°F (15°C)	0.8 in	Wettest
February	59°F (15°C)	0.7 in
March	63°F (17°C)	0.6 in
April	69°F (21°C)	0.2 in
May	76°F (24°C)	0.1 in
June	84°F (29°C)	0.0 in	Driest
July	96°F (35°C)	0.2 in	Warmest
August	89°F (32°C)	0.4 in
September	84°F (29°C)	0.3 in
October	74°F (24°C)	0.2 in
November	63°F (17°C)	0.4 in
December	55°F (13°C)	0.6 in	Coldest

Salton Sea Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 55°F in December to 96°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 4.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (0.8") and June the driest (0.0").

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