Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Decatur enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 304 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 58.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 404 feet.
Temperature
46°F Jan (8°C)81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
64.1°F
19% above US avg
January Average
46°F (8°C)
July Average
81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
304 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
404 ft (123 m)
Area
5.6 sq mi (14.4 km²)
Population Density
368/sq mi
Coordinates
32.4340°N, 89.1112°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Newton County County
Nearest Airport
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International (JAN) 57 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall58.5"
54% above US avg
Snowfall0.4"
Wettest Month (Mar)6.46"
Driest Month (Oct)3.39"
Air Quality
AQI Median
43.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
52.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
94.4 / 100
Community Resilience
32.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
29 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.7.
Jul 16, 1993
2 km SSW of Silas, Alabama
M3.7
105 km
5 km
Jun 30, 2015
12 km W of Union, Alabama
M3.5
117 km
0 km
Mar 25, 1996
11 km NNE of Quitman, Mississippi
M3.5
53 km
5 km
May 28, 1995
14 km WSW of Coker, Alabama
M3.4
147 km
1 km
Jun 24, 1998
11 km W of Demopolis, Alabama
M3.4
109 km
5 km
Mar 22, 2005
9 km NNE of Coffeeville, Alabama
M3.3
119 km
5 km
May 3, 2015
7 km SSW of Canton, Mississippi
M3.2
92 km
5 km
Jun 29, 2015
6 km SSW of Canton, Mississippi
M3.2
91 km
5 km
Mar 12, 2015
14 km W of Union, Alabama
M3.1
115 km
0 km
May 16, 2008
10 km W of Coffeeville, Alabama
M3.1
113 km
5 km
Feb 27, 2015
11 km WSW of Union, Alabama
M3.1
117 km
0 km
May 21, 2002
7 km ESE of York, Alabama
M3.0
84 km
27 km
Mar 15, 2025
5 km NNE of Magee, Mississippi
M3.0
80 km
10 km
May 3, 2015
8 km WSW of Canton, Mississippi
M3.0
95 km
5 km
May 7, 1998
9 km SSE of Bellamy, Alabama
M2.8
94 km
10 km
Aug 9, 2019
Mississippi
M2.8
87 km
5 km
Feb 19, 2015
14 km W of Union, Alabama
M2.8
115 km
0 km
Aug 13, 2015
9 km WSW of Union, Alabama
M2.7
118 km
1 km
Feb 19, 2015
13 km W of Union, Alabama
M2.7
118 km
0 km
Jun 6, 2015
9 km W of Union, Alabama
M2.7
119 km
1 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
12 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2021
Ida
Category 3
121 mph
259 km
2020
Sally
Category 2
109 mph
243 km
2020
Zeta
Category 2
98 mph
117 km
2017
Nate
Category 1
75 mph
226 km
2005
Dennis
Category 3
127 mph
250 km
2005
Katrina
Category 3
121 mph
65 km
2004
Ivan
Category 3
121 mph
176 km
1998
Georges
Category 2
104 mph
205 km
1997
Danny
Category 1
81 mph
254 km
1995
Opal
Category 3
115 mph
248 km
1995
Erin
Category 2
98 mph
255 km
1985
Elena
Category 3
115 mph
204 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
808 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 56 fatalities, 798 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011
EF5
41 km
28.3 mi
3
Apr 28, 2014
EF4
58 km
33.4 mi
10
Apr 27, 2011
EF4
58 km
122.0 mi
7
Nov 22, 1992
EF4
76 km
40.0 mi
0
Jan 19, 1988
EF4
91 km
13.0 mi
0
Mar 12, 1986
EF4
32 km
23.0 mi
0
Feb 23, 1977
EF4
66 km
15.0 mi
2
Dec 2, 1967
EF4
34 km
7.6 mi
2
Mar 11, 1963
EF4
96 km
45.2 mi
2
May 1, 1953
EF4
72 km
0.1 mi
2
Jun 18, 2023
EF3
49 km
6.5 mi
1
Mar 22, 2022
EF3
27 km
9.2 mi
0
Dec 16, 2019
EF3
89 km
18.6 mi
0
Dec 16, 2019
EF3
85 km
61.2 mi
0
Apr 28, 2014
EF3
77 km
10.5 mi
0
Apr 28, 2014
EF3
33 km
4.3 mi
0
Apr 11, 2013
EF3
32 km
66.4 mi
1
Oct 17, 2012
EF3
32 km
14.4 mi
0
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
64 km
8.9 mi
0
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
18 km
10.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (5,062 acres, 2005).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2005
UNNAMED
5,062
98 km
2014
BIEN 75-78
4,658
43 km
2021
BIENVILLE - CPT 38-39-40
4,545
47 km
2005
UNNAMED
4,500
100 km
2010
CPT 341
4,101
95 km
2018
UNNAMED
4,007
46 km
2021
UNNAMED
3,956
98 km
2005
UNNAMED
3,794
98 km
2010
COMP 222-223-224
3,745
41 km
2016
MSNXR FY16 RX 1703B
3,633
92 km
1988
UNNAMED
3,616
90 km
1990
UNNAMED
3,605
90 km
2002
UNNAMED
3,593
89 km
2005
UNNAMED
3,556
93 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,547
53 km
2010
CPT 393
3,474
100 km
2010
CPT 343
3,474
94 km
1987
10 NOVEMBER
3,301
92 km
2019
UNNAMED
3,229
99 km
2010
CPT 389
3,200
98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
46°F (8°C)
5.4 in
Coldest
February
48°F (9°C)
5.3 in
March
56°F (13°C)
6.5 in
Wettest
April
63°F (17°C)
5.6 in
May
70°F (21°C)
4.5 in
June
77°F (25°C)
3.5 in
July
81°F (27°C)
5.1 in
Warmest
August
80°F (26°C)
3.9 in
September
74°F (24°C)
3.7 in
October
63°F (17°C)
3.4 in
Driest
November
54°F (12°C)
4.6 in
December
47°F (8°C)
5.8 in
Decatur has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 46°F in January to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 57.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.5") and October the driest (3.4").