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McDowell, VA
Full City Profile · Virginia · Highland County County
1.3
/5.0
F
Poor
37
Population
36/sq mi density
49°F
Avg Temperature
293 sunny days/yr
127
Violent Crime/100K
2,392 property/100K
F
Overall
1.3 / 5.0
Below average overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
127 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.3% bachelor's degree or higher
McDowell experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.9 inches. The area receives 39.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.
Temperature
29°F Jan (-2°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 48.9°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 29°F (-2°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 293 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,343 ft (714 m) |
| Area | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 36/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.3419°N, 79.5053°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Highland County County |
| Nearest Airport | Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD) 33 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 2.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 49.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 77.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.1 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.1 in | |
| March | 38°F (3°C) | 3.8 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 56°F (13°C) | 4.1 in | |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 4.2 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 3.6 in | |
| September | 60°F (16°C) | 3.6 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 in | |
| November | 40°F (5°C) | 3.6 in | |
| December | 32°F (-0°C) | 3.4 in |
McDowell has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 29°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.8 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.2") and January the driest (3.1").