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Lewes, DE

Full City Profile · Delaware · Sussex County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
3,415 Population 815/sq mi density
$92,375 Median Income $67,988 per capita
$806,700 Home Value $579,037 Zillow
$1,271 Median Rent 35.1% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
122 Violent Crime/100K 1,369 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$92,375 median income, 1.6% unemployment
D
Affordability
1.7 / 5.0
$806,700 home value, $1,271/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
122 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
65.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Lewes enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.3 inches. The area receives 10.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average58.5°F
8% above US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5 ft (2 m)
Area4.2 sq mi (10.9 km²)
Population Density815/sq mi
Coordinates38.7786°N, 75.1437°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountySussex County County
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY)
36 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.3"
24% above US avg
Snowfall 10.5"
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.21"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.15"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0463 ppm
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.20 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score94.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability70.4 / 100
Community Resilience59.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

8 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 9, 2023.

Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 87 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 101 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 139 km
Jan 25, 2015 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania M2.6 143 km
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 147 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 129 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 83 km
Feb 26, 1993 2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey M2.5 123 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

10 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 1 194 km
2012 Sandy Category 2 177 km
2011 Irene Category 1 77 km
2010 Earl Category 1 287 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 236 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 243 km
1993 Emily Category 3 226 km
1991 Bob Category 3 176 km
1986 Charley Category 1 153 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 70 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

149 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 92 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 43 km 1
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 48 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 65 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 79 km 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 45 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 75 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 100 km 0
Sep 27, 1993 EF2 99 km 0
Aug 21, 1993 EF2 99 km 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 42 km 0
May 10, 1990 EF2 79 km 0
Jul 21, 1987 EF2 80 km 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 38 km 0
Jul 21, 1983 EF2 66 km 2
Jun 9, 1977 EF2 40 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF2 84 km 0
Jul 13, 1975 EF2 81 km 0
Aug 27, 1971 EF2 24 km 0
Jul 30, 1971 EF2 85 km 0
Nov 4, 1970 EF2 89 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 114 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

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

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 86 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 92 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 90 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 88 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 85 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 85 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 90 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 90 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 90 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 84 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 85 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 85 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 84 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 85 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 92 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 92 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 18 km
2020 SPLIT DITCH 1,518 60 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 93 km
2020 BIG TIMBER 1,434 98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 3.7 in
February 37°F (3°C) 3.2 in Coldest, Driest
March 44°F (7°C) 4.1 in
April 53°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 63°F (17°C) 3.7 in
June 71°F (22°C) 3.3 in
July 79°F (26°C) 3.6 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.2 in Wettest
September 69°F (21°C) 3.5 in
October 58°F (15°C) 3.3 in
November 49°F (9°C) 3.2 in
December 40°F (4°C) 3.6 in

Lewes has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (3.2").

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