Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Burkittsville 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 41. The city sits at an elevation of 584 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
584 ft (178 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.2 km²)
Population Density
318/sq mi
Coordinates
39.3935°N, 77.6278°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Frederick County County
Nearest Airport
Eastern Wv Regional/Shepherd Field (MRB) 19 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall43.5"
14% above US avg
Wettest Month (May)3.98"
Driest Month (Feb)2.60"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
74.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
77.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
18 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
24 km
7 km
Jun 13, 2019
9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania
M3.4
115 km
27 km
Jun 3, 2010
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M3.1
95 km
2 km
Jan 17, 2016
3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
M3.0
19 km
5 km
Nov 14, 1997
0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania
M3.0
144 km
5 km
Apr 24, 2009
1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.9
91 km
1 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
85 km
5 km
Oct 25, 2009
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.8
96 km
1 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
65 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
89 km
—
Mar 11, 1995
0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania
M2.7
131 km
5 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
64 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
80 km
3 km
Jan 18, 1994
3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania
M2.6
149 km
5 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
66 km
3 km
Jul 27, 1997
5 km SSE of Culpeper, Virginia
M2.5
112 km
19 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
67 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2001
8 km S of Remington, Virginia
M2.5
105 km
5 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
270 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
300 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
292 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
396 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 5 fatalities, 228 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Sep 24, 2001
EF4
97 km
10.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF3
98 km
9.0 mi
0
Sep 24, 2001
EF3
76 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 19, 1996
EF3
57 km
2.2 mi
0
May 22, 1983
EF3
47 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 7, 1980
EF3
79 km
1.5 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
83 km
17.9 mi
1
Apr 1, 1973
EF3
71 km
9.8 mi
0
Jun 9, 1961
EF3
89 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 16, 1961
EF3
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 5, 1952
EF3
72 km
17.5 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
60 km
2.9 mi
0
Nov 2, 2018
EF2
40 km
5.5 mi
0
Apr 28, 2011
EF2
99 km
2.6 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
53 km
5.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
7 km
3.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
78 km
13.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
88 km
4.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
87 km
8.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
65 km
15.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
6 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: WAITES RUN (5,496 acres, 2024).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2024
WAITES RUN
5,496
92 km
2011
SMITH RUN FIRE
1,908
80 km
2012
POINT 2
1,126
84 km
2024
ROCKY BRANCH
1,018
98 km
1999
NCO
816
96 km
1984
UNNAMED
696
78 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
31°F (-0°C)
2.7 in
Coldest
February
33°F (1°C)
2.6 in
Driest
March
42°F (5°C)
3.4 in
April
52°F (11°C)
3.4 in
May
62°F (16°C)
4.0 in
Wettest
June
70°F (21°C)
3.8 in
July
74°F (23°C)
3.6 in
Warmest
August
73°F (23°C)
3.6 in
September
66°F (19°C)
3.4 in
October
55°F (13°C)
3.0 in
November
45°F (7°C)
3.3 in
December
36°F (2°C)
2.9 in
Burkittsville has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 31°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 39.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (2.6").