Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
South Taft enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 83°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 6.0 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 1,117 feet.
Temperature
50°F Jan (10°C)83°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average
65.7°F
22% above US avg
January Average
50°F (10°C)
July Average
83°F (29°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,117 ft (340 m)
Area
1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
Population Density
2,346/sq mi
Coordinates
35.1293°N, 119.4575°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Kern County County
Nearest Airport
Santa Barbara Municipal (SBA) 54 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall6.0"
84% below US avg
Snowfall0.2"
Wettest Month (Feb)1.93"
Driest Month (Jun)0.08"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
61.1 / 100
Community Resilience
6.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively High
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively High
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4,144 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.7.
Jan 17, 1994
Northridge, California, earthquake
M6.7
132 km
18 km
Sep 28, 2004
2004 Parkfield, California Earthquake
M6.0
112 km
8 km
Jan 17, 1994
1km ENE of Granada Hills, California
M5.9
130 km
5 km
Jul 11, 1992
12km NW of California City, California
M5.7
127 km
10 km
Jan 17, 1994
7km NNE of Simi Valley, California
M5.6
113 km
9 km
Apr 5, 2018
31km SW of Santa Cruz Is. (E end), CA
M5.3
148 km
10 km
Mar 20, 1994
3km WNW of Panorama City, California
M5.2
134 km
12 km
Jan 18, 1994
10km ESE of Piru, California
M5.2
109 km
11 km
Aug 7, 2024
24 km SW of Lamont, CA
M5.2
33 km
12 km
Jan 17, 1994
9km N of Chatsworth, California
M5.2
117 km
5 km
May 28, 1993
21km SW of Lamont, California
M5.2
32 km
21 km
Aug 20, 2023
7 km SE of Ojai, CA
M5.1
84 km
5 km
Apr 26, 1997
12km ESE of Piru, California
M5.1
111 km
16 km
Jan 19, 1994
10km SSW of Valencia, California
M5.1
113 km
11 km
Jan 19, 1994
8km ESE of Piru, California
M5.1
108 km
14 km
Jan 29, 1994
6km NNE of Chatsworth, California
M5.1
122 km
1 km
Sep 29, 2004
25km SSW of Bodfish, California
M5.0
81 km
3 km
Jun 26, 1995
11km SW of Valencia, California
M5.0
109 km
13 km
Sep 29, 2004
8 km NW of Parkfield, California
M5.0
132 km
11 km
Apr 27, 1997
11km SW of Valencia, California
M4.9
112 km
15 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
18 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 3 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 17, 1991
EF1
2 km
0.1 mi
0
Jan 3, 1977
EF1
85 km
0.1 mi
0
Nov 1, 1964
EF1
84 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 21, 2023
EF0
80 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 2, 2019
EF0
67 km
0.2 mi
0
Feb 23, 2015
EF0
49 km
0.5 mi
0
Feb 27, 2010
EF0
26 km
0.5 mi
0
Jan 19, 2010
EF0
87 km
0.1 mi
0
Nov 29, 2001
EF0
91 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 3, 1999
EF0
51 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 22, 1997
EF0
60 km
0.2 mi
0
Feb 17, 1997
EF0
49 km
0.3 mi
0
Nov 22, 1996
EF0
64 km
2.0 mi
0
May 13, 1995
EF0
99 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 24, 1994
EF0
81 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 23, 1993
EF0
65 km
0.1 mi
0
Dec 29, 1991
EF0
95 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 20, 1988
EF0
76 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
6 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
111 km
1930
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
3.1 m
1
143 km
1927
S. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.8 m
—
125 km
1878
S. CALIFORNIA
Meteorological
1.0 m
1
116 km
1994
WEST COAST, USA
Earthquake
0.1 m
57
132 km
1901
MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
135 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Golden Trout Creek (171 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Golden Trout Creek
Volcanic field
2,886 m (9,469 ft)
-5550
171 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: THOMAS (281,982 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
THOMAS
281,982
76 km
2007
ZACA
241,846
52 km
2006
DAY
159,713
72 km
1985
WHEELER 2
126,854
70 km
1996
FIFTY-EIGHT
94,704
79 km
2009
LA BREA
84,213
56 km
1985
LAS PILITAS
75,841
97 km
2003
PIRU
63,920
90 km
1997
LOGAN
49,627
59 km
1985
FERNDALE
46,724
85 km
1997
LOKERN
46,139
21 km
1993
MARRE
44,309
64 km
2007
RANCH
37,009
95 km
2016
REY
33,323
65 km
2020
LAKE
30,971
96 km
2017
ALAMO
29,256
78 km
2011
BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX
27,229
75 km
1993
STECKEL
26,202
88 km
2011
COMANCHE
25,965
64 km
1997
HOPPER
24,072
93 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
50°F (10°C)
1.6 in
February
52°F (11°C)
1.9 in
Wettest
March
55°F (13°C)
1.8 in
April
60°F (15°C)
0.9 in
May
67°F (20°C)
0.3 in
June
75°F (24°C)
0.1 in
July
83°F (29°C)
0.0 in
Warmest, Driest
August
79°F (26°C)
0.1 in
September
74°F (24°C)
0.3 in
October
66°F (19°C)
0.4 in
November
55°F (13°C)
1.3 in
December
47°F (9°C)
1.2 in
Coldest
South Taft has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 47°F in December to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.8 inches, with February being the wettest month (1.9") and July the driest (0.0").