Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Annapolis enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 297 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 43 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
58.8°F
9% above US avg
January Average
37°F (3°C)
July Average
80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
297 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
43 ft (13 m)
Area
7.2 sq mi (18.7 km²)
Population Density
5,651/sq mi
Coordinates
38.9722°N, 76.5053°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Anne Arundel County County
Nearest Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) 17 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Wettest Month (May)4.33"
Driest Month (Feb)2.83"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
81.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
89.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
22 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.6.
Jul 16, 2010
5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland
M3.6
84 km
7 km
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
105 km
10 km
Jun 3, 2010
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M3.1
130 km
2 km
Jan 17, 2016
3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
M3.0
120 km
5 km
Nov 14, 1997
0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania
M3.0
132 km
5 km
Apr 24, 2009
1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.9
129 km
1 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
112 km
5 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
115 km
5 km
Oct 25, 2009
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.8
131 km
1 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
45 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
37 km
—
Mar 11, 1995
0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania
M2.7
126 km
5 km
Jan 25, 2015
4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
M2.6
135 km
2 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
60 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
41 km
3 km
Jan 18, 1994
3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania
M2.6
138 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1996
2 km W of Reinholds, Pennsylvania
M2.6
147 km
5 km
Jul 5, 1996
2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
M2.6
136 km
18 km
Jul 27, 1997
5 km SSE of Culpeper, Virginia
M2.5
142 km
19 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
83 km
3 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
7 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
297 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
163 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
274 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
—
244 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
281 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
209 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
185 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
455 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 13 fatalities, 446 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002
EF4
75 km
38.0 mi
3
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
79 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
64 km
18.0 mi
0
Sep 24, 2001
EF3
41 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 19, 1996
EF3
72 km
2.2 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
54 km
17.9 mi
1
Jan 26, 1978
EF3
87 km
0.7 mi
1
Apr 1, 1973
EF3
74 km
9.8 mi
0
Jun 9, 1961
EF3
27 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
16 km
11.4 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
100 km
5.9 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
87 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
88 km
35.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
91 km
6.2 mi
0
Nov 2, 2018
EF2
71 km
5.5 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
14 km
2.4 mi
0
Sep 18, 2004
EF2
82 km
2.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
81 km
15.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
88 km
4.0 mi
0
May 2, 2002
EF2
87 km
4.5 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1840
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Earthquake
—
—
145 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
78 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
75 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
76 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
75 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
82 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
81 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
79 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
76 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
76 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
82 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
82 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
78 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
77 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
77 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
74 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
79 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
68 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
78 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
82 km
1991
KENTIS WEST
1,273
98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
37°F (3°C)
3.3 in
February
36°F (2°C)
2.8 in
Coldest, Driest
March
45°F (7°C)
3.9 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.4 in
May
63°F (17°C)
4.3 in
Wettest
June
72°F (22°C)
3.7 in
July
80°F (27°C)
4.2 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.1 in
September
69°F (20°C)
3.9 in
October
57°F (14°C)
3.2 in
November
48°F (9°C)
3.4 in
December
39°F (4°C)
3.4 in
Annapolis has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 36°F in February to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (2.8").