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Weather & Climate in Cornelius, NC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Cornelius enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 310 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 47.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 3.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 774 feet.
Temperature
41°F Jan (5°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 60.7°F |
| 12% above US avg | |
| January Average | 41°F (5°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 310 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 774 ft (236 m) |
| Area | 12.0 sq mi (31.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,522/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.4732°N, 80.8813°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Mecklenburg County County |
| Nearest Airport | Concord-Padgett Regional (USA) 11 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 97.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 17.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 59.7 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
36 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 114 km | 7 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 146 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 146 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 146 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 147 km | 4 km |
| Jun 5, 1998 | 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina | M3.2 | 13 km | 9 km |
| Aug 4, 2007 | 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M3.0 | 109 km | 9 km |
| Jan 1, 1993 | 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina | M3.0 | 118 km | 2 km |
| Jul 7, 1995 | 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee | M3.0 | 142 km | 10 km |
| Mar 21, 2011 | 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina | M2.9 | 120 km | 8 km |
| Aug 25, 2013 | 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina | M2.9 | 104 km | 9 km |
| Mar 6, 2006 | 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina | M2.8 | 140 km | 4 km |
| May 10, 2022 | 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.8 | 145 km | 2 km |
| Aug 14, 2025 | 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina | M2.7 | 121 km | 6 km |
| Jul 6, 2023 | 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia | M2.7 | 139 km | 0 km |
| Aug 30, 2010 | 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee | M2.7 | 136 km | 11 km |
| Jul 12, 1993 | 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina | M2.7 | 114 km | 5 km |
| Mar 21, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M2.7 | 106 km | 9 km |
| Jun 10, 2018 | 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina | M2.7 | 90 km | 2 km |
| Aug 17, 2021 | 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina | M2.7 | 81 km | 6 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 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 1 | 81 mph | 287 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 279 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | 92 mph | 280 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 1 | 86 mph | 279 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 273 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 299 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 200 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 88 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 287 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
362 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 19 fatalities, 374 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 7, 1998 | EF4 | 63 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 57 km | 13.0 mi | 1 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 63 km | 14.0 mi | 4 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 98 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF3 | 91 km | 4.3 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF3 | 72 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | EF3 | 76 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | EF3 | 40 km | 18.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 58 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF3 | 90 km | 10.5 mi | 0 |
| May 22, 1985 | EF3 | 89 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1965 | EF3 | 97 km | 1.0 mi | 1 |
| May 26, 2022 | EF2 | 53 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF2 | 71 km | 7.2 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 2020 | EF2 | 99 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 29 km | 6.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 58 km | 8.7 mi | 0 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 87 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 55 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 2017 | EF2 | 37 km | 3.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CHESTNUT KNOB (6,418 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | CHESTNUT KNOB | 6,418 | 72 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 4,610 | 69 km |
| 2017 | WHITE CREEK | 4,166 | 99 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 2,976 | 98 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 1,989 | 86 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 1,918 | 97 km |
| 2016 | TOMBSTONE | 1,747 | 77 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 1,554 | 97 km |
| 2016 | HORTON | 1,480 | 97 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 1,348 | 97 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 1,304 | 99 km |
| 2020 | C-2/3 EN | 1,225 | 96 km |
| 2020 | UWH NARROWS DAM RX | 1,222 | 74 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 1,097 | 91 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 1,064 | 94 km |
| 2002 | UNNAMED | 889 | 89 km |
| 2019 | UNNAMED | 848 | 100 km |
| 1985 | SCHOOLHOUSERIDGE | 816 | 98 km |
| 2024 | C-3B EN RX | 813 | 98 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 760 | 98 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41°F (5°C) | 3.9 in | Coldest |
| February | 43°F (6°C) | 3.7 in | |
| March | 51°F (10°C) | 4.5 in | Wettest |
| April | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 in | Driest |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 4.0 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 4.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 in | |
| September | 71°F (22°C) | 3.8 in | |
| October | 60°F (16°C) | 3.6 in | |
| November | 51°F (10°C) | 3.2 in | |
| December | 43°F (6°C) | 3.5 in |
Cornelius has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 41°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.3 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.5") and April the driest (3.1").