Weather & Climate in Wautec, CA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Wautec experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. Annual precipitation totals 51.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 2.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. 80% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 911 feet.
Temperature
44°F Jan (7°C)
58°F Jul (15°C)
| Annual Average | 50.9°F |
| 6% below US avg | |
| January Average | 44°F (7°C) |
| July Average | 58°F (15°C) |
Geography
| Elevation | 911 ft (278 m) |
| Area | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 4/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.3543°N, 123.8623°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Del Norte County County |
| Nearest Airport | Rogue Valley International - Medford (MFR) 87 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 32.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 80.3% |
| Unhealthy Days | 2 |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 94.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 53.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 23.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
| Tsunami | Very High |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4,390 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.2.
| Apr 25, 1992 | The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake | M7.2 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Mar 10, 2014 | 77 km WNW of Indianola, California | M6.8 | 122 km | 16 km |
| Apr 26, 1992 | 32 km SW of Ferndale, California | M6.6 | 123 km | 22 km |
| Jan 10, 2010 | The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake | M6.5 | 105 km | 29 km |
| Apr 26, 1992 | 30 km WSW of Ferndale, California | M6.5 | 118 km | 19 km |
| Aug 17, 1991 | 30 km SSW of Scotia, California | M6.0 | 128 km | 8 km |
| Feb 4, 2010 | 61 km WSW of Ferndale, California | M5.9 | 140 km | 23 km |
| Mar 9, 2020 | 69km W of Petrolia, CA | M5.8 | 149 km | 3 km |
| Jan 28, 2015 | 40 km SW of Ferndale, California | M5.7 | 131 km | 17 km |
| Jan 22, 1997 | 33 km SW of Scotia, California | M5.6 | 128 km | 23 km |
| Feb 13, 2012 | 26 km NNW of Willow Creek, California | M5.6 | 24 km | 27 km |
| Jun 23, 2019 | 6km SSW of Petrolia, CA | M5.6 | 126 km | 9 km |
| Oct 4, 1997 | 100 km WNW of Samoa, California | M5.5 | 128 km | 7 km |
| Feb 26, 2007 | 52km W of Ferndale, CA | M5.4 | 116 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1990 | 30 km NW of Shelter Cove, California | M5.4 | 129 km | 4 km |
| Jan 13, 2001 | off the coast of Northern California | M5.4 | 134 km | 2 km |
| Feb 26, 2007 | 51 km W of Ferndale, California | M5.4 | 115 km | -1 km |
| Dec 26, 1994 | 7 km WNW of Fields Landing, California | M5.4 | 78 km | 23 km |
| Apr 30, 2008 | 3 km NNW of Burnt Ranch, California | M5.4 | 65 km | 28 km |
| Nov 27, 1998 | 87 km W of Ferndale, California | M5.4 | 142 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
10 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Mar 29, 1958 | EF2 | 49 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 30, 1992 | EF1 | 52 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Dec 11, 1992 | EF1 | 52 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2018 | EF0 | 66 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 9, 2002 | EF0 | 85 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jan 20, 1996 | EF0 | 52 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jan 20, 1996 | EF0 | 71 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1983 | EF0 | 85 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 13, 1960 | EF0 | 25 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jan 10, 1958 | EF0 | 52 km | 0.8 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 |
| 1873 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 3.1 m | - | 73 km |
| 1992 | CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.8 m | - | 116 km |
| 2024 | CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 146 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Shasta (139 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Shasta | Stratovolcano | 4,317 m (14,163 ft) | 1250 | 139 km |
| Medicine Lake | Shield | 2,412 m (7,913 ft) | 1060 | 194 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: MONUMENT (226,125 acres, 2021).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2021 | MONUMENT | 226,125 | 87 km |
| 2021 | HAYPRESS | 204,549 | 78 km |
| 2017 | CHETCO BAR | 194,877 | 100 km |
| 2020 | SLATER | 157,784 | 70 km |
| 2020 | RED SALMON COMPLEX | 147,535 | 46 km |
| 1999 | MEGRAM- ORLEANS | 125,337 | 51 km |
| 2014 | HAPPY CAMP COMPLEX | 118,491 | 68 km |
| 2006 | PIGEON | 100,962 | 71 km |
| 2008 | SISKIYOU-BLUE 2 COMPLEX (BLUE 2) | 100,823 | 34 km |
| 2021 | MCCASH | 95,762 | 49 km |
| 2017 | OAK | 95,692 | 50 km |
| 2023 | KELLY | 90,267 | 62 km |
| 2015 | RIVER COMPLEX | 78,531 | 64 km |
| 2008 | PANTHER | 71,448 | 45 km |
| 1987 | KING TITUS | 71,390 | 51 km |
| 2017 | ISLAND | 62,931 | 61 km |
| 2022 | MCKINNEY | 60,592 | 100 km |
| 1987 | YELLOW 2 | 53,626 | 46 km |
| 2008 | BEAR WALLOW COMPLEX (UKONOM) | 40,029 | 46 km |
| 2018 | NATCHEZ | 38,800 | 65 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44°F (7°C) | 9.4 in | |
| February | 46°F (8°C) | 6.9 in | |
| March | 47°F (8°C) | 6.4 in | |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 4.0 in | |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 2.3 in | |
| June | 55°F (13°C) | 0.9 in | |
| July | 58°F (15°C) | 0.2 in | |
| August | 59°F (15°C) | 0.2 in | Warmest, Driest |
| September | 57°F (14°C) | 0.8 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 3.5 in | |
| November | 48°F (9°C) | 6.8 in | |
| December | 44°F (6°C) | 10.5 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Wautec has a seasonal temperature swing of 15°F / from 44°F in December to 59°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 51.7 inches, with December being the wettest month (10.5") and August the driest (0.2").