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Weather & Climate in Tehachapi, CA

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

Tehachapi experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 72°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 12.7 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 3,954 feet.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average54.5°F
1% above US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,954 ft (1,205 m)
Area10.0 sq mi (25.8 km²)
Population Density1,204/sq mi
Coordinates35.1430°N, 118.4460°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyKern County County
Nearest AirportBob Hope (BUR)
65 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.7"
67% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan) 2.36"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.08"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability61.1 / 100
Community Resilience6.5 / 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

9,629 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.

Jul 6, 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence M7.1 104 km 8 km
Jan 17, 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake M6.7 104 km 18 km
Jul 4, 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence M6.4 106 km 11 km
Jan 17, 1994 1km ENE of Granada Hills, California M5.9 97 km 5 km
Jun 28, 1991 The 1991 Sierra Madre, California Earthquake M5.8 106 km 8 km
Sep 20, 1995 16km NNE of Ridgecrest, California M5.8 100 km 5 km
Jul 11, 1992 12km NW of California City, California M5.7 35 km 10 km
Jan 17, 1994 7km NNE of Simi Valley, California M5.6 94 km 9 km
Feb 28, 1990 The 1990 Upland, California Earthquake M5.5 131 km 3 km
Jun 4, 2020 17km S of Searles Valley, CA M5.5 106 km 8 km
Jul 6, 2019 15km ESE of Little Lake, CA M5.5 105 km 5 km
Jul 6, 2019 20km E of Little Lake, CA M5.4 110 km 7 km
Jul 5, 2019 16km W of Searles Valley, CA M5.4 105 km 7 km
Aug 17, 1995 17km N of Ridgecrest, California M5.4 100 km 5 km
Nov 27, 1996 27km E of Coso Junction, California M5.3 126 km 0 km
Mar 18, 1997 20km ENE of Barstow, California M5.3 149 km 1 km
Mar 20, 1994 3km WNW of Panorama City, California M5.2 101 km 12 km
Jan 18, 1994 10km ESE of Piru, California M5.2 88 km 11 km
Mar 6, 1998 28km E of Coso Junction, California M5.2 126 km 0 km
Aug 7, 2024 24 km SW of Lamont, CA M5.2 59 km 12 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Mar 17, 1991 EF1 94 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 4, 1976 EF1 97 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 9, 2021 EF0 93 km 1.8 mi 0
Jun 2, 2019 EF0 35 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 16, 2019 EF0 90 km 1.6 mi 0
Feb 27, 2010 EF0 77 km 0.5 mi 0
Sep 1, 2007 EF0 40 km 13.1 mi 0
Sep 1, 2007 EF0 62 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 15, 2005 EF0 63 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 28, 2000 EF0 79 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 3, 1999 EF0 53 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 21, 1997 EF0 69 km 0.1 mi 0
Feb 17, 1997 EF0 56 km 0.3 mi 0
Nov 22, 1996 EF0 48 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 26, 1995 EF0 47 km 2.0 mi 0
Feb 7, 1994 EF0 100 km 0.1 mi 0
Feb 23, 1993 EF0 93 km 0.1 mi 0
Mar 26, 1991 EF0 88 km 0.1 mi 0
Mar 25, 1991 EF0 92 km 0.2 mi 0
Apr 20, 1988 EF0 19 km 0.2 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).

Tsunami History

3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.1 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1930 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 3.1 m 1 125 km
1994 WEST COAST, USA Earthquake 0.1 m 57 104 km
1855 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake - - 120 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Golden Trout Creek (136 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Golden Trout Creek Volcanic field 2,886 m (9,469 ft) -5550 136 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: STATION (165,368 acres, 2009).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2009 STATION 165,368 95 km
2006 DAY 159,713 76 km
2003 SIMI 107,756 95 km
2021 WINDY 97,831 93 km
2000 MANTER 76,158 91 km
2003 PIRU 63,920 83 km
2016 ERSKINE 48,066 49 km
1997 LOKERN 46,139 98 km
2016 SAND 41,561 84 km
2007 BUCKWEED 41,332 70 km
2007 RANCH 37,009 74 km
2008 PIUTE 36,251 40 km
2013 POWERHOUSE 32,329 53 km
2020 LAKE 30,971 52 km
2016 CEDAR 29,191 73 km
2021 FRENCH 27,331 63 km
2011 BRECKENRIDGE COMPLEX 27,229 36 km
2011 COMANCHE 25,965 29 km
1997 HOPPER 24,072 82 km
1984 BODFISH 23,189 49 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 2.4 in Wettest
February 42°F (5°C) 2.2 in
March 44°F (7°C) 2.2 in
April 49°F (9°C) 1.1 in
May 55°F (13°C) 0.4 in
June 64°F (18°C) 0.1 in
July 72°F (22°C) 0.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 72°F (22°C) 0.3 in
September 66°F (19°C) 0.4 in
October 58°F (14°C) 0.5 in
November 47°F (8°C) 2.1 in
December 41°F (5°C) 2.2 in Coldest

Tehachapi has a seasonal temperature swing of 31°F / from 41°F in December to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.4") and July the driest (0.1").

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