Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Fayetteville enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 79°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 54.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 44. The city sits at an elevation of 866 feet.
Temperature
45°F Jan (7°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
62.8°F
16% above US avg
January Average
45°F (7°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
304 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
866 ft (264 m)
Area
11.1 sq mi (28.6 km²)
Population Density
1,494/sq mi
Coordinates
33.4491°N, 84.4728°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Fayette County County
Nearest Airport
Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) 13 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall54.2"
43% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar)5.63"
Driest Month (Oct)3.07"
Air Quality
AQI Median
44.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
61.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
61.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.5.
Mar 18, 2003
11 km S of Rayle, Georgia
M3.5
149 km
5 km
Jan 18, 2000
11 km SSE of Gray, Georgia
M3.5
111 km
19 km
Dec 7, 2009
4 km WNW of Deepstep, Georgia
M3.2
144 km
7 km
Apr 4, 2009
15 km N of Milledgeville, Georgia
M3.1
121 km
0 km
Feb 17, 1991
6 km N of Goldville, Alabama
M2.9
126 km
1 km
Apr 6, 2017
6 km WSW of Sparta, Georgia
M2.7
135 km
11 km
Jul 4, 2012
11 km NNE of Deepstep, Georgia
M2.7
148 km
10 km
Feb 7, 2007
7 km N of Trion, Georgia
M2.6
150 km
11 km
Jun 2, 2017
7 km NW of Broomtown, Alabama
M2.6
147 km
13 km
Sep 12, 2022
13 km NE of Jackson, Georgia
M2.5
58 km
1 km
Apr 6, 2017
6 km WSW of Sparta, Georgia
M2.5
134 km
10 km
May 18, 2015
0 km NNW of Crawfordville, Georgia
M2.5
146 km
1 km
May 25, 2017
16 km SE of LaFayette, Georgia
M2.5
143 km
10 km
Aug 9, 2001
9 km SSE of Dalton, Georgia
M2.5
144 km
0 km
Aug 18, 1993
2 km NNW of Lakeview Estates, Georgia
M2.5
50 km
0 km
May 4, 1990
4 km WSW of Menlo, Georgia
M2.5
149 km
12 km
Jan 28, 1998
7 km NNW of Broomtown, Alabama
M2.5
147 km
0 km
May 11, 1998
2 km SSE of Glencoe, Alabama
M2.5
144 km
2 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Helene
Category 2
109 mph
263 km
2018
Michael
Category 3
92 mph
159 km
1995
Opal
Category 1
92 mph
242 km
1985
Kate
Category 1
75 mph
235 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
514 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 38 fatalities, 1,071 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 25, 2021
EF4
70 km
38.6 mi
0
Mar 27, 1994
EF4
92 km
49.0 mi
3
Nov 22, 1992
EF4
55 km
20.0 mi
0
Nov 22, 1992
EF4
100 km
32.0 mi
5
Mar 26, 2023
EF3
90 km
21.5 mi
0
Jan 12, 2023
EF3
32 km
31.2 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF3
68 km
16.6 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF3
62 km
5.3 mi
0
Mar 2, 2012
EF3
89 km
29.0 mi
0
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
52 km
30.8 mi
2
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
33 km
21.7 mi
2
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
98 km
23.1 mi
0
Mar 15, 2008
EF3
93 km
16.9 mi
2
Feb 26, 2008
EF3
77 km
7.2 mi
0
Mar 1, 2007
EF3
96 km
9.7 mi
0
Jan 2, 2006
EF3
33 km
3.0 mi
0
Feb 21, 1993
EF3
58 km
8.0 mi
0
Mar 29, 1991
EF3
45 km
5.0 mi
0
Mar 5, 1989
EF3
38 km
14.0 mi
0
Mar 24, 1975
EF3
36 km
14.8 mi
3
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: COMPT 163 (4,755 acres, 2010).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2010
COMPT 163
4,755
96 km
2021
UNNAMED
3,808
85 km
2007
14A-14B-15A-16E-17E
3,397
80 km
2006
10 A 11 E 11 W RX BURN
2,969
81 km
2007
UNNAMED
2,753
96 km
1988
COMP 10
2,588
81 km
2015
UNNAMED
2,574
94 km
2010
COMPT 2
2,505
84 km
2014
UNNAMED
2,433
88 km
2010
COMPT 120
2,412
80 km
1999
COMP 1312
2,401
81 km
2018
COMPARTMENT 4 5 6 7 8
2,386
86 km
2019
UNNAMED
2,294
74 km
2009
30
2,195
88 km
2021
UNNAMED
2,143
97 km
2018
UNNAMED
2,101
95 km
2013
UNNAMED
2,077
76 km
2019
COMPARTMENT 107
2,058
66 km
2022
UNNAMED
2,047
66 km
2016
UNNAMED
1,974
97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
45°F (7°C)
5.0 in
Coldest
February
46°F (8°C)
4.8 in
March
54°F (12°C)
5.6 in
Wettest
April
61°F (16°C)
4.1 in
May
69°F (20°C)
4.1 in
June
76°F (24°C)
3.8 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.9 in
Warmest
August
78°F (26°C)
3.9 in
September
73°F (23°C)
3.4 in
October
62°F (17°C)
3.1 in
Driest
November
53°F (12°C)
3.7 in
December
46°F (8°C)
4.3 in
Fayetteville has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 45°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.6") and October the driest (3.1").