Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Seneca has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 60°F in July. The area gets 311 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 13.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. The city sits at an elevation of 4,661 feet.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-5°C)60°F Jul (16°C)
Annual Average
40.5°F
25% below US avg
January Average
24°F (-5°C)
July Average
60°F (16°C)
Sunny Days
311 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
4,661 ft (1,421 m)
Area
0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²)
Population Density
149/sq mi
Coordinates
44.1352°N, 118.9763°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Grant County County
Nearest Airport
Grant County Regional/Ogilvie Field (JDA) 19 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall13.7"
64% below US avg
Wettest Month (Dec)1.85"
Driest Month (Jul)0.59"
Air Quality
AQI Median
32.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
32.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
80.0 / 100
Community Resilience
30.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
48 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.1.
Jan 30, 2000
6 km SE of Condon, Oregon
M4.1
149 km
-1 km
Mar 22, 1997
10 km ESE of Condon, Oregon
M3.9
146 km
0 km
Feb 1, 2000
7 km SE of Condon, Oregon
M3.6
148 km
-1 km
Aug 31, 1999
Washington-Oregon border region
M3.5
146 km
3 km
Jan 30, 2000
8 km SE of Condon, Oregon
M3.4
147 km
-1 km
Aug 27, 2000
16 km W of Richland, Oregon
M3.3
144 km
0 km
Apr 17, 1997
9 km ESE of Condon, Oregon
M3.2
146 km
3 km
Jul 25, 2009
10 km NW of Brogan, Oregon
M3.2
111 km
7 km
Jul 13, 2000
7 km NW of Unity, Oregon
M3.1
68 km
19 km
Mar 23, 1997
11 km ESE of Condon, Oregon
M3.1
145 km
-1 km
Mar 23, 1997
10 km E of Condon, Oregon
M3.1
150 km
17 km
Oct 1, 2003
25 km W of Richland, Oregon
M3.1
136 km
21 km
Oct 17, 1993
33 km SE of Prairie City, Oregon
M3.1
41 km
13 km
Apr 19, 2007
63 km W of Hines, Oregon
M3.1
98 km
-1 km
Jan 4, 1990
16 km E of Baker City, Oregon
M3.0
128 km
5 km
Dec 16, 1993
8 km ESE of Condon, Oregon
M3.0
147 km
6 km
Sep 4, 1999
10 km SE of Condon, Oregon
M2.9
145 km
1 km
Mar 21, 1999
13 km ESE of Condon, Oregon
M2.9
143 km
22 km
Dec 18, 1993
9 km ESE of Condon, Oregon
M2.9
146 km
3 km
Aug 25, 2016
7 km SSE of Haines, Oregon
M2.8
117 km
19 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.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 19, 2004
EF1
85 km
2.2 mi
0
Nov 5, 2023
EF0
30 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 27, 2023
EF0
69 km
2.1 mi
0
Jun 8, 2016
EF0
90 km
0.2 mi
0
Oct 4, 2003
EF0
59 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 9, 2001
EF0
62 km
0.5 mi
0
Aug 9, 2001
EF0
62 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 15, 1997
EF0
56 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Diamond Craters (117 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Diamond Craters
Volcanic field
1,435 m (4,708 ft)
-5610
117 km
Jordan Craters
Volcanic field
1,473 m (4,833 ft)
-1250
164 km
Devils Garden
Volcanic field
1,698 m (5,571 ft)
Unknown
166 km
Newberry
Shield
2,434 m (7,986 ft)
690
186 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BATTLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX (184,979 acres, 2024).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2024
BATTLE MOUNTAIN COMPLEX
184,979
99 km
2007
EGLEY COMPLEX (EGLEY)
139,515
48 km
2015
CANYON CREEK COMPLEX
109,786
21 km
2014
BUZZARD
88,679
89 km
1990
PINE SPRINGS BASIN
71,143
63 km
2014
SOUTH FORK COMPLEX
66,743
41 km
2007
MONUMENT COMPLEX (RED HILL FIRE)
54,572
97 km
2015
BENDIRE COMPLEX
49,260
83 km
2007
IRISH SPRING
47,845
70 km
2020
INDIAN CREEK
46,275
90 km
2016
RAIL
43,813
55 km
1996
BULL COMPLEX (SUMMIT)
36,318
70 km
2007
BARTLETT MOUNTAIN
31,845
69 km
2015
CORNER CREEK 0297 PR
30,303
52 km
2001
MONUMENT COMPLEX (MALLORY)
29,095
93 km
2007
JUNIPER RESERVOIR
28,455
78 km
2021
BLACK BUTTE
24,736
49 km
2002
MONUMENT-MALHEUR COMPLEX (MONUMENT)
23,860
57 km
1990
BUCK SPRINGS
20,969
74 km
2015
ELDORADO
20,962
75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
24°F (-5°C)
1.6 in
Coldest
February
27°F (-3°C)
1.2 in
March
33°F (0°C)
1.3 in
April
39°F (4°C)
1.1 in
May
46°F (8°C)
1.3 in
June
53°F (12°C)
1.1 in
July
60°F (16°C)
0.6 in
Driest
August
61°F (16°C)
0.9 in
Warmest
September
53°F (12°C)
0.7 in
October
44°F (7°C)
1.0 in
November
34°F (1°C)
1.7 in
December
25°F (-4°C)
1.9 in
Wettest
Seneca has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 24°F in January to 61°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 14.2 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.9") and July the driest (0.6").