Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Chester enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 308 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 47.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 44. The city sits at an elevation of 356 feet.
Temperature
49°F Jan (9°C)82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
65.8°F
22% above US avg
January Average
49°F (9°C)
July Average
82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
308 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
356 ft (109 m)
Area
0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²)
Population Density
1,941/sq mi
Coordinates
32.3944°N, 83.1557°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Bleckley County County
Nearest Airport
Middle Georgia Regional (MCN) 35 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.0"
24% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar)4.76"
Driest Month (Oct)2.40"
Air Quality
AQI Median
44.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
25.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
74.3 / 100
Community Resilience
52.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
15 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.9.
Jun 18, 2022
7 km E of Stillmore, Georgia
M3.9
96 km
1 km
Jul 13, 2003
6 km N of Cobbtown, Georgia
M3.6
95 km
5 km
Jan 18, 2000
11 km SSE of Gray, Georgia
M3.5
65 km
19 km
Mar 18, 2003
11 km S of Rayle, Georgia
M3.5
146 km
5 km
Dec 7, 2009
4 km WNW of Deepstep, Georgia
M3.2
72 km
7 km
Apr 4, 2009
15 km N of Milledgeville, Georgia
M3.1
91 km
0 km
Apr 6, 2017
6 km WSW of Sparta, Georgia
M2.7
97 km
11 km
Jul 4, 2012
11 km NNE of Deepstep, Georgia
M2.7
83 km
10 km
Apr 23, 1993
14 km E of Mount Zion, Georgia
M2.7
113 km
0 km
May 3, 2011
6 km WNW of Mitchell, Georgia
M2.6
101 km
28 km
Sep 12, 2022
13 km NE of Jackson, Georgia
M2.5
128 km
1 km
Apr 6, 2017
6 km WSW of Sparta, Georgia
M2.5
97 km
10 km
May 18, 2015
0 km NNW of Crawfordville, Georgia
M2.5
132 km
1 km
Mar 4, 1996
9 km SW of Soperton, Georgia
M2.5
47 km
1 km
May 17, 1997
9 km SW of Soperton, Georgia
M2.5
47 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
9 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Helene
Category 4
138 mph
123 km
2024
Debby
Category 1
81 mph
278 km
2023
Idalia
Category 3
115 mph
170 km
2018
Michael
Category 5
161 mph
77 km
2016
Matthew
Category 3
115 mph
252 km
2016
Hermine
Category 1
81 mph
246 km
1989
Hugo
Category 2
98 mph
293 km
1985
Kate
Category 2
98 mph
105 km
1985
Bob
Category 1
75 mph
251 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
403 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 45 fatalities, 761 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 22, 1992
EF4
92 km
32.0 mi
5
Apr 30, 1953
EF4
48 km
1.0 mi
18
Apr 5, 2022
EF3
45 km
3.9 mi
0
Feb 18, 2009
EF3
99 km
10.4 mi
1
May 11, 2008
EF3
54 km
7.7 mi
0
May 11, 2008
EF3
87 km
7.3 mi
0
Mar 1, 2007
EF3
81 km
9.7 mi
0
Apr 15, 1999
EF3
86 km
14.5 mi
0
Feb 18, 1975
EF3
75 km
9.7 mi
2
Jan 13, 1972
EF3
90 km
33.6 mi
0
Apr 23, 1971
EF3
90 km
13.5 mi
0
Dec 25, 1964
EF3
87 km
0.1 mi
2
Mar 31, 1961
EF3
56 km
1.0 mi
1
Apr 8, 1957
EF3
61 km
14.7 mi
1
Apr 30, 1953
EF3
39 km
2.0 mi
1
Mar 3, 1952
EF3
67 km
4.3 mi
0
Apr 5, 2022
EF2
72 km
5.8 mi
0
Dec 17, 2019
EF2
94 km
20.3 mi
0
Mar 3, 2019
EF2
78 km
6.7 mi
0
Apr 5, 2017
EF2
17 km
20.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (3,808 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
UNNAMED
3,808
94 km
2007
14A-14B-15A-16E-17E
3,397
95 km
2006
10 A 11 E 11 W RX BURN
2,969
96 km
2007
UNNAMED
2,753
92 km
1988
COMP 10
2,588
97 km
2015
UNNAMED
2,574
95 km
2010
COMPT 2
2,505
90 km
2014
UNNAMED
2,433
93 km
2010
COMPT 120
2,412
100 km
1999
COMP 1312
2,401
97 km
2018
COMPARTMENT 4 5 6 7 8
2,386
87 km
2009
30
2,195
85 km
2021
UNNAMED
2,143
92 km
2018
UNNAMED
2,101
95 km
2016
UNNAMED
1,974
92 km
2005
RX BURN 8C/9E/10A
1,839
97 km
2006
7 8 A 8 B 9 W RX BURN
1,805
100 km
2018
GAPDR-FY18-RX-10B 11A 11B 11C 11X
1,803
96 km
2016
GAPDR FY16 RX 31A 31B 31C
1,795
90 km
2009
UNNAMED
1,788
98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
49°F (9°C)
4.7 in
Coldest
February
50°F (10°C)
4.5 in
March
58°F (14°C)
4.8 in
Wettest
April
64°F (18°C)
3.4 in
May
72°F (22°C)
3.3 in
June
78°F (26°C)
4.1 in
July
82°F (28°C)
4.7 in
Warmest
August
80°F (27°C)
4.3 in
September
76°F (24°C)
3.1 in
October
66°F (19°C)
2.4 in
Driest
November
57°F (14°C)
3.0 in
December
50°F (10°C)
3.9 in
Chester has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 49°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.8") and October the driest (2.4").