Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Fishing Creek enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (15°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 79°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 45.3 inches. The area receives 12.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 2 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.3°F
8% above US avg
January Average
37°F (3°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2 ft (1 m)
Area
1.4 sq mi (3.5 km²)
Population Density
169/sq mi
Coordinates
38.3370°N, 76.2217°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Dorchester County County
Nearest Airport
Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 17 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall45.3"
19% above US avg
Snowfall12.5"
Wettest Month (Mar)4.33"
Driest Month (Feb)3.11"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
53.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
60.6 / 100
Community Resilience
97.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
16 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.6.
Jul 16, 2010
5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland
M3.6
146 km
7 km
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
145 km
10 km
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
126 km
19 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
113 km
1 km
Jan 14, 2025
1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.8
140 km
0 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
116 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
112 km
—
Aug 25, 2011
7 km SE of Mineral, Virginia
M2.6
149 km
6 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
134 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
116 km
3 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
107 km
11 km
Sep 23, 2019
3 km WNW of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.5
143 km
8 km
Jun 25, 2001
8 km S of Remington, Virginia
M2.5
140 km
5 km
Apr 29, 2000
3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia
M2.5
133 km
5 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
119 km
3 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
115 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
10 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
235 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
264 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
110 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
224 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
171 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
249 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
251 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
228 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
138 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
150 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
322 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 301 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002
EF4
87 km
38.0 mi
3
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
69 km
14.3 mi
1
Feb 24, 2016
EF3
91 km
30.3 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
12 km
18.0 mi
0
Sep 24, 2001
EF3
93 km
17.5 mi
2
Aug 6, 1993
EF3
90 km
2.9 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
89 km
17.9 mi
1
Jan 26, 1978
EF3
96 km
0.7 mi
1
Nov 2, 1966
EF3
62 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
66 km
11.4 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
52 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
80 km
15.6 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
42 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
77 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
61 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
71 km
2.4 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
90 km
2.8 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
70 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 5, 1995
EF2
83 km
2.5 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
62 km
10.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
20 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
14 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
16 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
18 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
23 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
22 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
16 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
16 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
16 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
23 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
23 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
21 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
22 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
22 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
14 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
15 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
14 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
16 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
24 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,260
13 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
37°F (3°C)
3.7 in
Coldest
February
38°F (3°C)
3.1 in
Driest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.3 in
Wettest
April
55°F (13°C)
3.2 in
May
64°F (18°C)
4.0 in
June
73°F (23°C)
3.4 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.1 in
Warmest
August
76°F (24°C)
4.1 in
September
70°F (21°C)
3.7 in
October
58°F (15°C)
3.2 in
November
49°F (9°C)
3.2 in
December
40°F (5°C)
3.3 in
Fishing Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.3 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").