Weather & Climate in San Luis Obispo, CA

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

San Luis Obispo enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. 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 17.9 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 49. 53% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 157 feet.

Temperature

53°F Jan (12°C) 66°F Jul (19°C)

Annual Average	59.7°F
	11% above US avg
January Average	53°F (12°C)
July Average	66°F (19°C)
Sunny Days	330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	157 ft (48 m)
Area	13.6 sq mi (35.3 km²)
Population Density	3,522/sq mi
Coordinates	35.2662°N, 120.6684°W
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
County	San Luis Obispo County County
Nearest Airport	San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) 6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 17.9"

53% below US avg

Wettest Month (Jan) 5.08"

Driest Month (Jul) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median	49.0
Rating	Good
Good Days %	52.7%
Unhealthy Days	10

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively High
Risk Score	95.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability	32.8 / 100
Community Resilience	93.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

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

Earthquake History

2,734 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.0.

Sep 28, 2004	2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake	M6.0	67 km	8 km
Oct 21, 2012	24 km NE of San Lucas, California	M5.3	117 km	9 km
Aug 7, 2024	24 km SW of Lamont, CA	M5.2	144 km	12 km
Sep 17, 1991	22 km NW of San Simeon, California	M5.2	85 km	9 km
May 28, 1993	21km SW of Lamont, California	M5.2	143 km	21 km
Sep 29, 2004	8 km NW of Parkfield, California	M5.0	78 km	11 km
Dec 20, 1994	3 km NW of Parkfield, California	M4.9	75 km	8 km
Sep 30, 2004	13 km NW of Parkfield, California	M4.9	81 km	10 km
Feb 24, 2016	6km SSW of Wasco, CA	M4.9	121 km	22 km
Nov 14, 1993	8 km NW of Parkfield, California	M4.8	78 km	11 km
May 29, 2013	6km W of Isla Vista, CA	M4.8	118 km	7 km
Sep 28, 2004	12 km SE of Parkfield, California	M4.7	66 km	6 km
Feb 4, 1991	33 km SE of Big Sur, California	M4.7	118 km	9 km
Aug 7, 2024	25 km SW of Lamont, CA	M4.6	142 km	12 km
Apr 16, 2005	20km ESE of Maricopa, CA	M4.6	137 km	9 km
Mar 17, 2004	9 km WSW of Oak Shores, California	M4.5	63 km	4 km
May 16, 2005	5 km NW of Parkfield, California	M4.5	76 km	9 km
Aug 6, 2012	8 km NW of Parkfield, California	M4.5	78 km	11 km
Aug 8, 2024	22 km NW of Grapevine, CA	M4.4	146 km	12 km
Jan 20, 2015	27 km ENE of Greenfield, California	M4.4	133 km	9 km

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

Tornado History

8 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Feb 7, 2024	EF1	17 km	0.7 mi	0
Feb 7, 2024	EF1	14 km	4.9 mi	0
Feb 23, 2015	EF0	83 km	0.5 mi	0
Mar 29, 2006	EF0	74 km	—	0
Feb 2, 2004	EF0	19 km	0.5 mi	0
Nov 29, 2001	EF0	41 km	0.1 mi	0
May 5, 1998	EF0	2 km	0.3 mi	0
Dec 29, 1991	EF0	78 km	0.1 mi	0

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

Tsunami History

4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.4 m (11 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
1812	S. CALIFORNIA	Eruption + Earthquake	3.4 m	1	138 km
1927	S. CALIFORNIA	Earthquake	1.8 m	—	51 km
1878	S. CALIFORNIA	Meteorological	1.0 m	1	11 km
1901	MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA	Eruption + Earthquake	—	—	83 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: FIFTY-EIGHT (94,704 acres, 1996).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
1996	FIFTY-EIGHT	94,704	35 km
2009	LA BREA	84,213	69 km
1985	LAS PILITAS	75,841	15 km
1997	LOGAN	49,627	54 km
1994	41	48,441	14 km
2017	GARZA	48,404	84 km
2016	CHIMNEY	46,950	64 km
1993	MARRE	44,309	88 km
1985	CHERRY	41,654	100 km
2005	UNNAMED	39,070	89 km
2017	ALAMO	29,256	49 km
1984	UNNAMED	23,122	90 km
1993	ORCHARD	22,309	75 km
1996	SKYLINE	21,694	99 km
1996	UNNAMED	19,243	91 km
2021	ALISAL	17,677	100 km
1999	SPANISH	14,518	68 km
2006	PERKINS	14,342	100 km
2024	HURRICANE	13,488	92 km
2016	CANYON	12,749	75 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	53°F (12°C)	5.1 in	Wettest
February	53°F (12°C)	4.9 in
March	54°F (12°C)	4.3 in
April	55°F (13°C)	1.3 in
May	57°F (14°C)	0.4 in
June	60°F (16°C)	0.1 in
July	66°F (19°C)	0.0 in	Warmest, Driest
August	64°F (18°C)	0.1 in
September	63°F (17°C)	0.4 in
October	61°F (16°C)	0.9 in
November	56°F (14°C)	2.4 in
December	52°F (11°C)	3.6 in	Coldest

San Luis Obispo has a seasonal temperature swing of 14°F / from 52°F in December to 66°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 23.5 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.1") and July the driest (0.0").

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