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Weather & Climate in Benton, IA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Benton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 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 37.0 inches. The area receives 20.5 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 1,101 feet.
Temperature
22°F Jan (-6°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 49.6°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 22°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,101 ft (336 m) |
| Area | 0.6 sq mi (1.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 30/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.7043°N, 94.3599°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Ringgold County County |
| Nearest Airport | Des Moines International (DSM) 65 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 14.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 47.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.6.
| Dec 17, 2009 | 2 km NW of Auburn, Nebraska | M3.6 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Jul 16, 2004 | 6 km SSE of Riverton, Iowa | M3.5 | 101 km | 5 km |
| Feb 11, 1995 | 6 km E of Clearmont, Missouri | M3.1 | 55 km | 5 km |
| Mar 31, 1993 | 2 km SE of Nemaha, Nebraska | M2.9 | 117 km | 5 km |
| Jul 15, 2025 | 3 km W of Hale, Missouri | M2.5 | 148 km | 8 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
566 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 25 fatalities, 266 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 27, 1953 | EF5 | 88 km | 0.1 mi | 1 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF4 | 53 km | 40.7 mi | 5 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF4 | 60 km | 70.6 mi | 6 |
| May 29, 2004 | EF4 | 92 km | 22.0 mi | 3 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 48 km | 49.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | EF4 | 36 km | 56.0 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | EF4 | 41 km | 57.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1989 | EF4 | 43 km | 49.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1984 | EF4 | 42 km | 134.0 mi | 3 |
| Jun 2, 1980 | EF4 | 38 km | 31.2 mi | 0 |
| Mar 29, 1979 | EF4 | 71 km | 18.8 mi | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1973 | EF4 | 80 km | 14.6 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1964 | EF4 | 92 km | 11.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1964 | EF4 | 74 km | 13.1 mi | 1 |
| May 10, 1959 | EF4 | 91 km | 41.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1954 | EF4 | 88 km | 6.3 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | EF4 | 89 km | 6.4 mi | 0 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF3 | 73 km | 33.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF3 | 86 km | 11.3 mi | 1 |
| Aug 20, 2019 | EF3 | 93 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°F (-6°C) | 0.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 28°F (-3°C) | 1.0 in | |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 51°F (11°C) | 3.1 in | |
| May | 62°F (17°C) | 4.3 in | |
| June | 71°F (22°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 4.4 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 4.1 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 4.2 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.8 in | |
| November | 39°F (4°C) | 2.1 in | |
| December | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.2 in |
Benton has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 22°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.4") and January the driest (0.8").