Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Benns Church enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 299 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 51.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 5.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 37 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (5°C)78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.4°F
10% above US avg
January Average
40°F (5°C)
July Average
78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
299 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
37 ft (11 m)
Area
4.1 sq mi (10.6 km²)
Population Density
352/sq mi
Coordinates
36.9369°N, 76.5847°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Isle of Wight County County
Nearest Airport
Newport News/Williamsburg International (PHF) 14 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall51.8"
36% above US avg
Snowfall5.8"
Wettest Month (Jul)5.24"
Driest Month (Nov)3.11"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
37.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
14.4 / 100
Community Resilience
74.4 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
10 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.8.
Mar 15, 1991
7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.8
148 km
16 km
May 5, 2003
Virginia
M3.6
143 km
13 km
May 22, 2014
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia
M3.1
147 km
10 km
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
131 km
19 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
52 km
1 km
Jan 14, 2025
1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.8
124 km
0 km
Mar 13, 2017
6 km ENE of Goochland, Virginia
M2.6
138 km
11 km
Feb 26, 2015
4 km NNE of Goochland, Virginia
M2.5
143 km
10 km
Sep 23, 2019
3 km WNW of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.5
128 km
8 km
Apr 29, 2000
3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia
M2.5
117 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
17 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2019
Dorian
Category 2
98 mph
204 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
81 mph
254 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
159 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
83 km
2010
Earl
Category 2
98 mph
299 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
81 mph
259 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
220 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
103 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
260 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
46 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 2
109 mph
141 km
1996
Fran
Category 2
75 mph
271 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
234 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
192 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
192 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
85 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
141 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
346 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 28 fatalities, 736 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 6, 1993
EF4
81 km
1.0 mi
4
Apr 30, 2023
EF3
45 km
4.5 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
100 km
17.9 mi
12
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
26 km
46.9 mi
2
Apr 28, 2008
EF3
27 km
24.0 mi
0
Aug 6, 1993
EF3
72 km
2.9 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
89 km
5.0 mi
1
Oct 14, 1986
EF3
52 km
5.0 mi
0
May 8, 1984
EF3
75 km
5.0 mi
0
May 8, 1984
EF3
81 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
64 km
14.0 mi
2
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
15 km
2.5 mi
0
Apr 19, 1978
EF3
88 km
35.6 mi
0
Jul 4, 1967
EF3
43 km
2.0 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
49 km
15.9 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
80 km
15.6 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
63 km
3.1 mi
0
Mar 31, 2017
EF2
38 km
8.9 mi
0
Apr 25, 2014
EF2
98 km
33.5 mi
0
Apr 25, 2014
EF2
99 km
37.5 mi
1
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: LATERAL WEST (6,188 acres, 2011).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2011
LATERAL WEST
6,188
41 km
2008
SOUTH 1
5,940
42 km
1999
NORTH RIVER
3,055
85 km
2008
OLD STAGE ROAD
2,238
84 km
2008
MCPHERSON ROAD
2,087
51 km
2014
NCMCR-FY14-RX-MIDDLE MARSH
1,876
73 km
2010
1 1 2 NORTH MARSH FY 10
1,506
71 km
2005
1.1.2 NORTH MARSH
1,418
72 km
2005
1.2.1 WEST MIDDLE MARSH
1,338
72 km
1998
SE BLOCKS
1,278
45 km
1994
UNIT 5
1,148
72 km
2008
POCAHONTAS ROAD
1,146
95 km
1985
UNNAMED
1,091
68 km
2009
1 3 7 INDIAN CREEK MARSH FY 09
1,087
75 km
1999
CHURCHES ISLAND 2
1,013
85 km
2005
LONG ISLAND/RAGGED ISLAND RXB
982
67 km
1991
UNNAMED
908
74 km
2011
1.3.1 GREAT MARSH FY11
829
72 km
2003
1 3 2 INDIAN CREEK
782
73 km
2007
1-3-7 INDIAN MARSH
676
75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (5°C)
4.0 in
Coldest
February
42°F (5°C)
3.6 in
March
49°F (9°C)
4.2 in
April
58°F (14°C)
3.2 in
May
66°F (19°C)
4.1 in
June
74°F (23°C)
4.0 in
July
78°F (26°C)
5.2 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
77°F (25°C)
5.0 in
September
71°F (22°C)
4.4 in
October
60°F (16°C)
3.5 in
November
52°F (11°C)
3.1 in
Driest
December
43°F (6°C)
3.5 in
Benns Church has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.8 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.2") and November the driest (3.1").