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Weather & Climate in Chatham, NJ
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Chatham experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 271 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 50.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 24.0 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 238 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
76°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 53.3°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 76°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 271 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 238 ft (73 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,940/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.7407°N, 74.3845°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Union County County |
| Nearest Airport | Newark Liberty International (EWR) 12 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 39.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 55.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 30.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
27 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Apr 5, 2024 | 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake | M4.8 | 32 km | 3 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.6 | 147 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.2 | 145 km | 5 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M3.7 | 31 km | 4 km |
| Jan 9, 1992 | 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey | M3.1 | 42 km | 8 km |
| Aug 26, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey | M3.1 | 63 km | 3 km |
| Aug 3, 2025 | 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey | M3.0 | 31 km | 10 km |
| Oct 28, 1991 | 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut | M3.0 | 77 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2009 | 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey | M3.0 | 19 km | 0 km |
| May 24, 2024 | 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey | M2.9 | 32 km | 7 km |
| Apr 27, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.9 | 31 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 145 km | 5 km |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey | M2.8 | 42 km | 12 km |
| May 10, 1993 | 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 145 km | 5 km |
| Apr 12, 1991 | 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York | M2.7 | 77 km | 9 km |
| Jan 25, 2015 | 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 136 km | 2 km |
| Jul 5, 1996 | 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 132 km | 18 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey | M2.6 | 33 km | 6 km |
| Oct 27, 2001 | 1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York | M2.6 | 35 km | 5 km |
| Apr 10, 2024 | 5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.6 | 29 km | 9 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 1 | 92 mph | 290 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 75 mph | 298 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 109 mph | 191 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 93 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
250 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 13 fatalities, 142 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF3 | 86 km | 3.4 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | EF3 | 86 km | 20.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 44 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1988 | EF3 | 67 km | 7.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 26, 1977 | EF3 | 43 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 21, 1976 | EF3 | 72 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | EF3 | 31 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | EF3 | 12 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | EF3 | 62 km | 12.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 65 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 66 km | 1.6 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 75 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Feb 21, 2023 | EF2 | 58 km | 5.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF2 | 65 km | 6.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 88 km | 20.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2009 | EF2 | 61 km | 7.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2009 | EF2 | 76 km | 4.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 2007 | EF2 | 26 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 2006 | EF2 | 57 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 2001 | EF2 | 44 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis 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 | — | 108 km |
| 1895 | HIGH BRIDGE, NJ | Earthquake | — | — | 43 km |
| 1840 | PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA | Earthquake | — | — | 125 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (23,000 acres, 1985).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 23,000 | 55 km |
| 2016 | 16 MILE | 7,896 | 82 km |
| 1992 | FORKED RIVER MOUTAIN APR | 5,093 | 98 km |
| 2024 | JENNINGS CREEK | 5,069 | 49 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 4,470 | 83 km |
| 2023 | JIMMYS WATER HOLE | 3,585 | 82 km |
| 2002 | UNNAMED | 2,824 | 82 km |
| 2015 | ROOSA GAP | 2,747 | 100 km |
| 1992 | FOUR MILE COLONY | 2,647 | 99 km |
| 2010 | FORT DIX RANGE 1-14 | 2,615 | 82 km |
| 1997 | UNNAMED | 1,793 | 84 km |
| 2002 | JAKES BRANCH | 1,364 | 93 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 1,318 | 82 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 1,280 | 100 km |
| 1998 | UNNAMED | 1,118 | 94 km |
| 1997 | UNNAMED | 1,042 | 95 km |
| 2015 | WOODMANSIE FIRE | 1,003 | 97 km |
| 2002 | UNNAMED | 1,002 | 84 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 992 | 100 km |
| 2003 | UNNAMED | 974 | 91 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.9 in | Coldest |
| February | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.1 in | Driest |
| March | 40°F (4°C) | 4.1 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 4.3 in | |
| May | 60°F (16°C) | 4.7 in | |
| June | 69°F (20°C) | 4.2 in | |
| July | 76°F (24°C) | 5.0 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 4.4 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 4.6 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 44°F (7°C) | 4.3 in | |
| December | 34°F (1°C) | 3.8 in |
Chatham has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 31°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.0") and February the driest (3.1").