Weather & Climate in Smith River, CA

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

Smith River experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 269 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 71.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 46 feet.

Temperature

47°F Jan (8°C) 58°F Jul (15°C)

Annual Average	52.2°F
	3% below US avg
January Average	47°F (8°C)
July Average	58°F (15°C)
Sunny Days	269 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	46 ft (14 m)
Area	4.4 sq mi (11.5 km²)
Population Density	287/sq mi
Coordinates	41.9238°N, 124.1478°W
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
County	Del Norte County County
Nearest Airport	Rogue Valley International - Medford (MFR) 72 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 71.5"

88% above US avg

Snowfall 0.0"

Wettest Month (Dec) 14.13"

Driest Month (Jul) 0.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median	48.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively High
Risk Score	94.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability	53.6 / 100
Community Resilience	23.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

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

Earthquake History

1,005 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.0.

Aug 17, 1991	136 km WSW of Brookings, Oregon	M7.0	144 km	1 km
Jul 13, 1991	103 km W of Pistol River, Oregon	M6.9	127 km	11 km
Mar 10, 2014	77 km WNW of Indianola, California	M6.8	147 km	16 km
Jan 10, 2010	The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake	M6.5	149 km	29 km
Aug 16, 1991	136 km WSW of Brookings, Oregon	M6.1	144 km	3 km
Jul 24, 1996	136 km WSW of Pistol River, Oregon	M5.9	147 km	10 km
Feb 13, 2012	26 km NNW of Willow Creek, California	M5.6	92 km	27 km
Oct 4, 1997	100 km WNW of Samoa, California	M5.5	139 km	7 km
Dec 26, 1994	7 km WNW of Fields Landing, California	M5.4	133 km	23 km
Apr 30, 2008	3 km NNW of Burnt Ranch, California	M5.4	133 km	28 km
Oct 26, 1997	99 km W of Trinidad, California	M5.2	137 km	5 km
Jun 17, 2002	29 km WNW of Fields Landing, California	M5.2	128 km	17 km
Aug 15, 2003	100 km WNW of Indianola, California	M5.0	146 km	8 km
Jun 25, 2007	57 km W of Trinidad, California	M5.0	106 km	3 km
Mar 25, 2006	130 km W of Pistol River, Oregon	M5.0	150 km	11 km
Oct 11, 2013	50 km WNW of Samoa, California	M4.9	116 km	9 km
Jan 18, 1990	27 km ESE of Orick, California	M4.9	90 km	35 km
Jul 21, 2016	19km SSE of Blue Lake, CA	M4.8	135 km	26 km
Aug 10, 2017	112 km WSW of Pistol River, Oregon	M4.8	126 km	10 km
Nov 8, 2013	98 km W of Big Lagoon, California	M4.7	116 km	12 km

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

Tornado History

9 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Dec 30, 1992	EF1	20 km	0.2 mi	0
Dec 11, 1992	EF1	20 km	0.2 mi	0
Oct 24, 2010	EF0	87 km	1.0 mi	0
Nov 9, 2002	EF0	18 km	0.5 mi	0
Jan 20, 1996	EF0	20 km	0.1 mi	0
Jan 20, 1996	EF0	3 km	0.3 mi	0
Mar 22, 1983	EF0	18 km	0.1 mi	0
May 13, 1960	EF0	43 km	0.1 mi	0
Jan 10, 1958	EF0	20 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: 3.1 m (10 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
1873	N. CALIFORNIA	Eruption + Earthquake	3.1 m	—	15 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Shasta (172 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Shasta	Stratovolcano	4,317 m (14,163 ft)	1250	172 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BISCUIT COMPLEX (BISCUIT) (495,308 acres, 2002).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2002	BISCUIT COMPLEX (BISCUIT)	495,308	61 km
2017	CHETCO BAR	194,877	36 km
2018	KLONDIKE	178,311	59 km
2020	SLATER	157,784	50 km
2014	HAPPY CAMP COMPLEX	118,491	83 km
2008	SISKIYOU-BLUE 2 COMPLEX (BLUE 2)	100,823	53 km
1987	SILVER	96,698	51 km
2021	MCCASH	95,762	79 km
2017	OAK	95,692	51 km
2023	KELLY	90,267	25 km
2008	PANTHER	71,448	77 km
1987	KING TITUS	71,390	71 km
2018	TAYLOR CREEK	57,505	76 km
1987	YELLOW 2	53,626	90 km
2008	BEAR WALLOW COMPLEX (UKONOM)	40,029	95 km
2018	NATCHEZ	38,800	48 km
1987	FORT COPPER	36,333	77 km
2023	MOSQUITO	36,111	64 km
2023	FLAT	34,496	59 km
2016	GAP	33,940	92 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	47°F (8°C)	13.1 in
February	47°F (8°C)	10.7 in
March	48°F (9°C)	10.9 in
April	50°F (10°C)	5.8 in
May	54°F (12°C)	3.4 in
June	58°F (15°C)	1.4 in
July	58°F (15°C)	0.4 in	Driest
August	62°F (17°C)	1.0 in	Warmest
September	61°F (16°C)	2.0 in
October	56°F (13°C)	5.6 in
November	49°F (9°C)	13.0 in
December	45°F (7°C)	14.1 in	Coldest, Wettest

Smith River has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 45°F in December to 62°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 81.3 inches, with December being the wettest month (14.1") and July the driest (0.4").

View full profile of Smith River, CA →