Weather & Climate in Fair Lakes, VA

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

Fair Lakes experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 75°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 43.6 inches. The area receives 18.5 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 456 feet.

Temperature

33°F Jan (0°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)

Annual Average	54.0°F
	0% below US avg
January Average	33°F (0°C)
July Average	75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days	293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	456 ft (139 m)
Area	2.4 sq mi (6.3 km²)
Population Density	3,636/sq mi
Coordinates	38.8531°N, 77.3893°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Fairfax city County
Nearest Airport	Washington Dulles International (IAD) 7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 43.6"

15% above US avg

Snowfall 18.5"

Wettest Month (May) 3.98"

Driest Month (Feb) 2.68"

Air Quality

AQI Median	35.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	5.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability	10.6 / 100
Community Resilience	75.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Hurricane	Relatively Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Very Low
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	No Rating
Cold Wave	Very Low
Landslide	Very Low

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

Earthquake History

45 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	115 km	6 km
Aug 25, 2011	8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia	M4.5	113 km	7 km
Aug 24, 2011	11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M4.2	115 km	0 km
Mar 15, 1991	7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia	M3.8	131 km	16 km
May 5, 2003	Virginia	M3.6	145 km	13 km
Jul 16, 2010	5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland	M3.6	45 km	7 km
Aug 24, 2011	16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia	M3.4	124 km	0 km
Sep 1, 2011	7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M3.4	111 km	3 km
Sep 22, 2001	5 km E of Pantops, Virginia	M3.2	127 km	0 km
Jan 30, 2012	9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia	M3.1	113 km	3 km
Jun 3, 2010	4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania	M3.1	142 km	2 km
Jan 17, 2016	3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia	M3.0	64 km	5 km
Oct 2, 2010	10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia	M3.0	112 km	19 km
Oct 12, 2011	9 km S of Louisa, Virginia	M3.0	114 km	4 km
Mar 26, 2012	13 km S of Louisa, Virginia	M3.0	118 km	9 km
Apr 24, 2009	1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania	M2.9	138 km	1 km
Sep 15, 2019	5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania	M2.8	126 km	5 km
Aug 23, 2011	9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia	M2.8	113 km	0 km
Mar 15, 2015	6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia	M2.8	111 km	5 km
Apr 21, 1998	1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia	M2.8	128 km	2 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.

Year	Name	Category	Max Wind	Closest
2011	Irene	Category 1	75 mph	224 km
2003	Isabel	Category 1	75 mph	241 km
1999	Floyd	Category 1	—	255 km
1986	Charley	Category 1	81 mph	251 km
1985	Gloria	Category 2	98 mph	256 km

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

Tornado History

468 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 369 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002	EF4	38 km	38.0 mi	3
Sep 24, 2001	EF4	60 km	10.0 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF3	51 km	9.0 mi	0
Sep 24, 2001	EF3	36 km	17.5 mi	2
Jul 19, 1996	EF3	80 km	2.2 mi	0
Oct 18, 1990	EF3	80 km	3.5 mi	0
May 22, 1983	EF3	95 km	2.0 mi	0
Sep 5, 1979	EF3	28 km	17.9 mi	1
Jan 26, 1978	EF3	40 km	0.7 mi	1
Apr 1, 1973	EF3	8 km	9.8 mi	0
Jun 9, 1961	EF3	77 km	0.1 mi	0
Sep 1, 2021	EF2	69 km	11.4 mi	0
Nov 2, 2018	EF2	58 km	5.5 mi	0
Jul 23, 2017	EF2	91 km	2.4 mi	0
May 8, 2008	EF2	56 km	3.4 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF2	4 km	15.0 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF2	43 km	8.0 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF2	80 km	7.0 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF2	36 km	13.0 mi	0
Sep 17, 2004	EF2	26 km	4.0 mi	0

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

Wildfire History

10 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PINNACLES (24,792 acres, 2000).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2000	PINNACLES	24,792	85 km
2012	NEIGHBOR MTN FIRE	1,986	87 km
2011	SMITH RUN FIRE	1,908	69 km
2012	POINT 2	1,126	83 km
2024	ROCKY BRANCH	1,018	84 km
2024	SERENITY RIDGE FIRE	877	98 km
1999	NCO	816	34 km
2019	KENNEDY PEAK	769	94 km
1984	UNNAMED	696	82 km
2022	UNNAMED	618	97 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	33°F (0°C)	2.8 in	Coldest
February	36°F (2°C)	2.7 in	Driest
March	45°F (7°C)	3.4 in
April	55°F (13°C)	3.1 in
May	64°F (18°C)	4.0 in	Wettest
June	73°F (23°C)	3.7 in
July	75°F (24°C)	3.5 in
August	76°F (24°C)	3.7 in	Warmest
September	69°F (20°C)	3.6 in
October	57°F (14°C)	3.2 in
November	47°F (8°C)	3.4 in
December	38°F (3°C)	3.1 in

Fair Lakes has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 33°F in January to 76°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 40.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (2.7").

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