Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Bolivar experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 293 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 43.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 509 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-0°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
52.9°F
2% below US avg
January Average
31°F (-0°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
509 ft (155 m)
Area
0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density
3,063/sq mi
Coordinates
39.3242°N, 77.7517°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Jefferson County County
Nearest Airport
Eastern Wv Regional/Shepherd Field (MRB) 13 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall43.5"
14% above US avg
Wettest Month (May)4.09"
Driest Month (Feb)2.52"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
47.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
15.8 / 100
Community Resilience
52.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 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
30 km
7 km
Jun 13, 2019
9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania
M3.4
124 km
27 km
Jun 3, 2010
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M3.1
108 km
2 km
Jan 17, 2016
3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
M3.0
7 km
5 km
Apr 24, 2009
1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.9
103 km
1 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
98 km
5 km
Apr 21, 1998
1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia
M2.8
147 km
2 km
Oct 25, 2009
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.8
109 km
1 km
Mar 11, 1995
0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania
M2.7
144 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
99 km
—
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
74 km
5 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
76 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
90 km
3 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
62 km
3 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
76 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2001
8 km S of Remington, Virginia
M2.5
96 km
5 km
Jul 27, 1997
5 km SSE of Culpeper, Virginia
M2.5
102 km
19 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
3 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
275 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
292 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
300 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
367 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 7 fatalities, 351 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002
EF4
99 km
38.0 mi
3
Sep 24, 2001
EF4
86 km
10.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF3
90 km
9.0 mi
0
Sep 24, 2001
EF3
80 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 19, 1996
EF3
69 km
2.2 mi
0
May 22, 1983
EF3
60 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 7, 1980
EF3
92 km
1.5 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
84 km
17.9 mi
1
Jan 26, 1978
EF3
100 km
0.7 mi
1
Apr 1, 1973
EF3
69 km
9.8 mi
0
Jun 9, 1961
EF3
98 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 16, 1961
EF3
83 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 5, 1952
EF3
85 km
17.5 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
65 km
2.9 mi
0
Nov 2, 2018
EF2
50 km
5.5 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
62 km
15.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
69 km
13.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
40 km
5.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
83 km
4.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
78 km
8.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
15 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: PINNACLES (24,792 acres, 2000).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2000
PINNACLES
24,792
94 km
2024
WAITES RUN
5,496
79 km
2019
UNNAMED
2,460
98 km
2012
NEIGHBOR MTN FIRE
1,986
88 km
2011
SMITH RUN FIRE
1,908
68 km
2020
UNNAMED
1,572
88 km
2012
POINT 2
1,126
71 km
2024
ROCKY BRANCH
1,018
86 km
2014
BEAR DEN
945
98 km
2024
SERENITY RIDGE FIRE
877
93 km
1999
NCO
816
92 km
2019
KENNEDY PEAK
769
88 km
2012
WOLF GAP
710
91 km
1984
UNNAMED
696
65 km
2022
UNNAMED
618
88 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
31°F (-0°C)
2.8 in
Coldest
February
34°F (1°C)
2.5 in
Driest
March
42°F (6°C)
3.4 in
April
53°F (11°C)
3.3 in
May
62°F (17°C)
4.1 in
Wettest
June
70°F (21°C)
3.8 in
July
74°F (23°C)
3.7 in
Warmest
August
73°F (23°C)
3.6 in
September
67°F (19°C)
3.5 in
October
55°F (13°C)
3.3 in
November
45°F (7°C)
3.4 in
December
36°F (2°C)
2.9 in
Bolivar has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 31°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.2 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (2.5").