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Weather & Climate in Ellerbe, NC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Ellerbe enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (16°C). Winters average 42°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 48.1 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 485 feet.
Temperature
42°F Jan (6°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 61.5°F |
| 14% above US avg | |
| January Average | 42°F (6°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 310 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 485 ft (148 m) |
| Area | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 811/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.0695°N, 79.7570°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Richmond County County |
| Nearest Airport | Fayetteville Regional/Grannis Field (FAY) 50 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 60.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 78.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 32.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
18 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 | 102 km | 7 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 134 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 134 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 134 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 135 km | 4 km |
| Jun 5, 1998 | 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina | M3.2 | 108 km | 9 km |
| Mar 21, 2011 | 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina | M2.9 | 28 km | 8 km |
| Jan 29, 1994 | 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina | M2.9 | 140 km | 2 km |
| May 10, 2022 | 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.8 | 134 km | 2 km |
| Jul 12, 1993 | 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina | M2.7 | 108 km | 5 km |
| Mar 9, 2024 | 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.7 | 135 km | 3 km |
| May 10, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.6 | 133 km | 2 km |
| Apr 26, 2025 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.6 | 134 km | 2 km |
| Jan 5, 2022 | 5 km SW of Lugoff, South Carolina | M2.6 | 132 km | 0 km |
| Jan 3, 2022 | 5 km S of Lugoff, South Carolina | M2.5 | 132 km | 2 km |
| Sep 15, 2024 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.5 | 133 km | 2 km |
| Mar 26, 2019 | 8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina | M2.5 | 96 km | 4 km |
| Jul 29, 2012 | 7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina | M2.5 | 33 km | 14 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
19 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 | 203 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 174 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 109 mph | 252 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 2 | 104 mph | 172 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 1 | 92 mph | 188 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 98 mph | 252 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 86 mph | 291 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 244 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 171 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 231 km |
| 2003 | Isabel | Category 1 | 75 mph | 259 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 207 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 92 mph | 285 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 202 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 97 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 197 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 129 km |
| 1986 | Charley | Category 1 | 75 mph | 298 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 179 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
340 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 50 fatalities, 1,321 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 89 km | 13.0 mi | 1 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 100 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 47 km | 17.0 mi | 7 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 56 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 51 km | 40.0 mi | 4 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 90 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 67 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 57 km | 52.9 mi | 2 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 50 km | 65.2 mi | 6 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 85 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF3 | 85 km | 40.0 mi | 12 |
| May 20, 1980 | EF3 | 80 km | 10.7 mi | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1971 | EF3 | 76 km | 85.7 mi | 2 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | EF3 | 80 km | 77.3 mi | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1965 | EF3 | 65 km | 1.0 mi | 1 |
| Aug 29, 1964 | EF3 | 42 km | 21.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF2 | 44 km | 7.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 29 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 87 km | 6.2 mi | 0 |
| Mar 3, 2012 | EF2 | 87 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (3,968 acres, 1991).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,968 | 32 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,094 | 80 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 2,743 | 29 km |
| 2008 | 05/05 RX BURN | 2,351 | 67 km |
| 2007 | 06-09 RX BURN | 2,054 | 69 km |
| 2022 | SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE | 2,039 | 76 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 1,989 | 27 km |
| 2007 | LONGBRANCH-ROBESON COMPLEX | 1,944 | 87 km |
| 1998 | 981406 | 1,892 | 71 km |
| 1994 | CM 15 16 17 | 1,871 | 69 km |
| 2021 | SLATES CHURCH FIRE | 1,824 | 28 km |
| 1994 | COMP 1112 | 1,798 | 77 km |
| 1998 | 980803 | 1,780 | 66 km |
| 2000 | 2000 1003 | 1,768 | 73 km |
| 1999 | 19990505 | 1,756 | 66 km |
| 2016 | COUNTY LINE ROAD FIRE | 1,704 | 23 km |
| 1992 | COMP 15 | 1,697 | 69 km |
| 2018 | SCCRR-FY18-RX-COMP-14 | 1,687 | 72 km |
| 2012 | 4-NOV | 1,636 | 72 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 1,623 | 74 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42°F (6°C) | 4.0 in | Coldest |
| February | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 in | |
| March | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 in | |
| April | 60°F (16°C) | 2.9 in | Driest |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 75°F (24°C) | 4.4 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 5.5 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 4.7 in | |
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 3.7 in | |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 3.5 in | |
| November | 52°F (11°C) | 3.0 in | |
| December | 44°F (7°C) | 3.4 in |
Ellerbe has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 42°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.5") and April the driest (2.9").