Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Brookhaven experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 32°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 44.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of 16 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (-0°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
52.4°F
3% below US avg
January Average
32°F (-0°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
275 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
16 ft (5 m)
Area
5.9 sq mi (15.3 km²)
Population Density
531/sq mi
Coordinates
40.7767°N, 72.9078°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Suffolk County County
Nearest Airport
John F Kennedy International (JFK) 47 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall44.2"
16% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar)4.06"
Driest Month (Jun)2.91"
Air Quality
AQI Median
36.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
97.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability
21.6 / 100
Community Resilience
94.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very High
Lightning
Very High
Ice Storm
Very High
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.3.
Jan 12, 2015
0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
M3.3
137 km
5 km
Jun 16, 2000
5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts
M3.3
147 km
10 km
Jan 9, 1992
4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey
M3.1
130 km
8 km
Apr 9, 2019
63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York
M3.0
89 km
7 km
Aug 3, 2025
0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
M3.0
97 km
10 km
Oct 28, 1991
3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut
M3.0
65 km
10 km
Feb 3, 2009
1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey
M3.0
137 km
0 km
Aug 5, 2025
1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
M2.8
99 km
12 km
Mar 10, 1992
2 km SW of Napeague, New York
M2.8
73 km
10 km
Apr 12, 1991
2 km ENE of North Castle, New York
M2.7
75 km
9 km
Aug 14, 2014
6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut
M2.7
72 km
4 km
Jan 13, 2015
2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
M2.6
138 km
9 km
May 1, 2024
1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M2.6
149 km
5 km
Aug 22, 2000
2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York
M2.6
94 km
7 km
Oct 27, 2001
1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York
M2.6
89 km
5 km
Aug 14, 2015
3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey
M2.6
140 km
8 km
Jan 15, 1992
5 km NNE of Tuxedo Park, New York
M2.5
117 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2021
Henri
Category 1
75 mph
223 km
2014
Arthur
Category 1
81 mph
225 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
277 km
1991
Bob
Category 2
109 mph
80 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
39 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
119 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 3 fatalities, 217 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 10, 1989
EF4
67 km
3.0 mi
0
Jul 29, 1971
EF3
87 km
0.1 mi
0
May 24, 1962
EF3
88 km
11.6 mi
1
Aug 21, 1951
EF3
96 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 12, 2006
EF2
87 km
10.1 mi
0
Aug 8, 1999
EF2
41 km
4.0 mi
0
Sep 7, 1998
EF2
67 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
97 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
12 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
93 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 5, 1984
EF2
99 km
3.0 mi
0
Sep 18, 1973
EF2
52 km
1.9 mi
0
Sep 18, 1973
EF2
92 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 12, 1973
EF2
95 km
1.5 mi
0
Jul 29, 1971
EF2
97 km
4.5 mi
0
Jul 19, 1971
EF2
57 km
1.5 mi
0
Sep 27, 1970
EF2
51 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 15, 1970
EF2
87 km
2.0 mi
0
Aug 7, 1962
EF2
99 km
2.5 mi
0
Oct 24, 1955
EF2
81 km
0.5 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1964
LONG ISLAND, NY
Meteorological
0.3 m
—
16 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CRESCENT BOW FIRE (1,068 acres, 2012).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2012
CRESCENT BOW FIRE
1,068
14 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (-0°C)
3.7 in
Coldest
February
32°F (0°C)
3.2 in
March
40°F (4°C)
4.1 in
Wettest
April
49°F (9°C)
3.8 in
May
58°F (15°C)
3.4 in
June
68°F (20°C)
2.9 in
Driest
July
74°F (23°C)
3.0 in
Warmest
August
72°F (22°C)
3.9 in
September
66°F (19°C)
3.2 in
October
55°F (13°C)
3.2 in
November
46°F (8°C)
3.9 in
December
36°F (2°C)
3.9 in
Brookhaven has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 32°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.1") and June the driest (2.9").