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Weather & Climate in Bethel, VT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Bethel has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 48.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 75.5 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 31. The city sits at an elevation of 541 feet.
Temperature
19°F Jan (-7°C)
67°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 44.0°F |
| 19% below US avg | |
| January Average | 19°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 246 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 541 ft (165 m) |
| Area | 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 291/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.8297°N, 72.6345°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Windsor County County |
| Nearest Airport | Rutland/Southern Vermont Regional (RUT) 26 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 31.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 61.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 24.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 72.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
34 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.3.
| Apr 20, 2002 | 8 km NNW of Au Sable Forks, New York | M5.3 | 114 km | 5 km |
| Jun 16, 1995 | 8 km N of Lisbon, New Hampshire | M3.8 | 77 km | 5 km |
| Apr 20, 2000 | 7 km WSW of Newcomb, New York | M3.8 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 1996 | 12 km N of Livermore, New Hampshire | M3.8 | 110 km | 10 km |
| Apr 20, 2002 | 5 km NNW of Au Sable Forks, New York | M3.7 | 112 km | 5 km |
| Oct 6, 1992 | 1 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire | M3.4 | 102 km | 5 km |
| Jun 9, 1998 | 3 km N of Dannemora, New York | M3.3 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 2 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire | M3.2 | 101 km | 5 km |
| May 24, 2002 | 6 km N of Au Sable Forks, New York | M3.1 | 112 km | 10 km |
| May 6, 2020 | 9 km SE of Bedford, Canada | M3.1 | 138 km | 14 km |
| Mar 11, 2020 | 0 km SSW of South Glens Falls, New York | M3.1 | 101 km | 13 km |
| Jan 27, 2000 | 3 km WNW of Fremont, New Hampshire | M3.0 | 149 km | 1 km |
| Jun 25, 2002 | 6 km NNW of Au Sable Forks, New York | M3.0 | 113 km | 9 km |
| Mar 9, 1999 | 7 km NW of Dannemora, New York | M2.9 | 139 km | 10 km |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 0 km SSW of Gorham, New Hampshire | M2.9 | 132 km | 8 km |
| Apr 25, 2023 | 4 km SW of Center Sandwich, New Hampshire | M2.9 | 93 km | 8 km |
| Sep 29, 1994 | 13 km WNW of North Creek, New York | M2.9 | 121 km | 16 km |
| May 14, 2007 | 5 km ESE of Benson, Vermont | M2.8 | 51 km | 8 km |
| Mar 23, 1992 | 5 km SE of Hill, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 88 km | 5 km |
| Mar 21, 2016 | 4 km ESE of Warner, New Hampshire | M2.8 | 94 km | 7 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 104 mph | 221 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 1 | 86 mph | 215 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
61 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 5 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Aug 25, 1969 | EF3 | 75 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Aug 20, 1968 | EF3 | 82 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2002 | EF2 | 73 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1983 | EF2 | 88 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 11, 1973 | EF2 | 62 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 1969 | EF2 | 79 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1966 | EF2 | 47 km | 9.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1966 | EF2 | 60 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1962 | EF2 | 63 km | 7.7 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1962 | EF2 | 59 km | 7.6 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | EF2 | 92 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 24, 1955 | EF2 | 52 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 16, 2024 | EF1 | 39 km | 1.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 18, 2022 | EF1 | 61 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| May 16, 2022 | EF1 | 61 km | 4.8 mi | 0 |
| Mar 26, 2021 | EF1 | 46 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Aug 10, 2020 | EF1 | 88 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 21, 2019 | EF1 | 72 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 2018 | EF1 | 78 km | 37.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 21, 2011 | EF1 | 54 km | 2.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°F (-7°C) | 3.2 in | Coldest |
| February | 19°F (-7°C) | 2.7 in | Driest |
| March | 29°F (-2°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 41°F (5°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 4.0 in | |
| June | 62°F (16°C) | 3.9 in | |
| July | 67°F (20°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 65°F (18°C) | 4.5 in | Wettest |
| September | 56°F (14°C) | 3.7 in | |
| October | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 in | |
| November | 35°F (2°C) | 3.9 in | |
| December | 22°F (-5°C) | 3.5 in |
Bethel has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 19°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.5") and February the driest (2.7").