Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Dover enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 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 57.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 62 feet.
Temperature
46°F Jan (8°C)80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
63.0°F
17% above US avg
January Average
46°F (8°C)
July Average
80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
301 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
62 ft (19 m)
Area
1.0 sq mi (2.5 km²)
Population Density
395/sq mi
Coordinates
35.2155°N, 77.4338°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Lenoir County County
Nearest Airport
Kinston Regional Jetport At Stallings Field (ISO) 13 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall57.2"
50% above US avg
Wettest Month (Jul)6.02"
Driest Month (Nov)2.87"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
84.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
89.8 / 100
Community Resilience
51.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.6.
Aug 6, 1994
4 km SSW of Bayboro, North Carolina
M3.6
60 km
0 km
Feb 11, 2014
7 km NW of Hobucken, North Carolina
M2.9
74 km
4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
23 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2022
Ian
Category 1
81 mph
268 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
176 km
2019
Dorian
Category 2
109 mph
124 km
2018
Florence
Category 3
109 mph
102 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
86 mph
127 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
95 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
86 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
118 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
147 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
196 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
76 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
165 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
79 km
1999
Dennis
Category 2
104 mph
199 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
46 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
98 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
28 km
1994
Gordon
Category 1
86 mph
232 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
212 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
206 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
502 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 34 fatalities, 907 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
34 km
28.0 mi
16
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
77 km
21.0 mi
3
Sep 27, 2024
EF3
91 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 8, 2024
EF3
68 km
6.5 mi
1
Jul 19, 2023
EF3
96 km
13.5 mi
0
Aug 3, 2020
EF3
89 km
10.0 mi
2
Apr 25, 2014
EF3
43 km
21.0 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
54 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
41 km
20.4 mi
0
Nov 15, 2008
EF3
74 km
8.2 mi
1
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
42 km
9.0 mi
0
Mar 4, 1977
EF3
31 km
4.9 mi
0
May 15, 1972
EF3
41 km
8.5 mi
0
Mar 17, 1965
EF3
31 km
41.3 mi
2
Nov 8, 1957
EF3
61 km
46.9 mi
0
Apr 8, 1957
EF3
73 km
8.0 mi
0
Mar 15, 1953
EF3
86 km
30.1 mi
0
Aug 7, 2024
EF2
88 km
4.7 mi
0
Aug 7, 2024
EF2
34 km
9.5 mi
0
Sep 5, 2019
EF2
71 km
13.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (77,768 acres, 1986).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1986
UNNAMED
77,768
84 km
2011
JUNIPER ROAD
31,511
81 km
1994
FISH DAY
21,772
51 km
1994
UNNAMED
7,944
71 km
1985
UNNAMED
5,807
68 km
1986
UNNAMED
4,031
100 km
2007
TRAINING FIRE
3,843
92 km
2024
HIGHWAY 12
3,502
100 km
2006
BELL ISLAND CENTRAL UNIT 2 1 2
3,307
99 km
2009
CAROLINA BAY
3,056
68 km
1995
UNNAMED
3,042
92 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,970
77 km
1992
GREAT LAKE
2,843
51 km
2020
CRO BRIERY BRANCH C-5/6 RX
2,783
46 km
2016
UNNAMED
2,462
45 km
1989
UNNAMED
2,420
88 km
2009
2-1-3 BELL ISLAND SOUTH
2,297
98 km
2002
BT-11
2,193
91 km
2020
TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD
2,076
87 km
2006
UNNAMED
2,027
65 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
46°F (8°C)
4.4 in
February
45°F (7°C)
3.7 in
Coldest
March
52°F (11°C)
4.1 in
April
61°F (16°C)
3.4 in
May
68°F (20°C)
4.3 in
June
75°F (24°C)
4.7 in
July
80°F (27°C)
6.0 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
78°F (25°C)
5.9 in
September
73°F (23°C)
4.9 in
October
62°F (17°C)
3.4 in
November
54°F (12°C)
2.9 in
Driest
December
46°F (8°C)
3.5 in
Dover has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 45°F in February to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 51.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (6.0") and November the driest (2.9").