Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Waterloo enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 48°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 18.4 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 58 feet.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)76°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
62.2°F
15% above US avg
January Average
48°F (9°C)
July Average
76°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
58 ft (18 m)
Area
5.4 sq mi (14.1 km²)
Population Density
163/sq mi
Coordinates
38.0365°N, 121.1846°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Sacramento County County
Nearest Airport
Sacramento International (SMF) 51 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall18.4"
52% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)3.46"
Driest Month (Jul)0.08"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
98.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
37.4 / 100
Community Resilience
57.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively High
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
No Rating
Volcano
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3,343 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.0.
Aug 24, 2014
The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake
M6.0
101 km
11 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km NNW of Aromas, California
M5.4
130 km
5 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km E of Interlaken, California
M5.1
128 km
7 km
Aug 12, 1998
10 km SW of Ridgemark, California
M5.1
145 km
9 km
Jan 16, 1993
9 km E of Gilroy, California
M4.9
116 km
7 km
Apr 19, 1996
2 km E of Aromas, California
M4.9
134 km
5 km
May 14, 2002
5 km SSW of Gilroy, California
M4.9
124 km
7 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km NNW of Aromas, California
M4.9
130 km
6 km
Sep 3, 2000
5 km WSW of Yountville, California
M4.9
114 km
9 km
May 21, 1996
8 km ESE of East Foothills, California
M4.7
89 km
8 km
Apr 18, 1990
4 km N of Aromas, California
M4.7
130 km
4 km
Aug 11, 1993
14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
M4.7
92 km
9 km
Mar 24, 1991
1 km NNE of Interlaken, California
M4.6
128 km
15 km
Aug 18, 1999
0 km S of Bolinas, California
M4.6
132 km
8 km
Sep 19, 2023
15 km SW of Westley, CA
M4.5
67 km
4 km
Aug 3, 2006
5 km W of Glen Ellen, California
M4.5
128 km
9 km
Jan 12, 2011
9 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
M4.5
143 km
8 km
Apr 4, 2023
1km NNW of Tres Pinos, CA
M4.4
138 km
10 km
Apr 7, 1990
3 km SSE of North Gate, California
M4.4
72 km
8 km
Apr 18, 1990
5 km E of Interlaken, California
M4.4
129 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
79 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 3 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 7, 1978
EF2
77 km
1.9 mi
0
Apr 27, 1953
EF2
46 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 11, 2023
EF1
59 km
0.8 mi
0
Jan 10, 2023
EF1
38 km
0.4 mi
0
Dec 24, 2015
EF1
75 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 15, 2015
EF1
65 km
3.0 mi
0
Jan 23, 2010
EF1
53 km
1.6 mi
0
Apr 14, 2006
EF1
46 km
0.5 mi
0
Dec 16, 2002
EF1
98 km
1.3 mi
0
Dec 12, 1996
EF1
42 km
0.6 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
15 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 1988
EF1
72 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 22, 1983
EF1
77 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 1980
EF1
87 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
55 km
2.5 mi
0
Mar 4, 1978
EF1
75 km
1.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1978
EF1
47 km
1.5 mi
0
May 31, 1967
EF1
13 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 1, 1958
EF1
72 km
2.0 mi
0
Jan 14, 2023
EF0
32 km
0.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
5 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
89 km
1989
N. CALIFORNIA
Earthquake
1.0 m
62
127 km
1856
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.6 m
—
115 km
1906
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
0.1 m
—
121 km
1865
N. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
112 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Clear Lake (173 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Clear Lake
Volcanic field
1,439 m (4,721 ft)
Unknown
173 km
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,121 m (6,959 ft)
1790
189 km
Mono-Inyo Craters
Lava dome(s)
2,796 m (9,173 ft)
1380
191 km
Mammoth Mountain
Lava dome(s)
3,369 m (11,053 ft)
1260
194 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
67 km
2015
BUTTE
72,894
58 km
2017
ATLAS
51,664
99 km
1987
PAPER
49,296
93 km
2007
LICK
47,424
93 km
2006
CANYON
36,851
77 km
1988
MILLER
35,750
91 km
1992
GULCH
18,019
64 km
1996
ROGGE
17,559
95 km
2003
ANNIE
17,383
90 km
2004
POWER
17,266
94 km
2024
CORRAL
16,138
51 km
2001
DARBY
14,734
79 km
2018
WAVERLY
12,238
30 km
2009
CORRAL
12,006
56 km
2001
CREEK
9,793
88 km
1992
MOCCASIN
9,565
81 km
1996
SCOTT
8,828
60 km
2015
WRAGG
8,455
92 km
2009
KNIGHT
8,140
85 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
48°F (9°C)
3.5 in
Wettest
February
51°F (11°C)
3.0 in
March
55°F (13°C)
2.9 in
April
59°F (15°C)
1.1 in
May
66°F (19°C)
0.5 in
June
71°F (22°C)
0.1 in
July
76°F (24°C)
0.1 in
Warmest, Driest
August
74°F (23°C)
0.1 in
September
71°F (21°C)
0.3 in
October
63°F (17°C)
1.0 in
November
53°F (11°C)
2.4 in
December
45°F (7°C)
2.5 in
Coldest
Waterloo has a seasonal temperature swing of 31°F / from 45°F in December to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 17.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (3.5") and July the driest (0.1").