Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sutcliffe experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 36°F in January while summers reach 76°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 7.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 4.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 4,574 feet.
Temperature
36°F Jan (2°C)76°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
54.4°F
1% above US avg
January Average
36°F (2°C)
July Average
76°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
4,574 ft (1,394 m)
Area
10.0 sq mi (25.9 km²)
Population Density
37/sq mi
Coordinates
39.9461°N, 119.6305°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Storey County County
Nearest Airport
Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) 32 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall7.4"
80% below US avg
Snowfall4.2"
Wettest Month (Jan)1.26"
Driest Month (Jul)0.31"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
25.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
8.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2,368 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.1.
Sep 12, 1994
4 km S of Carter Springs, Nevada
M6.1
125 km
14 km
May 24, 2013
2 km NNE of Canyondam, California
M5.7
125 km
8 km
May 11, 2023
Lake Almanor Earthquake
M5.5
129 km
6 km
Aug 10, 2001
3 km N of Blairsden, California
M5.2
86 km
5 km
May 12, 2023
4km NW of Canyondam, CA
M5.2
128 km
6 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
130 km
-1 km
Apr 26, 2008
1 km NW of Mogul, Nevada
M5.1
54 km
3 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
136 km
4 km
May 24, 2013
1km NNW of Canyondam, CA
M4.9
126 km
4 km
Apr 26, 2008
0 km N of Mogul, Nevada
M4.8
54 km
3 km
Feb 10, 1993
28 km SW of Empire, Nevada
M4.8
54 km
5 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
137 km
-1 km
Oct 1, 2011
7 km SSE of Schurz, Nevada
M4.8
138 km
4 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
82 km
1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
82 km
-2 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
135 km
-1 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
80 km
10 km
Dec 12, 1996
4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.6
143 km
-2 km
Sep 20, 1994
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.5
134 km
-1 km
Mar 21, 2020
5 km NE of Indian Hills, Nevada
M4.5
93 km
8 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
19 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 15, 2020
EF1
49 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 2020
EF1
49 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 3, 1973
EF1
23 km
25.9 mi
0
Jul 16, 1973
EF1
40 km
1.0 mi
0
Sep 13, 2017
EF0
90 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 20, 2015
EF0
33 km
3.2 mi
0
Apr 27, 2005
EF0
81 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 24, 2004
EF0
39 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
57 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
84 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 1, 2002
EF0
39 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 10, 2000
EF0
46 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 13, 1999
EF0
46 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 30, 1998
EF0
42 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
58 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
50 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 9, 1997
EF0
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 5, 1995
EF0
68 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 23, 1964
EF0
39 km
1.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Soda Lakes (80 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Soda Lakes
Maar(s)
1,251 m (4,104 ft)
Unknown
80 km
Lassen Volcanic Center
Stratovolcano
3,187 m (10,456 ft)
1917
171 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: RUSH (306,811 acres, 2012).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2012
RUSH
306,811
83 km
2021
SUGAR
108,368
47 km
2017
TRUCKEE
98,411
42 km
2017
TOHAKUM 2
92,711
43 km
2017
LONG VALLEY
80,456
25 km
2001
OBSERVATION
67,432
99 km
2007
MOONLIGHT
65,718
99 km
2019
WALKER
58,747
83 km
2018
PERRY
53,734
20 km
1994
COTTONWOOD
47,912
62 km
1999
FISH COMPLEX (FISH SPRINGS)
47,030
20 km
2020
LOYALTON
45,484
50 km
1987
CLARK
39,194
60 km
2016
TULE
35,341
7 km
2017
EARTHSTONE
35,305
41 km
2020
NORTH
34,120
32 km
1985
GOOSEBERRY
29,290
55 km
2020
SHEEP
29,150
99 km
2007
ANTELOPE COMPLEX (WHEELER)
23,108
84 km
2001
FISH
21,860
33 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
36°F (2°C)
1.3 in
Wettest
February
37°F (3°C)
1.1 in
March
42°F (6°C)
0.9 in
April
48°F (9°C)
0.5 in
May
56°F (13°C)
0.8 in
June
64°F (18°C)
0.6 in
July
76°F (25°C)
0.3 in
Warmest, Driest
August
71°F (22°C)
0.4 in
September
64°F (18°C)
0.5 in
October
53°F (12°C)
0.6 in
November
42°F (5°C)
1.1 in
December
35°F (2°C)
1.1 in
Coldest
Sutcliffe has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 35°F in December to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 9.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.3") and July the driest (0.3").