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Weather & Climate in Sun Valley Lake, IA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sun Valley Lake experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 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 38.0 inches. The area receives 26.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 1,139 feet.
Temperature
21°F Jan (-6°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 49.2°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 21°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,139 ft (347 m) |
| Area | 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 79/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.8492°N, 94.0675°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Ringgold County County |
| Nearest Airport | Des Moines International (DSM) 49 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 14.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 47.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.5.
| Jul 16, 2004 | 6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa | M3.5 | 127 km | 5 km |
| Feb 11, 1995 | 6 km E of Clearmont, Missouri | M3.1 | 84 km | 5 km |
| Mar 31, 1993 | 2 km SE of Nemaha, Nebraska | M2.9 | 146 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
580 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 21 fatalities, 257 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 27, 1953 | EF5 | 85 km | 0.1 mi | 1 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF4 | 73 km | 40.7 mi | 5 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF4 | 44 km | 70.6 mi | 6 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 29 km | 56.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 70 km | 49.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 39 km | 57.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1989 | EF4 | 57 km | 49.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1984 | EF4 | 48 km | 134.0 mi | 3 |
| Jun 2, 1980 | EF4 | 28 km | 31.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1973 | EF4 | 72 km | 14.6 mi | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1964 | EF4 | 100 km | 13.1 mi | 1 |
| May 20, 1959 | EF4 | 79 km | 17.2 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1959 | EF4 | 86 km | 41.1 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | EF4 | 62 km | 6.4 mi | 0 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF3 | 95 km | 33.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF3 | 58 km | 11.3 mi | 1 |
| Aug 20, 2019 | EF3 | 64 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 2015 | EF3 | 87 km | 11.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2001 | EF3 | 58 km | 76.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF3 | 52 km | 39.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.0 in | |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 51°F (10°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 61°F (16°C) | 4.3 in | |
| June | 71°F (21°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 4.0 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 4.3 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.8 in | |
| November | 38°F (3°C) | 2.1 in | |
| December | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.3 in |
Sun Valley Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 21°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.4") and January the driest (0.9").