Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Valley Springs enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 326 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 22.9 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 648 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
62.6°F
16% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
326 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
648 ft (198 m)
Area
9.9 sq mi (25.6 km²)
Population Density
1,157/sq mi
Coordinates
38.1894°N, 120.8253°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Calaveras County County
Nearest Airport
Sacramento International (SMF) 54 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall22.9"
40% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)5.79"
Driest Month (Jul)0.12"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
86.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
57.9 / 100
Community Resilience
39.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively Moderate
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,183 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
124 km
14 km
Aug 24, 2014
The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
M6.0
130 km
11 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
121 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
150 km
11 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
117 km
-1 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
121 km
7 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
142 km
7 km
Sep 3, 2000
5 km WSW of Yountville, California
M4.9
140 km
9 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
119 km
4 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
118 km
-1 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
139 km
1 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
139 km
-2 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
120 km
-1 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
131 km
7 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
121 km
8 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
123 km
9 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
148 km
10 km
Jul 8, 2021
29km ENE of Dardanelle, CA
M4.6
116 km
2 km
Dec 12, 1996
4 km SSW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.6
122 km
-2 km
Jul 9, 2021
30km SE of Markleeville, CA
M4.6
118 km
4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
70 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 1978
EF2
79 km
1.9 mi
0
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
62 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
39 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
13 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
63 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
73 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 22, 2012
EF1
98 km
4.0 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
88 km
1.6 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
62 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
99 km
1.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
47 km
0.6 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
62 km
1.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
29 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF1
75 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
62 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
86 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
59 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
48 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
80 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
31 km
0.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1868
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
4.5 m
30
124 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
145 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Mono Lake Volcanic Field (159 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
159 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
163 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
169 km
Clear Lake
Volcanic field
1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Unknown
190 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (405,787 acres, 2020).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2020
SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX
405,787
98 km
2013
RIM
257,084
81 km
2021
CALDOR
226,583
76 km
2014
KING
99,070
86 km
2017
DETWILER
83,297
94 km
2022
MOSQUITO
77,858
95 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
22 km
1996
ACKERSON COMPLEX (ACKERSON)
58,161
93 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
68 km
1987
LARSON
49,250
93 km
1987
HAMM
39,333
80 km
2018
DONNELL
36,151
90 km
2008
TELEGRAPH
33,479
96 km
1992
CLEVELAND
21,835
79 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
31 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
70 km
2004
POWER
17,266
59 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
83 km
2001
DARBY
14,734
45 km
2018
WAVERLY
12,238
21 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
5.8 in
Wettest
February
49°F (10°C)
5.0 in
March
52°F (11°C)
5.0 in
April
56°F (13°C)
2.3 in
May
63°F (17°C)
0.8 in
June
71°F (22°C)
0.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
76°F (25°C)
0.2 in
September
72°F (22°C)
0.6 in
October
64°F (18°C)
1.7 in
November
52°F (11°C)
4.2 in
December
45°F (7°C)
4.3 in
Coldest
Valley Springs has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 45°F in December to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 30.2 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.8") and July the driest (0.1").