Weather & Climate in Colonial Beach, VA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Colonial Beach experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 76°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 48.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 15.1 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 33 feet.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 76°F Jul (24°C)

Annual Average	55.2°F
	2% above US avg
January Average	35°F (1°C)
July Average	76°F (24°C)
Sunny Days	293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Area	2.5 sq mi (6.3 km²)
Population Density	1,604/sq mi
Coordinates	38.2644°N, 76.9937°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Westmoreland County County
Nearest Airport	St Mary's County Regional (LTW) 24 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.1"

27% above US avg

Snowfall 15.1"

Wettest Month (Aug) 4.17"

Driest Month (Feb) 2.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median	35.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	37.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability	74.2 / 100
Community Resilience	61.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively Low
Hurricane	Relatively Moderate
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Very Low
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Very Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Relatively Low
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	Very Low
Landslide	Very Low
Coastal Flood	Relatively Moderate

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

44 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.8.

Aug 23, 2011	11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M5.8	91 km	6 km
Aug 25, 2011	8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia	M4.5	92 km	7 km
Aug 24, 2011	11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M4.2	93 km	0 km
Mar 15, 1991	7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia	M3.8	99 km	16 km
May 5, 2003	Virginia	M3.6	110 km	13 km
Jul 16, 2010	5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland	M3.6	117 km	7 km
Aug 24, 2011	16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia	M3.4	97 km	0 km
Sep 1, 2011	7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M3.4	89 km	3 km
Sep 22, 2001	5 km E of Pantops, Virginia	M3.2	126 km	0 km
Jan 30, 2012	9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia	M3.1	94 km	3 km
May 22, 2014	15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia	M3.1	125 km	10 km
Jan 17, 2016	3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia	M3.0	138 km	5 km
Oct 12, 2011	9 km S of Louisa, Virginia	M3.0	94 km	4 km
Oct 2, 2010	10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia	M3.0	65 km	19 km
Mar 26, 2012	13 km S of Louisa, Virginia	M3.0	96 km	9 km
Aug 3, 1995	13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia	M2.9	100 km	1 km
Aug 23, 2011	9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M2.8	90 km	0 km
Mar 15, 2015	6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia	M2.8	90 km	5 km
Apr 21, 1998	1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia	M2.8	138 km	2 km
Jan 14, 2025	1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia	M2.8	82 km	0 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 3.

Year	Name	Category	Max Wind	Closest
2014	Arthur	Category 2	98 mph	281 km
2011	Irene	Category 1	75 mph	175 km
2003	Isabel	Category 1	75 mph	185 km
1999	Floyd	Category 1	81 mph	181 km
1998	Bonnie	Category 1	86 mph	284 km
1993	Emily	Category 3	115 mph	294 km
1991	Bob	Category 3	115 mph	290 km
1986	Charley	Category 1	81 mph	185 km
1985	Gloria	Category 2	98 mph	218 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

415 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 11 fatalities, 337 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002	EF4	36 km	38.0 mi	3
Sep 24, 2001	EF4	92 km	10.0 mi	0
Feb 24, 2016	EF3	52 km	30.3 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF3	76 km	9.0 mi	0
Apr 28, 2002	EF3	63 km	18.0 mi	0
Sep 24, 2001	EF3	74 km	17.5 mi	2
Apr 1, 1998	EF3	70 km	5.0 mi	2
Aug 6, 1993	EF3	84 km	2.9 mi	0
Oct 18, 1990	EF3	72 km	5.0 mi	1
Oct 18, 1990	EF3	85 km	3.5 mi	0
Sep 5, 1979	EF3	58 km	17.9 mi	1
Jan 26, 1978	EF3	37 km	0.7 mi	1
Apr 1, 1973	EF3	66 km	9.8 mi	0
Nov 2, 1966	EF3	39 km	0.1 mi	0
Sep 1, 2021	EF2	74 km	11.4 mi	0
May 3, 2021	EF2	50 km	4.4 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	91 km	15.6 mi	0
Apr 19, 2019	EF2	79 km	2.0 mi	0
Jul 23, 2017	EF2	96 km	2.4 mi	0
Apr 16, 2011	EF2	99 km	2.8 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2017	BESTPITCH	7,743	88 km
2004	RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH	5,678	81 km
2014	BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14	5,433	83 km
2005	MARSH RX-FWS	4,380	85 km
2007	GUINEA MARSH	4,173	91 km
2009	DOCTORS CREEK	3,686	90 km
1999	FB R O C I	3,525	84 km
2019	MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT	3,197	84 km
2011	COMPARTMENT J	2,775	84 km
2005	ISLAND CREEK	2,729	91 km
2004	UNNAMED	2,156	91 km
1992	UNNAMED	2,038	89 km
2005	VEGETATION RESEARCH	1,926	90 km
2011	THOROFARE	1,850	89 km
1987	UNNAMED	1,692	81 km
2004	ROBBINS FIRE	1,612	83 km
2004	BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION	1,518	78 km
2009	BECKERS ISLAND	1,398	84 km
2022	ELLIOTTS ISLAND	1,324	92 km
2006	UNNAMED	1,260	80 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	35°F (1°C)	3.2 in	Coldest
February	38°F (4°C)	2.9 in	Driest
March	46°F (8°C)	3.5 in
April	56°F (13°C)	3.1 in
May	65°F (18°C)	3.8 in
June	73°F (23°C)	3.5 in
July	76°F (24°C)	3.9 in
August	76°F (24°C)	4.2 in	Warmest, Wettest
September	70°F (21°C)	3.5 in
October	58°F (15°C)	3.1 in
November	49°F (9°C)	3.2 in
December	40°F (5°C)	3.3 in

Colonial Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 76°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 41.1 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (2.9").

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