Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
San Andreas enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 79°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 22.9 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 1,117 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
62.6°F
16% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
326 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,117 ft (340 m)
Area
10.0 sq mi (25.9 km²)
Population Density
288/sq mi
Coordinates
38.1927°N, 120.6732°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Calaveras County County
Nearest Airport
Sacramento International (SMF) 61 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall22.9"
40% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)5.79"
Driest Month (Jul)0.12"
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
3,063 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
113 km
14 km
Aug 24, 2014
The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
M6.0
143 km
11 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
108 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
137 km
11 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
106 km
-1 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
108 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
148 km
7 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
108 km
4 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
133 km
1 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
106 km
-1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
134 km
-2 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
118 km
7 km
Apr 26, 2008
27km SE of Smith Valley, NV
M4.7
142 km
4 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
131 km
8 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
109 km
-1 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
132 km
9 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
144 km
10 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
104 km
2 km
Dec 12, 1996
4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.6
110 km
-2 km
Jul 9, 2021
30km SE of Markleeville, CA
M4.6
105 km
4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
65 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 1978
EF2
88 km
1.9 mi
0
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
67 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
32 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
14 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
69 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
75 km
3.0 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
67 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
97 km
1.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
50 km
0.6 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF1
98 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
69 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
42 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF1
83 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
64 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
87 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
62 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
60 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
81 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
43 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 8, 2022
EF0
59 km
0.8 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1868
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
4.5 m
30
137 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mono Lake Volcanic Field (145 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
145 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
150 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
157 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
69 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
68 km
2014
KING
99,070
83 km
2018
FERGUSON
97,307
98 km
2017
DETWILER
83,297
86 km
2022
MOSQUITO
77,858
94 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
11 km
1996
ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON)
58,161
81 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
56 km
1987
LARSON
49,250
82 km
1987
HAMM
39,333
70 km
2018
DONNELL
36,151
77 km
2008
TELEGRAPH
33,479
87 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
74 km
2015
WASHINGTON
18,485
99 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
17 km
1990
A-ROCK
17,706
95 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
59 km
2004
POWER
17,266
49 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
93 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
5.8 in
Wettest
February
49°F (10°C)
5.0 in
March
52°F (11°C)
5.0 in
April
56°F (13°C)
2.3 in
May
63°F (17°C)
0.8 in
June
71°F (22°C)
0.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
76°F (25°C)
0.2 in
September
72°F (22°C)
0.6 in
October
64°F (18°C)
1.7 in
November
52°F (11°C)
4.2 in
December
45°F (7°C)
4.3 in
Coldest
San Andreas has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 45°F in December to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 30.2 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.8") and July the driest (0.1").