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Weather & Climate in Franconia, VA

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

Franconia enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 81°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 41.8 inches. The area receives 13.7 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 243 feet.

Temperature

38°F Jan (3°C) 81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average38°F (3°C)
July Average81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation243 ft (74 m)
Area3.5 sq mi (9.0 km²)
Population Density5,213/sq mi
Coordinates38.7679°N, 77.1583°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyAlexandria city County
Nearest AirportRonald Reagan Washington Ntl (DCA)
9 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 41.8"
10% above US avg
Snowfall 13.7"
Wettest Month (May) 3.90"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.72"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score73.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability15.4 / 100
Community Resilience45.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively 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 M5.8 117 km 6 km
Aug 25, 2011 8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M4.5 115 km 7 km
Aug 24, 2011 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M4.2 118 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 59 km 7 km
Aug 24, 2011 16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia M3.4 125 km 0 km
Sep 1, 2011 7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M3.4 113 km 3 km
Sep 22, 2001 5 km E of Pantops, Virginia M3.2 136 km 0 km
Jan 30, 2012 9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia M3.1 116 km 3 km
Jun 3, 2010 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M3.1 148 km 2 km
Jan 17, 2016 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia M3.0 84 km 5 km
Oct 2, 2010 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia M3.0 107 km 19 km
Oct 12, 2011 9 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 117 km 4 km
Mar 26, 2012 13 km S of Louisa, Virginia M3.0 120 km 9 km
Apr 24, 2009 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.9 145 km 1 km
Sep 15, 2019 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania M2.8 130 km 5 km
Aug 23, 2011 9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 115 km 0 km
Mar 15, 2015 6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia M2.8 113 km 5 km
Apr 21, 1998 1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia M2.8 140 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 202 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 75 mph 235 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 — 238 km
1986 Charley Category 1 81 mph 229 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 98 mph 235 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

464 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 360 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002 EF4 24 km 38.0 mi 3
Sep 24, 2001 EF4 75 km 10.0 mi 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF3 62 km 9.0 mi 0
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 84 km 18.0 mi 0
Sep 24, 2001 EF3 24 km 17.5 mi 2
Jul 19, 1996 EF3 83 km 2.2 mi 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 88 km 3.5 mi 0
Sep 5, 1979 EF3 7 km 17.9 mi 1
Jan 26, 1978 EF3 32 km 0.7 mi 1
Apr 1, 1973 EF3 15 km 9.8 mi 0
Nov 2, 1966 EF3 96 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 67 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 50 km 11.4 mi 0
Nov 2, 2018 EF2 65 km 5.5 mi 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 73 km 2.4 mi 0
May 8, 2008 EF2 55 km 3.4 mi 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 52 km 13.0 mi 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 24 km 15.0 mi 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 98 km 5.0 mi 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 86 km 7.0 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

5 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: SMITH RUN FIRE (1,908 acres, 2011).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2011 SMITH RUN FIRE 1,908 89 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 97 km
1999 NCO 816 31 km
2001 A 1 M 2 594 96 km
2005 A 1 561 97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (3°C) 3.1 in
February 37°F (3°C) 2.7 in Coldest, Driest
March 46°F (8°C) 3.5 in
April 55°F (13°C) 3.1 in
May 65°F (18°C) 3.9 in Wettest
June 73°F (23°C) 3.5 in
July 81°F (27°C) 3.8 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 3.8 in
September 70°F (21°C) 3.7 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.2 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.3 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.2 in

Franconia has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 37°F in February to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.9") and February the driest (2.7").

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