Hollister

Population 45,695 (2025)

8 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Hollister since 1950, 0 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on January 6, 2016.

Hazard fingerprint for Hollister Tornado: 3th percentile. Tropical: 0th percentile. Wildfire: 55th percentile. Flood: 16th percentile. Hail & wind: 1th percentile. Heat: 4th percentile. Cold: 3th percentile. Winter: 0th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 19508
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198417
  • Major flood years since 1978, San Benito County3

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for San Benito County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for San Benito County.

Large wildfires within 25 mi

17

Largest: Scu Lightning Complex, 2020

Details

Flood insurance claims

129

San Benito County

$3.9 million paid since 1995

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

8

0 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F2

March 11, 1985, 0.5 mile path

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

6.9magnitude

October 17, 1989, 29.3 miles away

Details

Federal disaster declarations

18

Most recent: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, 2023

Details

Record high

112°F

July 22, 2006

Details

Record low

14°F

December 22, 1990

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 9.5 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

March 11, 1985

F2, 0.5 mile path

20 yards wide.

Most recent

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

EF0, 0.6 mile path

10 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1 1970s: 0 1980s: 2 2 1990s: 1 1 2000s: 2 2 2010s: 2 2 2020s: 0 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 1 F: 0 M: 1 A: 3 3 M: 0 J: 0 J: 0 A: 0 S: 0 O: 0 N: 0 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Jan 6, 2016EF00.62000
Dec 22, 2012EF01.12000
Apr 14, 2007EF00.23000
Dec 20, 2001F10.56000
Dec 11, 1992F00.11000
Apr 3, 1987F00.13000
Mar 11, 1985F20.52000
Apr 1, 1965F10.110000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.

Wildfire and smoke

17 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

August 16, 2020

Scu Lightning Complex, 405,644 acres

17.5 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

July 2, 2024

Airline Fire

1,348 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1984: 12,1011992: 1,1061999: 1,8632000: 1,5822001: 1,6372002: 3,1062003: 20,1802005: 1,4002009: 1,7312020: 466,8162024: 1,348 512,870 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Airline202414.31,348
Scu Lightning Complex202017.5405,644
River202021.951,566
Coyote202024.11,559
Crews202010.05,799
Pass202017.42,248
Pacheco200910.91,731
Johnson200521.11,400
Annie200323.117,377
I-5200322.71,102
152200319.11,701
Croy200222.53,106
Unnamed200119.21,637
Romero200022.71,582
Romero199922.91,863
Unnamed199210.41,106
Bonanza198422.612,101
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2020: 54 days

Heavy smoke on 28 days in 2020, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

14.8 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

3 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 6 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 1 2012: 1 2013: 4 2014: 1 2015: 3 2016: 20 2017: 7 2018: 21 2019: 3 2020: 54 54 2021: 33 2022: 1 2023: 3 2024: 3 2025: 3 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

129 federal flood insurance claims since 1995, with $3.9 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for San Benito County, the county that contains Hollister.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1995: 10 1998: 36 2017: 39 39 2023: 36 1995
Claims per year since 1995. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2017: 39 claims

$1.3 million paid.

2nd most

1998: 36 claims

$492,000 paid.

3rd most

2023: 36 claims

$2.0 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
95023112$3.7 million
9504514$80,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood19
  • Flash Flood6
  • Heavy Rain2

1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in San Benito County, the county that contains Hollister.

Most severe crest

February 3, 1998

Pajaro River at Chittenden, 33.73 ft

9.63 feet above the 24.1 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

March 11, 2023

Pajaro River at Chittenden, 29.11 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Feb 3, 1998Pajaro River at Chittenden33.73+9.63Major
Mar 11, 1995Pajaro River at Chittenden32.20+8.10Major
Jan 3, 1997Pajaro River at Chittenden29.53+5.43Major
Mar 11, 2023Pajaro River at Chittenden29.11+5.01Major
Jan 10, 2023Pajaro River at Chittenden27.66+3.56Major
Feb 3, 1998Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos16.00+4.40Moderate
Feb 21, 2017Pajaro River at Chittenden26.98+2.88Minor
Jan 17, 2023Pajaro River at Chittenden25.78+1.68Minor
Jan 14, 1993Pajaro River at Chittenden24.85+0.75Minor
Mar 23, 1995Pajaro River at Chittenden23.88−0.22Action
Jan 27, 1983Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos11.14−0.46Action
Feb 28, 1983Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos10.41−1.19Action
Mar 25, 2011Pajaro River at Chittenden22.90−1.20Action
Feb 11, 1973Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos9.88−1.72Action
Feb 10, 1978Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos9.70−1.90Action
Feb 24, 1969Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos9.49−2.11Action
Jan 16, 1978Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos9.34−2.26Action
Mar 7, 1975Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos9.28−2.32Action
Feb 1, 1938Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos9.00−2.60Action
Feb 14, 2000Pajaro River at Chittenden21.70−2.40Below flood stage
Apr 5, 2006Pajaro River at Chittenden20.75−3.35Below flood stage
Jan 25, 1995Pajaro River at Chittenden20.58−3.52Below flood stage
Feb 15, 2019Pajaro River at Chittenden20.49−3.61Below flood stage
Mar 10, 1995Clear Creek (San Benito Co.) near Idria6.75−3.86Below flood stage
Apr 3, 1958Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos7.41−4.19Below flood stage

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Clear Creek (San Benito Co.) near Idria10.66.75 ftMar 10, 19950
Pajaro River at Chittenden24.133.73 ftFeb 3, 19985
Tres Pinos Creek near Tres Pinos11.616.00 ftFeb 3, 19980
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 215 of 1,581 months since 1895 (14%); the longest spell lasted 31 months.

The drought index is for San Benito County, the county that contains Hollister.

215

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

96

Months in extreme drought

14%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

July 2014

−7.47, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

31 months

April 2013 to October 2015.

Latest month

September 2026

−1.71, mild drought

Last severe month: August 2025.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 9 1899: 2 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 6 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 1 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 11 1925: 4 1926: 4 1927: 0 1928: 2 1929: 1 1930: 2 1931: 8 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 6 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 2 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 2 1960: 3 1961: 2 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 5 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 5 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 9 1977: 11 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 9 1989: 10 1990: 12 12 1991: 2 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 6 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 9 2008: 7 2009: 6 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 9 2014: 12 2015: 10 2016: 0 2017: 1 2018: 7 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 8 2022: 9 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 3 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes and landslides

336 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 6.9 in 1989.

2,828

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

336

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

45

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

October 17, 1989

Magnitude 6.9

The 1989 Loma Prieta, California Earthquake; 29.3 miles away, 10.7 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

October 22, 2026

Magnitude 3.0

15 km S of Tres Pinos, CA; 14.8 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 11 1974: 394 394 1975: 253 1976: 104 1977: 72 1978: 53 1979: 80 1980: 49 1981: 44 1982: 69 1983: 37 1984: 87 1985: 43 1986: 93 1987: 30 1988: 60 1989: 249 1990: 98 1991: 45 1992: 29 1993: 28 1994: 34 1995: 64 1996: 36 1997: 28 1998: 39 1999: 30 2000: 25 2001: 52 2002: 28 2003: 27 2004: 40 2005: 14 2006: 22 2007: 27 2008: 21 2009: 30 2010: 24 2011: 26 2012: 23 2013: 12 2014: 20 2015: 7 2016: 22 2017: 34 2018: 25 2019: 19 2020: 26 2021: 23 2022: 27 2023: 29 2024: 23 2025: 26 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
Apr 2, 20264.643.36.51 km SE of Boulder Creek, CA
Nov 27, 20254.08.95.15 km S of San Juan Bautista, CA
Sep 29, 20244.214.64.33 km of Aromas, CA
Sep 18, 20234.540.72.215 km SW of Westley, CA
Apr 4, 20234.45.76.31km NNW of Tres Pinos, CA
Oct 25, 20225.134.95.215km ESE of Alum Rock, CA
Sep 1, 20224.027.01.05km ENE of Pinnacles, CA
Mar 13, 20224.122.13.77km NW of Pinnacles, CA
Aug 31, 20214.022.65.36km NW of Pinnacles, CA
Jan 16, 20214.211.75.24km SE of Aromas, CA
Jan 2, 20214.320.03.910km NW of Pinnacles, CA
Oct 15, 20194.716.16.317km SSE of Tres Pinos, CA
Nov 2, 20184.113.04.012km S of Tres Pinos, CA
Nov 13, 20174.617.83.918 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Oct 9, 20174.135.06.014 km ESE of East Foothills, California
Mar 31, 20174.012.03.92 km ESE of Aromas, California
Jul 19, 20164.211.93.610 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 20, 20154.437.65.827 km ENE of Greenfield, California
Nov 19, 20144.28.33.94 km S of San Juan Bautista, California
Sep 28, 20144.435.14.340 km SSW of South Dos Palos, California
Oct 20, 20125.348.35.424 km NE of San Lucas, California
Aug 27, 20114.622.34.721 km NE of Soledad, California
Jan 12, 20114.57.94.89 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
Jan 7, 20114.133.16.015 km E of Seven Trees, California
Jan 7, 20104.048.56.711 km ENE of Milpitas, California
Mar 30, 20094.332.04.417 km NNE of Morgan Hill, California
Dec 21, 20084.013.64.212 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Oct 30, 20075.544.96.16 km NNE of East Foothills, California
Jul 2, 20074.212.45.02km ESE of Aromas, CA
Jun 15, 20064.317.71.810 km E of San Martin, California
Apr 1, 20064.328.80.923 km ENE of Soledad, California
Feb 5, 20054.237.94.518 km W of Diablo Grande, California
Nov 23, 20044.320.24.022 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Mar 15, 20044.27.52.94 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
Jan 7, 20034.33.55.02 km WSW of Ridgemark, California
May 13, 20024.913.44.25 km SSW of Gilroy, California
Dec 28, 20014.617.04.117 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 25, 20014.07.93.83 km S of San Juan Bautista, California
Jul 3, 20014.012.02.810 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Jul 3, 20014.111.83.510 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Jul 2, 20014.111.82.710 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Feb 25, 20014.436.94.411 km ESE of East Foothills, California
Feb 11, 20014.07.54.06 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
Mar 23, 19994.013.63.912 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 18, 19994.216.26.516 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 12, 19985.17.85.510 km SW of Ridgemark, California
Jun 14, 19984.013.44.98 km ENE of Gilroy, California
May 28, 19984.38.44.93 km S of San Juan Bautista, California
Mar 22, 19974.21.35.61 km SSW of Hollister, California
May 21, 19964.739.14.78 km ESE of East Foothills, California
Apr 18, 19964.912.03.32 km E of Aromas, California
Nov 29, 19954.27.84.4Central California
Sep 27, 19954.022.95.321 km NE of Soledad, California
Sep 22, 19954.211.14.210 km ENE of Tres Pinos, California
Sep 13, 19954.217.84.88 km E of San Martin, California
Apr 23, 19954.920.74.122 km NNE of Soledad, California
May 19, 19944.021.04.422 km NNE of Soledad, California
Jan 11, 19944.120.68.34 km N of Interlaken, California
Oct 11, 19934.122.84.321 km NE of Soledad, California
Aug 11, 19934.735.15.514 km ESE of Alum Rock, California
Jan 15, 19934.911.84.59 km E of Gilroy, California
Sep 19, 19914.313.93.42 km N of Aromas, California
Sep 19, 19914.313.33.61 km NNE of Aromas, California
Apr 20, 19914.142.14.311 km ENE of East Foothills, California
Mar 23, 19914.619.69.01 km NNE of Interlaken, California
Sep 11, 19904.414.54.714 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Sep 8, 19904.113.24.112 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 4, 19904.012.45.32 km ESE of Aromas, California
Jun 30, 19904.143.54.76 km NE of East Foothills, California
Apr 18, 19905.117.34.14 km E of Interlaken, California
Apr 18, 19904.016.64.65 km E of Interlaken, California
Apr 18, 19904.416.14.45 km E of Interlaken, California
Apr 18, 19904.014.54.73 km NNW of Aromas, California
Apr 18, 19905.415.23.45 km NNW of Aromas, California
Apr 18, 19904.915.13.64 km NNW of Aromas, California
Apr 18, 19904.714.32.84 km N of Aromas, California
Apr 18, 19904.314.53.53 km N of Aromas, California
Apr 7, 19904.013.33.51 km NNE of Aromas, California
Feb 7, 19904.117.14.24 km E of Interlaken, California
Jan 12, 19904.345.38.036 km WSW of Three Rocks, California
Dec 1, 19894.412.23.8Central California
Nov 7, 19894.243.36.22 km W of Monte Sereno, California
Nov 5, 19894.230.68.04 km NW of Day Valley, California
Nov 4, 19894.032.18.26 km NW of Day Valley, California
Nov 1, 19894.726.85.46 km NE of Day Valley, California
Oct 30, 19894.026.95.76 km NE of Day Valley, California
Oct 25, 19894.024.610.01 km N of Corralitos, California
Oct 25, 19894.013.33.51 km NNE of Aromas, California
Oct 24, 19894.728.15.97 km NE of Day Valley, California
Oct 22, 19894.024.710.31 km N of Corralitos, California
Oct 21, 19894.731.29.34 km NW of Day Valley, California
Oct 20, 19894.528.77.82 km NNE of Day Valley, California
Oct 20, 19894.042.99.37 km WNW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 19, 19894.333.25.98 km NW of Day Valley, California
Oct 19, 19894.625.37.61 km N of Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, California
Oct 19, 19894.516.54.95 km E of Interlaken, California
Oct 19, 19894.025.55.72 km N of Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, California
Oct 18, 19894.023.710.31 km E of Corralitos, California
Oct 18, 19894.424.86.6Northern California
Oct 17, 19894.317.75.63 km ENE of Interlaken, California
Oct 17, 19894.227.210.72 km SE of Day Valley, California
Oct 17, 19894.340.16.43 km WNW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.130.78.33 km NW of Day Valley, California
Oct 17, 19894.337.99.23 km SSW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.037.99.23 km SSW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.224.31.26 km NNE of Corralitos, California
Oct 17, 19894.522.1-0.26 km ENE of Corralitos, California
Oct 17, 19894.039.25.22 km W of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.016.85.04 km E of Interlaken, California
Oct 17, 19895.142.89.57 km SW of Monte Sereno, California
Oct 17, 19894.339.06.51 km WNW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.237.19.65 km SSW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.825.03.47 km NNE of Corralitos, California
Oct 17, 19894.038.56.30 km WSW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.040.45.73 km SSW of Los Gatos, California
Oct 17, 19894.132.82.18 km NNW of Day Valley, California
Oct 17, 19894.423.88.92 km NE of Corralitos, California
Oct 17, 19894.341.37.05 km WNW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.638.83.21 km NNW of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.238.85.91 km W of Lexington Hills, California
Oct 17, 19894.021.72.88 km NE of Corralitos, California
Oct 17, 19894.332.81.87 km NW of Day Valley, California
Oct 17, 19894.431.16.54 km NW of Day Valley, California
Oct 17, 19894.721.09.54 km N of Interlaken, California
Oct 17, 19894.740.05.82 km SSW of Cambrian Park, California
Oct 17, 19896.929.310.7The 1989 Loma Prieta, California Earthquake
Aug 8, 19894.537.09.22 km E of Lexington Hills, California
Aug 8, 19894.335.28.04 km ESE of Lexington Hills, California
Aug 8, 19895.435.48.34 km ESE of Lexington Hills, California
Apr 3, 19894.544.87.06 km NE of East Foothills, California
Dec 30, 19884.333.14.415 km E of Seven Trees, California
Nov 9, 19884.840.25.27 km E of East Foothills, California
Jul 25, 19884.723.72.023 km NE of Soledad, California
Jun 27, 19885.333.27.98 km ESE of Lexington Hills, California
Jun 20, 19884.119.84.98 km ENE of San Martin, California
Jun 12, 19885.341.65.66 km E of East Foothills, California
Feb 20, 19885.16.45.71 km NE of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 6, 19884.529.32.828 km SW of South Dos Palos, California
Nov 7, 19874.021.15.421 km NNE of Soledad, California
Apr 30, 19874.16.25.05 km NNE of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 19, 19874.222.84.19 km ENE of Morgan Hill, California
Dec 29, 19864.046.64.38 km NNE of East Foothills, California
Sep 2, 19864.032.55.416 km E of Seven Trees, California
May 31, 19864.717.23.318 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Mar 31, 19865.745.95.315 km NE of East Foothills, California
Jan 26, 19864.06.33.04 km NE of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 26, 19865.57.35.13 km ENE of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 13, 19864.822.53.922 km NE of Soledad, California
Nov 28, 19854.627.66.131 km NE of Soledad, California
Oct 5, 19844.022.95.121 km NE of Soledad, California
Sep 26, 19844.437.14.711 km ESE of East Foothills, California
Jun 5, 19844.229.92.715 km NNE of Morgan Hill, California
May 3, 19844.232.35.416 km N of Morgan Hill, California
Apr 24, 19846.234.95.1The 1984 Morgan Hill, California Earthquake
Mar 25, 19844.07.45.110 km WSW of Ridgemark, California
Feb 9, 19844.141.95.016 km NNW of Big Sur, California
Jan 22, 19844.542.04.514 km NNW of Big Sur, California
Jan 22, 19845.143.04.114 km NW of Big Sur, California
Aug 8, 19834.026.67.132 km NE of Soledad, California
Feb 5, 19834.232.44.137 km SSW of South Dos Palos, California
Sep 24, 19824.013.34.312 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 30, 19824.014.55.014 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 18, 19824.522.17.48 km NE of Corralitos, California
Aug 11, 19824.615.86.316 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 9, 19824.520.33.622 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Jun 19, 19824.130.35.429 km ENE of Soledad, California
Sep 28, 19814.08.55.33 km S of San Juan Bautista, California
Aug 14, 19814.28.05.42 km ESE of Tres Pinos, California
Jun 7, 19814.37.46.24 km SW of Tres Pinos, California
Apr 25, 19814.131.88.28 km N of Day Valley, California
Jan 27, 19814.111.34.24 km SE of Aromas, California
Jan 15, 19814.840.25.57 km E of East Foothills, California
Jan 7, 19814.512.05.52 km SE of Aromas, California
Oct 12, 19804.026.38.231 km NE of Soledad, California
Jun 17, 19804.213.33.42 km NNE of Aromas, California
Apr 12, 19804.77.75.17 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
Aug 9, 19794.211.34.79 km E of Gilroy, California
Aug 6, 19794.310.62.48 km E of Gilroy, California
Aug 6, 19795.818.25.2The 1979 Coyote Lake, California Earthquake
May 7, 19794.833.54.415 km E of Seven Trees, California
Aug 28, 19784.138.65.29 km ESE of East Foothills, California
Jul 2, 19784.242.76.612 km S of Davenport, California
Dec 15, 19774.221.45.121 km NNE of Soledad, California
Dec 1, 19764.618.83.020 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 25, 19764.027.12.123 km ENE of Soledad, California
Apr 16, 19764.244.36.628 km W of Three Rocks, California
Mar 16, 19764.314.94.0Central California
Feb 12, 19764.08.32.65 km ENE of Tres Pinos, California
Nov 18, 19754.46.03.09 km NNW of Hollister, California
Oct 12, 19754.032.62.424 km NE of Greenfield, California
Oct 4, 19754.023.03.221 km NE of Soledad, California
Sep 5, 19754.224.85.025 km NE of Soledad, California
Aug 27, 19754.116.62.617 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 6, 19754.015.02.48 km NE of Gilroy, California
Jul 16, 19754.15.34.78 km NW of Hollister, California
Jun 18, 19754.133.8-0.19 km SSE of Gustine, California
May 24, 19754.333.40.77 km SSE of Gustine, California
May 16, 19754.120.85.421 km NNE of Soledad, California
May 15, 19754.025.16.828 km NE of Soledad, California
Apr 13, 19754.27.75.88 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California
Mar 3, 19754.26.33.510 km NNW of Hollister, California
Jan 23, 19754.35.64.59 km NW of Hollister, California
Dec 31, 19744.36.45.610 km NNW of Hollister, California
Dec 5, 19744.15.65.09 km NW of Hollister, California
Dec 1, 19744.05.83.19 km NNW of Hollister, California
Nov 28, 19744.06.12.29 km NW of Hollister, California
Nov 28, 19744.36.12.710 km NW of Hollister, California
Nov 28, 19745.25.83.39 km NW of Hollister, California
Nov 14, 19744.313.62.612 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Nov 11, 19744.448.55.721 km W of Three Rocks, California
Nov 8, 19744.144.22.423 km NE of King City, California
Oct 27, 19744.222.84.19 km ENE of Morgan Hill, California
Sep 12, 19744.418.23.419 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Sep 8, 19744.210.71.29 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Aug 30, 19744.43.63.41 km NE of Ridgemark, California
Aug 27, 19744.138.15.924 km ENE of Greenfield, California
Aug 19, 19744.145.15.028 km W of Three Rocks, California
Aug 19, 19744.144.84.928 km W of Three Rocks, California
Aug 19, 19744.044.74.929 km W of Three Rocks, California
Aug 19, 19744.445.66.926 km W of Three Rocks, California
Jul 10, 19744.235.10.617 km SW of South Dos Palos, California
Jun 20, 19744.21.53.62 km NNW of Hollister, California
Jun 15, 19744.28.03.67 km SW of Tres Pinos, California
Jun 15, 19744.28.13.57 km SW of Tres Pinos, California
May 28, 19744.435.83.224 km ENE of Greenfield, California
May 23, 19744.133.10.624 km NE of Greenfield, California
May 10, 19744.312.04.82 km ESE of Aromas, California
Apr 29, 19744.022.22.921 km NE of Soledad, California
Apr 24, 19744.434.34.826 km NE of Greenfield, California
Apr 9, 19744.222.02.922 km NE of Soledad, California
Apr 7, 19744.326.35.424 km NE of Soledad, California
Apr 7, 19744.324.11.321 km NE of Soledad, California
Feb 20, 19744.220.64.623 km SE of Tres Pinos, California
Feb 13, 19744.38.71.98 km SW of Tres Pinos, California
Feb 13, 19744.18.71.48 km SW of Tres Pinos, California
Feb 10, 19744.024.53.721 km NE of Soledad, California
Jan 10, 19744.412.64.45 km SSW of Gilroy, California
Nov 12, 19734.241.010.64 km SW of Los Gatos, California
Oct 3, 19734.625.43.710 km NE of Morgan Hill, California
Jan 15, 19734.223.93.79km W of Chualar, CA
Oct 2, 19724.98.35.05 km S of San Juan Bautista, California
Sep 4, 19724.820.93.78km NE of Gonzales, CA
Feb 27, 19725.226.95.025 km NE of Soledad, California
Feb 24, 19725.129.97.53 km W of Soledad, California
Feb 24, 19724.943.33.725km S of Carmel Valley Village, CA
Apr 16, 19714.843.55.023 km S of Davenport, California
Mar 9, 19714.841.45.021 km SSW of Santa Cruz, California
Aug 3, 19704.545.85.0Near the coast of Central California
Mar 30, 19704.51.35.02 km NW of Hollister, California
Jan 2, 19704.048.7—5 km WSW of Cupertino, California
Nov 15, 19694.317.13.73km WNW of Prunedale, CA
Oct 27, 19694.24.58.13 km SW of Ridgemark, California
Jan 9, 19694.136.23.716km ENE of Greenfield, CA
Dec 18, 19675.326.06.22 km W of Corralitos, California
Sep 28, 19674.928.65.011 km NNE of Morgan Hill, California
Sep 7, 19674.324.25.05 km NNE of Corralitos, California
Oct 27, 19664.425.53.711km NE of Soledad, CA
Nov 15, 19645.221.2—7 km WSW of San Martin, California
Sep 14, 19634.313.03.74 km NNE of Aromas, California
Sep 14, 19635.411.21.94 km E of Aromas, California
Oct 13, 19624.142.53.735km NE of King City, CA
Apr 8, 19615.513.1—12 km S of Tres Pinos, California
Apr 8, 19615.913.07.510 km SE of Tres Pinos, California
Jan 19, 19605.05.3—6 km WSW of Ridgemark, California
Dec 28, 19594.75.5—Central California
May 26, 19594.615.4—5 km NE of Salinas, California
Mar 2, 19595.314.1—3 km SW of Gilroy, California
Nov 26, 19584.228.33.713km E of Carmel Valley Village, CA
Sep 21, 19584.612.13.717km E of Gilroy, CA
Oct 1, 19574.024.13.716km ENE of Morgan Hill, CA
Sep 28, 19574.519.9—21 km NNE of Soledad, California
Dec 11, 19564.239.73.741km NE of King City, CA
Nov 15, 19565.043.83.728km NE of King City, CA
Jul 23, 19564.738.8—5 km WSW of Greenfield, California
Nov 2, 19554.943.43.735km SW of Mendota, CA
Sep 4, 19555.847.19.37 km NNW of Boulder Creek, California
Apr 25, 19545.316.6—4 km ESE of Interlaken, California
Apr 22, 19544.316.0—3 km WNW of Aromas, California
Mar 27, 19544.527.83.76km SW of Gonzales, CA
Oct 31, 19514.83.2—5 km NNW of Hollister, California
Aug 6, 19514.919.3—21 km SSE of Tres Pinos, California
Jul 29, 19515.022.3—21 km NE of Soledad, California
Oct 22, 19494.722.9—22 km NE of Soledad, California
Dec 31, 19484.512.6—2 km ENE of Aromas, California
Mar 28, 19484.59.4—2 km W of San Juan Bautista, California
Mar 28, 19484.69.4—2 km W of San Juan Bautista, California
Aug 10, 19474.42.0—3 km NNW of Hollister, California
May 29, 19464.56.0—Central California
May 17, 19454.63.0—0 km NNW of Ridgemark, California
Nov 30, 19434.014.43.718km SSE of Ridgemark, CA
May 27, 19414.524.8—10 km WSW of Morgan Hill, California
Sep 7, 19404.525.2—5 km W of Gonzales, California
Jul 17, 19394.515.5—5 km ESE of Las Lomas, California
Jun 24, 19395.54.7—7 km SW of Hollister, California
Dec 1, 19384.549.7—12 km NE of Milpitas, California
Sep 27, 19384.936.03.75km NE of Greenfield, CA
May 10, 19384.545.6—14 km SSW of Greenfield, California
Feb 12, 19384.534.6—2 km ESE of Pasatiempo, California
Oct 27, 19374.518.5—3 km NNE of Chualar, California
Mar 5, 19374.519.8—2 km W of Boronda, California
Feb 16, 19374.515.4—14 km SE of Tres Pinos, California
May 27, 19364.527.7—Central California
Mar 16, 19364.036.73.74km WNW of Greenfield, CA
Dec 2, 19344.128.53.75km NE of Carmel Valley Village, CA
Dec 13, 19335.040.8—3 km SW of Los Gatos, California
Nov 3, 19324.946.9—5 km NW of Boulder Creek, California
Oct 24, 19324.631.63.7Near Santa Cruz, California
Jun 14, 19324.546.4—5 km WSW of Saratoga, California
Apr 16, 19324.516.2—16 km SE of Tres Pinos, California
Dec 3, 19315.128.8—8 km E of Carmel Valley Village, California
Jan 9, 19304.56.8—6 km SE of San Juan Bautista, California
Jan 9, 19304.56.8—6 km SE of San Juan Bautista, California
Aug 8, 19284.843.6—1 km NNW of Buena Vista, California
Jan 8, 19284.614.1—1 km WSW of Gilroy, California
Feb 15, 19275.048.4—9 km SW of Davenport, California
Oct 24, 19265.546.0—1 km WNW of Davenport, California
Oct 22, 19266.344.79.322 km S of Davenport, California
Dec 27, 19244.019.7—1 km WSW of Salinas, California
Apr 3, 19244.536.0—14 km ESE of East Foothills, California
Mar 9, 19244.624.2—5 km SSW of Spreckels, California
Oct 5, 19205.224.2—5 km SSW of Spreckels, California
Nov 25, 19194.528.4—5 km NNE of Day Valley, California
Oct 26, 19174.038.0—Near San Jose, California
Aug 8, 19164.032.4—Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Aug 6, 19165.815.3—Near Paicines, California
Dec 28, 19144.547.7—Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Nov 8, 19145.539.6—Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Jul 1, 19116.522.06.2Near Morgan Hill, California
Mar 11, 19114.52.1—Near Hollister, California
Dec 31, 19105.738.9—Monterey Bay area, California
Mar 10, 19105.817.8—Near Watsonville, California
Nov 22, 19094.510.8—South of Hollister, California
Apr 25, 19084.528.3—Near Monterey, California
Aug 2, 19036.237.8—Near San Jose, California
Jun 11, 19036.132.5—Near San Jose, California
Apr 30, 19004.511.5—Near Aromas, California
  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in San Benito County.

13

Landslides mapped, probable or better

10

With a recorded date

3

Source inventories

Mapped by USGS Earthquake-Triggered Ground Failure (10), USGS Conterminous (2), West Coast Slow Moving (Yuankun and others, 2021) (1).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

42 events in the National Weather Service record for San Benito County, 41 of them since 1996.

1

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

0

Hail, 2 inches or larger

0

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

0

Winter weather events since 1996

1

Heat events since 1996

1

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

March 15, 2008

1.00 inches

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Debris flows400Feb 13, 2025

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Jan 27, 2021Debris Flow$4.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Mudslide on Panoche Rd. Preliminary damage estimates from public works.

  2. Jan 27, 2021Flood$3.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    New Idria Rd from Panoche Valley to 20 plus miles south, road completely washed out. Exact time of damage unknown, estimate sent by public works.

  3. Jan 27, 2021Flood$3.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Coalinga Road damaged from SR25 to Fresno County. Exact time of damage unknown. Damage estimate sent by public works.

  4. Jan 27, 2021Flood$2.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Damage to Cienega Rd from Mudstone Ranch to Bird Creek. Damage occurred sometime between the 26th and the end of the event. Estimates of repair cost sent by public works.

  5. Jan 27, 2021Flood$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Southside Rd damaged from Hollister to Tres Pinos Creek. Exact time of damage occurrence unknown, estimate sent by public works.

  6. Jan 27, 2021Flood$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    King City Road damaged from SR 25 to Monterey County. Exact time of damage occurrence is unknown. Estimates sent by public works.

  7. Jan 27, 2021Flood$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Damage to Salinas Grade Rd from San Juan Bautista to Monterey County. Exact time of damage occurrence unknown, estimates sent b public works.

  8. Jan 27, 2021Flood$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Union Road near Riverside Drive flooding on shoulder. Exact time of damage unknown, estimate sent by public works.

  9. Jan 27, 2021Flood$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Roadway flooding at Fairview Rd and Mansfield Rd. Damage estimate sent in by public works.

  10. Feb 28, 2014Debris Flow$1,500
    National Weather Service narrative

    A Pacific storm system moved across the Bay Area on February 28. It dropped several inches of rainfall and brought gusty winds to the area. This resulted in flooding of urban areas, small streams and creeks, and damage to power lines and trees as well as a few localized mud and rockslides.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Hollister 2, 1.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1975.

All-time high
112°FJul 22, 2006
All-time low
14°FDec 22, 1990
Warmest night
72°FAug 17, 2020
Coldest day
41°F2 times, most recently Dec 22, 1990
Wettest day
2.82 inJan 3, 2006
Snowiest day
1.0 inDec 25, 2000
Hottest year
2014mean 61.4°F
Coldest year
1982mean 56.8°F
Wettest year
198326.26 in
Driest year
20131.58 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Hollister 2 32°F 60° 39° 2.5 Jan 63° 41° 2.2 Feb 67° 43° 1.4 Mar 70° 45° 0.9 Apr 74° 49° 0.3 May 78° 52° 0.1 Jun 80° 54° 0.0 Jul 81° 55° 0.0 Aug 82° 54° 0.0 Sep 77° 49° 0.5 Oct 67° 43° 1.1 Nov 60° 39° 1.7 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1980: 10 1981: 12 1982: 2 1983: 11 1984: 13 1989: 12 1990: 6 1991: 8 1992: 8 1993: 10 1994: 10 1995: 11 2001: 15 2002: 12 2004: 11 2005: 2 2006: 13 2007: 5 2009: 16 2010: 9 2011: 6 2012: 5 2013: 4 2014: 9 2015: 16 2016: 5 2017: 10 2018: 3 2019: 9 2024: 18 18 2025: 5 1980199420112025
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 9.1.

Station Hollister 2 (USC00044025), 275 ft elevation, 1.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1975 to October 14, 2026; 92.3% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

18 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, April 3, 2023.

Declarations for San Benito County.

Federal disaster declarations
Apr 3, 2023Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4699-CA
Mar 10, 2023FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3592-CA
Jan 14, 2023FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4683-CA
Jan 9, 2023FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3591-CA
Mar 22, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4482-CA
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3428-CA
Apr 1, 2017FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4308-CA
Feb 14, 2017Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4301-CA
Sep 13, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3248-CA
Feb 9, 1998Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1203-CA
Jan 4, 1997Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disasterDR-1155-CA
Mar 12, 1995Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disasterDR-1046-CA
Feb 11, 1991FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-894-CA
Oct 18, 1989EarthquakeLoma Prieta EarthquakeMajor disasterDR-845-CA
Feb 21, 1986FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-758-CA
Feb 9, 1983Coastal StormCoastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-677-CA
Jan 20, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3023-CA
Jan 26, 1969FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-253-CA

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00044025.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.