Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Frankford enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (14°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 43.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 33 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
57.6°F
7% above US avg
January Average
37°F (3°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
33 ft (10 m)
Area
1.2 sq mi (3.0 km²)
Population Density
761/sq mi
Coordinates
38.5216°N, 75.2342°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Sussex County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 19 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall43.9"
15% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug)4.29"
Driest Month (Feb)3.19"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
94.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
70.4 / 100
Community Resilience
59.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Very High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
113 km
10 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
127 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
147 km
—
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
57 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
12 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2019
Dorian
Category 2
98 mph
292 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
92 mph
183 km
2012
Sandy
Category 2
92 mph
179 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
51 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
273 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
297 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
—
206 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
219 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
208 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
162 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
125 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
65 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
129 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 59 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
44 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
94 km
18.0 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
46 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
49 km
3.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
69 km
35.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
31 km
6.2 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
77 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 31, 1992
EF2
61 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 18, 1984
EF2
43 km
1.5 mi
0
Jul 21, 1983
EF2
84 km
1.0 mi
2
Jun 9, 1977
EF2
60 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF2
98 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 27, 1971
EF2
52 km
28.7 mi
0
Jul 30, 1971
EF2
93 km
8.3 mi
0
Jan 27, 1967
EF2
63 km
0.5 mi
0
May 6, 1956
EF2
88 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 12, 1955
EF2
14 km
2.7 mi
0
Aug 4, 2022
EF1
94 km
2.3 mi
0
Jul 9, 2021
EF1
88 km
0.9 mi
0
Jul 1, 2021
EF1
51 km
3.9 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1840
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Earthquake
—
—
142 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
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
69 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
75 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
73 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
71 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
66 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
66 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
72 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
72 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
73 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
65 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
66 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
67 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
66 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
67 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
75 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
74 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
42 km
2020
SPLIT DITCH
1,518
90 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
78 km
2014
RAILROAD
1,431
90 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
37°F (3°C)
3.8 in
Coldest
February
37°F (3°C)
3.2 in
Driest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.2 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.4 in
May
63°F (17°C)
3.8 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.4 in
July
79°F (26°C)
3.9 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.3 in
Wettest
September
69°F (21°C)
3.6 in
October
58°F (14°C)
3.4 in
November
49°F (9°C)
3.2 in
December
40°F (4°C)
3.6 in
Frankford has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.2").