Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Westminster enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. 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 28.5 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 36 feet.
Temperature
53°F Jan (12°C)71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
62.7°F
16% above US avg
January Average
53°F (12°C)
July Average
71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
36 ft (11 m)
Area
10.0 sq mi (26.0 km²)
Population Density
8,979/sq mi
Coordinates
33.7523°N, 117.9939°W
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
County
Orange County County
Nearest Airport
John Wayne/Orange County (SNA) 9 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall28.5"
25% below US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)2.91"
Driest Month (Jul)0.04"
Air Quality
AQI Median
48.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very High
Risk Score
99.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
24.9 / 100
Community Resilience
16.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
No Rating
Earthquake
Very High
Wildfire
Relatively High
Flood
Very High
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively High
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
No Rating
Landslide
Relatively High
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Tsunami
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
6,391 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.7.
Jan 17, 1994
Northridge, California, earthquake
M6.7
72 km
18 km
Jun 28, 1992
The 1992 Big Bear, California Earthquake
M6.3
119 km
4 km
Jan 17, 1994
1km ENE of Granada Hills, California
M5.9
74 km
5 km
Jun 28, 1991
The 1991 Sierra Madre, California Earthquake
M5.8
58 km
8 km
Oct 16, 1999
7km ENE of Running Springs, CA
M5.6
103 km
6 km
Jan 17, 1994
7km NNE of Simi Valley, California
M5.6
91 km
9 km
Jun 28, 1992
11km SSE of Big Bear Lake, California
M5.5
115 km
10 km
Feb 28, 1990
The 1990 Upland, California Earthquake
M5.5
51 km
3 km
Jul 7, 2010
20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA
M5.4
146 km
12 km
Nov 27, 1992
10km NNW of Big Bear City, California
M5.3
120 km
0 km
Jun 28, 1992
1km N of Big Bear Lake, California
M5.3
114 km
7 km
Dec 4, 1992
10km SE of Lucerne Valley, California
M5.3
122 km
1 km
Jan 18, 1994
10km ESE of Piru, California
M5.2
95 km
11 km
Mar 20, 1994
3km WNW of Panorama City, California
M5.2
69 km
12 km
Aug 17, 1992
7km SE of Big Bear Lake, California
M5.2
115 km
9 km
Jan 17, 1994
9km N of Chatsworth, California
M5.2
87 km
5 km
Jun 12, 2005
10km ESE of Anza, CA
M5.2
134 km
13 km
Jun 10, 2016
20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA
M5.2
148 km
12 km
Mar 29, 2014
2km NW of Brea, CA
M5.1
21 km
5 km
Aug 20, 2023
7 km SE of Ojai, CA
M5.1
132 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
108 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 58 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 22, 2008
EF2
70 km
2.8 mi
0
Mar 1, 1983
EF2
43 km
3.5 mi
0
Nov 9, 1982
EF2
64 km
1.0 mi
0
Nov 9, 1982
EF2
19 km
10.0 mi
0
Nov 7, 1966
EF2
33 km
10.3 mi
0
Nov 7, 1966
EF2
13 km
0.2 mi
0
Nov 7, 1966
EF2
33 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 22, 2023
EF1
30 km
0.5 mi
0
Jan 19, 2010
EF1
13 km
4.6 mi
0
Feb 19, 2005
EF1
82 km
2.8 mi
0
Jan 9, 1998
EF1
17 km
1.5 mi
0
Dec 21, 1997
EF1
9 km
1.0 mi
0
Nov 11, 1997
EF1
18 km
0.2 mi
0
Jan 14, 1993
EF1
15 km
1.0 mi
0
Dec 7, 1992
EF1
1 km
0.1 mi
0
Dec 7, 1992
EF1
11 km
0.1 mi
0
Mar 20, 1992
EF1
42 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 27, 1991
EF1
9 km
3.0 mi
0
Mar 16, 1986
EF1
11 km
1.2 mi
0
Oct 1, 1983
EF1
38 km
0.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
4 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
67 km
1862
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
1.2 m
—
138 km
1994
WEST COAST, USA
Earthquake
0.1 m
57
72 km
1855
S. CALIFORNIA
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
40 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
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
65 km
2020
BOBCAT
115,728
64 km
2003
SIMI
107,756
98 km
2018
WOOLSEY
97,962
87 km
2003
OLD
90,180
86 km
2003
GRAND PRIX
50,799
68 km
2016
SAND
41,561
78 km
2007
BUCKWEED
41,332
95 km
1993
GREEN MEADOWS
38,115
99 km
2002
WILLIAMS
37,505
53 km
2016
BLUE CUT
36,856
78 km
2008
YELLOW
33,232
64 km
2008
FREEWAY COMPLEX
29,350
29 km
2007
SANTIAGO
27,605
31 km
1998
EDNA
27,561
94 km
2020
INDIA
24,193
66 km
2005
TOPANGA
24,133
83 km
1993
CALIFORNIA
23,899
90 km
2018
HOLY
22,845
49 km
1993
ORTEGA
20,912
50 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
53°F (12°C)
2.9 in
Coldest, Wettest
February
58°F (15°C)
2.9 in
March
59°F (15°C)
2.6 in
April
62°F (17°C)
0.8 in
May
65°F (18°C)
0.2 in
June
69°F (21°C)
0.1 in
July
71°F (22°C)
0.0 in
Driest
August
74°F (23°C)
0.1 in
Warmest
September
72°F (22°C)
0.3 in
October
68°F (20°C)
0.4 in
November
62°F (16°C)
1.3 in
December
57°F (14°C)
1.9 in
Westminster has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 53°F in January to 74°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 13.5 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.9") and July the driest (0.0").