Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Washoe Valley experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (10°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 73°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 11.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 46.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 5,098 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
50.6°F
6% below US avg
January Average
34°F (1°C)
July Average
73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
5,098 ft (1,554 m)
Area
5.0 sq mi (13.1 km²)
Population Density
675/sq mi
Coordinates
39.2923°N, 119.7768°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Carson City County
Nearest Airport
Reno/Tahoe International (RNO) 14 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall11.7"
69% below US avg
Snowfall46.4"
Wettest Month (Jan)1.81"
Driest Month (Jul)0.31"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
76.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
20.2 / 100
Community Resilience
17.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Very Low
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,039 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
54 km
14 km
Jul 8, 2021
Antelope Valley, CA
M6.0
91 km
7 km
Oct 24, 1990
3 km NE of Mono City, California
M5.8
148 km
11 km
May 24, 2013
2 km NNE of Canyondam, California
M5.7
148 km
8 km
Aug 10, 2001
3 km N of Blairsden, California
M5.2
92 km
5 km
Sep 12, 1994
8 km ESE of Mesa Vista, California
M5.1
58 km
-1 km
Apr 26, 2008
1 km NW of Mogul, Nevada
M5.1
29 km
3 km
Jul 8, 2021
32km SE of Markleeville, CA
M5.0
90 km
7 km
Dec 22, 1995
California-Nevada border region
M4.9
65 km
4 km
May 24, 2013
1km NNW of Canyondam, CA
M4.9
149 km
4 km
Oct 30, 1998
4 km N of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
23 km
1 km
Dec 28, 1995
9 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.8
65 km
-1 km
Feb 10, 1993
28 km SW of Empire, Nevada
M4.8
127 km
5 km
Oct 1, 2011
7 km SSE of Schurz, Nevada
M4.8
98 km
4 km
Apr 26, 2008
0 km N of Mogul, Nevada
M4.8
29 km
3 km
Jun 26, 2005
8 km NNW of Tahoe Vista, California
M4.8
27 km
-2 km
Mar 9, 2007
13 km SE of Walker, California
M4.7
103 km
7 km
Dec 23, 1995
8 km WNW of Topaz Lake, Nevada
M4.7
64 km
-1 km
Apr 26, 2008
27km SE of Smith Valley, NV
M4.7
94 km
4 km
May 7, 2021
19km NW of Truckee, CA
M4.7
50 km
10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
27 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF1. Total: 2 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 15, 2020
EF1
57 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 14, 2020
EF1
57 km
0.4 mi
0
Nov 3, 1973
EF1
96 km
25.9 mi
0
Jul 16, 1973
EF1
34 km
1.0 mi
0
May 26, 1964
EF1
59 km
2.0 mi
0
Sep 21, 2017
EF0
33 km
0.4 mi
0
Sep 13, 2017
EF0
20 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 20, 2015
EF0
75 km
3.2 mi
0
Jul 8, 2015
EF0
44 km
2.7 mi
0
Apr 27, 2005
EF0
9 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 24, 2004
EF0
38 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
16 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 2003
EF0
32 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 1, 2002
EF0
35 km
0.1 mi
0
Feb 10, 2000
EF0
29 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 13, 1999
EF0
29 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 30, 1998
EF0
37 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
52 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 11, 1998
EF0
57 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 14, 1997
EF0
92 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Soda Lakes (82 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Soda Lakes
Maar(s)
1,251 m (4,104 ft)
Unknown
82 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
158 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
178 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
196 km
Lassen Volcanic Center
Stratovolcano
3,187 m (10,456 ft)
1917
199 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CALDOR (226,583 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
CALDOR
226,583
77 km
2021
SUGAR
108,368
82 km
2014
KING
99,070
77 km
2017
TRUCKEE
98,411
73 km
2017
LONG VALLEY
80,456
79 km
2022
MOSQUITO
77,858
84 km
2021
TAMARACK
70,171
65 km
2018
PERRY
53,734
62 km
1994
COTTONWOOD
47,912
50 km
1999
FISH COMPLEX (FISH SPRINGS)
47,030
83 km
2020
LOYALTON
45,484
54 km
2016
TULE
35,341
79 km
2017
EARTHSTONE
35,305
40 km
2020
NORTH
34,120
65 km
1985
GOOSEBERRY
29,290
41 km
2013
AMERICAN
27,938
72 km
2020
SLINK
26,437
88 km
2013
BISON
23,611
47 km
2002
CANNON
23,605
95 km
2001
FISH
21,860
85 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
34°F (1°C)
1.8 in
Wettest
February
35°F (2°C)
1.7 in
March
40°F (4°C)
1.3 in
April
45°F (7°C)
0.6 in
May
53°F (12°C)
0.8 in
June
61°F (16°C)
0.6 in
July
73°F (23°C)
0.3 in
Warmest, Driest
August
68°F (20°C)
0.4 in
September
61°F (16°C)
0.6 in
October
51°F (10°C)
0.7 in
November
40°F (4°C)
1.5 in
December
32°F (0°C)
1.5 in
Coldest
Washoe Valley has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 32°F in December to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 11.8 inches, with January being the wettest month (1.8") and July the driest (0.3").