All Countries
Weather & Climate in Shoshone, CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Shoshone enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 85°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 5.0 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 2,185 feet.
Temperature
43°F Jan (6°C)
85°F Jul (29°C)
| Annual Average | 62.3°F |
| 15% above US avg | |
| January Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| July Average | 85°F (29°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,185 ft (666 m) |
| Area | 28.7 sq mi (74.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 1/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.9672°N, 116.3088°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Inyo County County |
| Nearest Airport | Harry Reid International (LAS) 65 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 79.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 83.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 25.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
7,465 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.
| Jul 6, 2019 | Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence | M7.1 | 118 km | 8 km |
| Jul 4, 2019 | Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence | M6.4 | 112 km | 11 km |
| Jun 29, 1992 | 47 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada | M5.8 | 82 km | 9 km |
| Oct 16, 1999 | 13km WSW of Ludlow, CA | M5.8 | 143 km | 14 km |
| Sep 20, 1995 | 16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California | M5.8 | 122 km | 5 km |
| Jun 4, 2020 | 17km S of Searles Valley, CA | M5.5 | 108 km | 8 km |
| Jul 6, 2019 | 15km ESE of Little Lake, CA | M5.5 | 130 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2019 | 20km E of Little Lake, CA | M5.4 | 124 km | 7 km |
| Jul 5, 2019 | 16km W of Searles Valley, CA | M5.4 | 116 km | 7 km |
| Aug 17, 1995 | 17km N of Ridgecrest, California | M5.4 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Nov 27, 1996 | 27km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.3 | 121 km | 0 km |
| Mar 18, 1997 | 20km ENE of Barstow, California | M5.3 | 120 km | 1 km |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 28km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.2 | 120 km | 0 km |
| Oct 3, 2009 | 18km NE of Olancha, CA | M5.2 | 147 km | -2 km |
| Jul 17, 2001 | 7km ESE of Coso Junction, CA | M5.2 | 141 km | 2 km |
| Jan 7, 1996 | 16km N of Ridgecrest, California | M5.2 | 123 km | 3 km |
| Mar 7, 1998 | 30km E of Coso Junction, California | M5.0 | 118 km | 0 km |
| Oct 1, 2009 | 18km NE of Olancha, CA | M5.0 | 147 km | 4 km |
| Mar 10, 1990 | 65 km SSW of Rachel, Nevada | M5.0 | 129 km | 0 km |
| Oct 22, 1999 | 28km NW of Ludlow, California | M5.0 | 123 km | 0 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
5 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 7, 1964 | EF1 | 66 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF0 | 39 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1991 | EF0 | 80 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 16, 1987 | EF0 | 52 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 1986 | EF0 | 98 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Ubehebe Craters (155 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Ubehebe Craters | Maar(s) | 752 m (2,467 ft) | -150 | 155 km |
| Golden Trout Creek | Volcanic field | 2,886 m (9,469 ft) | -5550 | 186 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: DOME (43,628 acres, 2020).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2020 | DOME | 43,628 | 99 km |
| 2005 | GOODSPRINGS | 33,448 | 76 km |
| 2013 | CARPENTER 1 | 27,879 | 70 km |
| 2006 | CALICO | 9,274 | 21 km |
| 1987 | ZIPPER | 6,306 | 69 km |
| 2000 | HAPPY | 5,987 | 68 km |
| 2002 | LOST CABIN | 4,555 | 67 km |
| 2005 | KINGSTON | 3,739 | 40 km |
| 2020 | COTTONWOOD | 2,783 | 77 km |
| 2020 | MAHOGANY | 2,713 | 77 km |
| 2021 | MOJAVE | 2,499 | 83 km |
| 2005 | RANGE | 2,473 | 84 km |
| 2000 | BUCK SPRINGS | 2,233 | 65 km |
| 2007 | GOLDEN | 2,062 | 27 km |
| 2011 | WELLS | 1,841 | 83 km |
| 1997 | UNNAMED | 1,802 | 71 km |
| 2006 | BUTTE 2 | 1,766 | 65 km |
| 2004 | LONGSTREET | 1,628 | 56 km |
| 2006 | SCENIC | 1,624 | 79 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 1,580 | 89 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F (6°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| February | 53°F (12°C) | 0.5 in | |
| March | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 in | |
| April | 65°F (19°C) | 0.2 in | |
| May | 74°F (24°C) | 0.1 in | |
| June | 84°F (29°C) | 0.1 in | Driest |
| July | 85°F (29°C) | 0.3 in | |
| August | 89°F (32°C) | 0.4 in | Warmest |
| September | 82°F (28°C) | 0.2 in | |
| October | 69°F (21°C) | 0.2 in | |
| November | 56°F (13°C) | 0.3 in | |
| December | 47°F (8°C) | 0.4 in |
Shoshone has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 43°F in January to 89°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 3.6 inches, with January being the wettest month (0.5") and June the driest (0.1").