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Emma, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Buncombe County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
2,757 Population 2,529/sq mi density
$40,964 Median Income $18,474 per capita
$88,900 Home Value $454,142 Zillow
$981 Median Rent 27.8% income on rent
57°F Avg Temperature 310 sunny days/yr
208 Violent Crime/100K 1,549 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.8 / 5.0
$40,964 median income, 0.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$88,900 home value, $981/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
208 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.1 / 5.0
13.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Emma enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 40.6 inches. The area receives 11.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average57.3°F
6% above US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,179 ft (664 m)
Area1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
Population Density2,529/sq mi
Coordinates35.6020°N, 82.5958°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyBuncombe County County
Nearest AirportAsheville Regional (AVL)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 40.6"
7% above US avg
Snowfall 11.5"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.92"
Driest Month (Oct) 3.19"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0440 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.5 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score89.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability35.0 / 100
Community Resilience70.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Very High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

103 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 19, 2025.

May 10, 2025 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee M4.1 126 km
Jul 30, 1997 6 km NNE of Tazewell, Tennessee M3.8 133 km
Jul 5, 1995 12 km ESE of Tellico Plains, Tennessee M3.7 145 km
Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 144 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 56 km
Mar 5, 2019 7 km NE of Maynardville, Tennessee M3.4 128 km
Apr 20, 2010 4 km SW of Maryville, Tennessee M3.3 128 km
Aug 31, 2009 2 km NNE of Friendsville, Tennessee M3.3 139 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 25 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 97 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 96 km
Apr 29, 2018 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee M3.1 105 km
Nov 10, 1992 4 km ESE of Greenback, Tennessee M3.0 139 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 55 km
Apr 13, 2001 11 km W of Sneedville, Tennessee M3.0 123 km
Sep 24, 1991 6 km NE of Greenback, Tennessee M3.0 138 km
Nov 24, 2012 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.0 89 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 48 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 121 km
Jul 17, 2019 7 km SW of New Tazewell, Tennessee M3.0 129 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Hugo (1989, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1989 Hugo Category 2 169 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

201 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 18 fatalities, 383 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1989 EF4 93 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 84 km 2
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 52 km 6
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 57 km 2
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 70 km 0
May 27, 1973 EF3 94 km 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 95 km 2
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 86 km 0
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 81 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 71 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 96 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 89 km 0
Oct 8, 2017 EF2 94 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 78 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 77 km 0
May 7, 1998 EF2 56 km 0
Jan 7, 1998 EF2 89 km 0
Feb 21, 1997 EF2 95 km 0
Jun 26, 1994 EF2 93 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF2 79 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CHIMNEY TOPS 2 (14,998 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 CHIMNEY TOPS 2 14,998 83 km
2016 TELLICO 14,172 96 km
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 70 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 35 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 62 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 66 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 85 km
2016 SILVER MINE 6,082 38 km
2001 SHARP 6,039 79 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 92 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 36 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 70 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 46 km
2016 CAMP BRANCH 3,234 99 km
2001 LARMAN 3,072 43 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 75 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 60 km
1998 FOURNEY CREEK 2,579 86 km
2016 HALLS TOP 2,464 58 km
2010 BROWN GAP CREEK-A 2,210 42 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 4.1 in Coldest
February 39°F (4°C) 4.0 in
March 47°F (8°C) 4.9 in Wettest
April 55°F (13°C) 3.7 in
May 62°F (17°C) 4.5 in
June 69°F (21°C) 4.4 in
July 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 4.6 in
September 66°F (19°C) 3.6 in
October 56°F (13°C) 3.2 in Driest
November 47°F (8°C) 3.7 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.6 in

Emma has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 38°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.5 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.9") and October the driest (3.2").

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