Weather & Climate in Willow Creek, CA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Willow Creek experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 57°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 275 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 46.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 1,260 feet.

Temperature

48°F Jan (9°C) 57°F Jul (14°C)

Annual Average	52.5°F
	3% below US avg
January Average	48°F (9°C)
July Average	57°F (14°C)
Sunny Days	275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	1,260 ft (384 m)
Area	30.6 sq mi (79.3 km²)
Population Density	31/sq mi
Coordinates	40.9393°N, 123.6411°W
Timezone	America/Los_Angeles
County	Humboldt County County
Nearest Airport	Redding Regional (RDD) 77 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.1"

21% above US avg

Wettest Month (Dec) 9.06"

Driest Month (Jul) 0.20"

Air Quality

AQI Median	48.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively High
Risk Score	96.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability	74.7 / 100
Community Resilience	56.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Relatively High
Wildfire	Relatively Moderate
Flood	Relatively High
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Very Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Low
Winter Weather	Very Low
Lightning	Relatively Low
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	No Rating
Landslide	Relatively High
Coastal Flood	Relatively High
Tsunami	Relatively High
Volcano	No Rating
Avalanche	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4,845 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.2.

Apr 25, 1992	The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake	M7.2	84 km	10 km
Mar 10, 2014	77 km WNW of Indianola, California	M6.8	126 km	16 km
Apr 26, 1992	32 km SW of Ferndale, California	M6.6	99 km	22 km
Jan 10, 2010	The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake	M6.5	94 km	29 km
Apr 26, 1992	30 km WSW of Ferndale, California	M6.5	96 km	19 km
Aug 17, 1991	30 km SSW of Scotia, California	M6.0	94 km	8 km
Feb 4, 2010	61 km WSW of Ferndale, California	M5.9	126 km	23 km
Mar 9, 2020	69km W of Petrolia, CA	M5.8	137 km	3 km
Jan 28, 2015	40 km SW of Ferndale, California	M5.7	107 km	17 km
Mar 16, 2000	85 km WSW of Ferndale, California	M5.7	148 km	5 km
Jan 22, 1997	33 km SW of Scotia, California	M5.6	97 km	23 km
Feb 13, 2012	26 km NNW of Willow Creek, California	M5.6	26 km	27 km
Jun 23, 2019	6km SSW of Petrolia, CA	M5.6	93 km	9 km
Oct 4, 1997	100 km WNW of Samoa, California	M5.5	143 km	7 km
Jan 13, 2001	off the coast of Northern California	M5.4	136 km	2 km
Dec 26, 1994	7 km WNW of Fields Landing, California	M5.4	60 km	23 km
Jan 16, 1990	30 km NW of Shelter Cove, California	M5.4	95 km	4 km
Feb 26, 2007	51 km W of Ferndale, California	M5.4	108 km	-1 km
Feb 26, 2007	52km W of Ferndale, CA	M5.4	109 km	5 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

3 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Mar 29, 1958	EF2	39 km	2.0 mi	0
Jan 25, 2018	EF0	46 km	0.0 mi	0
May 13, 1960	EF0	74 km	0.1 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	—	122 km
1992	CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA	Earthquake	1.8 m	—	85 km
2024	CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA	Earthquake	0.1 m	—	132 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Shasta (132 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Shasta	Stratovolcano	4,317 m (14,163 ft)	1250	132 km
Lassen Volcanic Center	Stratovolcano	3,187 m (10,456 ft)	1917	187 km
Medicine Lake	Shield	2,412 m (7,913 ft)	1060	190 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CARR (233,710 acres, 2018).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2018	CARR	233,710	92 km
2021	MONUMENT	226,125	40 km
2021	HAYPRESS	204,549	59 km
2020	RED SALMON COMPLEX	147,535	28 km
1999	MEGRAM- ORLEANS	125,337	20 km
2021	MCFARLAND	121,554	96 km
2014	HAPPY CAMP COMPLEX	118,491	93 km
2006	PIGEON	100,962	37 km
2008	SISKIYOU-BLUE 2 COMPLEX (BLUE 2)	100,823	75 km
2021	MCCASH	95,762	73 km
2017	OAK	95,692	90 km
2015	RIVER COMPLEX	78,531	23 km
2008	PANTHER	71,448	70 km
1987	KING TITUS	71,390	81 km
2018	DELTA	63,732	99 km
2017	ISLAND	62,931	68 km
1987	YELLOW 2	53,626	59 km
2008	BEAR WALLOW COMPLEX (UKONOM)	40,029	53 km
2008	SHU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (MOON)	36,514	93 km
2023	MOSQUITO	36,111	59 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	48°F (9°C)	8.4 in
February	44°F (7°C)	7.0 in
March	46°F (8°C)	6.8 in
April	49°F (9°C)	3.2 in
May	54°F (12°C)	1.6 in
June	61°F (16°C)	0.6 in
July	57°F (14°C)	0.2 in	Driest
August	68°F (20°C)	0.7 in	Warmest
September	63°F (17°C)	1.1 in
October	56°F (13°C)	3.6 in
November	46°F (8°C)	8.3 in
December	41°F (5°C)	9.1 in	Coldest, Wettest

Willow Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 27°F / from 41°F in December to 68°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 50.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (9.1") and July the driest (0.2").

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