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Forest Heights, MD

Full City Profile · Maryland · Alexandria city County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
2,619 Population 1,597/sq mi density
$96,434 Median Income $35,957 per capita
$346,800 Home Value $355,873 Zillow
$2,154 Median Rent 22.4% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
348 Violent Crime/100K 929 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$96,434 median income, 8.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$346,800 home value, $2,154/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
348 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Forest Heights enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 41.8 inches. The area receives 13.7 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation69 ft (21 m)
Area1.6 sq mi (4.2 km²)
Population Density1,597/sq mi
Coordinates38.8038°N, 77.0117°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyAlexandria city County
Nearest AirportRonald Reagan Washington Ntl (DCA)
4 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 41.8"
10% above US avg
Snowfall 13.7"
Wettest Month (May) 3.90"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.72"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score73.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability15.4 / 100
Community Resilience45.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

43 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Jan 14, 2025.

Aug 23, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M5.8 128 km
Aug 25, 2011 8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M4.5 127 km
Aug 24, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M4.2 129 km
Mar 15, 1991 7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.8 141 km
Jul 16, 2010 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland M3.6 61 km
Aug 24, 2011 16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.4 136 km
Sep 1, 2011 7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M3.4 124 km
Sep 22, 2001 5 km E of Pantops, Virginia M3.2 148 km
Jan 30, 2012 9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia M3.1 128 km
Jun 3, 2010 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M3.1 143 km
Jan 17, 2016 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia M3.0 91 km
Oct 2, 2010 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia M3.0 115 km
Oct 12, 2011 9 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 128 km
Mar 26, 2012 13 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 131 km
Apr 24, 2009 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.9 140 km
Sep 15, 2019 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania M2.8 125 km
Mar 15, 2015 6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 125 km
Aug 23, 2011 9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 126 km
Jan 14, 2025 1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia M2.8 133 km
Oct 25, 2009 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.8 144 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

5 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Irene (2011, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2011 Irene Category 1 192 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 242 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 237 km
1986 Charley Category 1 223 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 223 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

467 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 10 fatalities, 385 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002 EF4 32 km 3
Sep 24, 2001 EF4 88 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF3 75 km 0
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 75 km 0
Sep 24, 2001 EF3 14 km 2
Jul 19, 1996 EF3 78 km 0
Sep 5, 1979 EF3 7 km 1
Jan 26, 1978 EF3 42 km 1
Apr 1, 1973 EF3 28 km 0
Nov 2, 1966 EF3 96 km 0
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 56 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 36 km 0
Nov 2, 2018 EF2 62 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 60 km 0
May 8, 2008 EF2 66 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 70 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 36 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 41 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 99 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 81 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 99 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 94 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 95 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 96 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 98 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 96 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 96 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 99 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 99 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 99 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 92 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 97 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 87 km
2009 BECKERS ISLAND 1,398 97 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,260 93 km
1999 FB A 3 1,156 93 km
2006 L 2 FB H 2 G 2 1,039 96 km
2011 COMPARTMENT E42 AND 43 991 92 km
2005 UNNAMED 942 95 km
1999 NCO 816 42 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 3.1 in
February 37°F (3°C) 2.7 in Coldest, Driest
March 46°F (8°C) 3.5 in
April 55°F (13°C) 3.1 in
May 65°F (18°C) 3.9 in Wettest
June 73°F (23°C) 3.5 in
July 81°F (27°C) 3.8 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 3.8 in
September 70°F (21°C) 3.7 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.2 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.3 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.2 in

Forest Heights has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 37°F in February to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.9") and February the driest (2.7").

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