Weather & Climate in Galestown, MD

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

Galestown experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°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 46.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 14 feet.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)

Annual Average	55.4°F
	3% above US avg
January Average	35°F (1°C)
July Average	77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days	293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	14 ft (4 m)
Area	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Population Density	321/sq mi
Coordinates	38.5626°N, 75.7158°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Wicomico County County
Nearest Airport	Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 17 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.3"

22% above US avg

Snowfall 12.8"

Wettest Month (Jul) 4.41"

Driest Month (Feb) 3.07"

Air Quality

AQI Median	41.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Low
Risk Score	60.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability	26.9 / 100
Community Resilience	76.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively Low
Hurricane	Relatively Moderate
Earthquake	Relatively Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Relatively Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Moderate
Lightning	Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm	Relatively Moderate
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Very Low
Coastal Flood	Relatively Low

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

Earthquake History

8 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	107 km	10 km
Jul 1, 2009	3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey	M2.8	122 km	5 km
Mar 15, 1993	5 km W of Columbia, Maryland	M2.7	127 km	5 km
Oct 28, 1994	1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland	M2.7	112 km	—
Jan 13, 1990	6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland	M2.6	139 km	5 km
Jun 25, 2021	2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland	M2.6	119 km	3 km
Feb 9, 2023	29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia	M2.6	82 km	11 km
Mar 10, 1993	3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland	M2.5	126 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	92 mph	222 km
2012	Sandy	Category 1	92 mph	221 km
2011	Irene	Category 1	75 mph	81 km
2003	Isabel	Category 1	75 mph	271 km
1999	Floyd	Category 1	—	199 km
1998	Bonnie	Category 1	86 mph	242 km
1993	Emily	Category 3	115 mph	240 km
1991	Bob	Category 3	115 mph	199 km
1986	Charley	Category 1	81 mph	137 km
1985	Gloria	Category 2	98 mph	107 km

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

Tornado History

217 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 106 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023	EF3	23 km	14.3 mi	1
Apr 28, 2002	EF3	53 km	18.0 mi	0
Sep 1, 2021	EF2	83 km	11.4 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	13 km	1.3 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	63 km	35.8 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	59 km	3.8 mi	0
Apr 15, 2019	EF2	11 km	6.2 mi	0
Jul 23, 2017	EF2	71 km	2.4 mi	0
May 18, 1995	EF2	42 km	10.0 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	86 km	4.0 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	93 km	0.8 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	91 km	7.0 mi	0
Jul 31, 1992	EF2	54 km	4.0 mi	0
May 2, 1989	EF2	97 km	5.0 mi	0
Jul 18, 1984	EF2	29 km	1.5 mi	0
Oct 13, 1983	EF2	77 km	4.0 mi	0
Jul 21, 1983	EF2	68 km	1.0 mi	2
Jun 27, 1978	EF2	84 km	6.9 mi	0
Jun 9, 1977	EF2	56 km	0.2 mi	0
Mar 21, 1976	EF2	75 km	0.2 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	—	—	145 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	32 km
2004	RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH	5,678	37 km
2014	BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14	5,433	35 km
2005	MARSH RX-FWS	4,380	33 km
2007	GUINEA MARSH	4,173	30 km
2009	DOCTORS CREEK	3,686	30 km
1999	FB R O C I	3,525	36 km
2019	MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT	3,197	35 km
2011	COMPARTMENT J	2,775	35 km
2005	ISLAND CREEK	2,729	30 km
2004	UNNAMED	2,156	31 km
1992	UNNAMED	2,038	30 km
2005	VEGETATION RESEARCH	1,926	29 km
2011	THOROFARE	1,850	30 km
1987	UNNAMED	1,692	37 km
2004	ROBBINS FIRE	1,612	37 km
1988	SLAU BCH 2	1,578	52 km
2020	SPLIT DITCH	1,518	100 km
2004	BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION	1,518	38 km
2014	RAILROAD	1,431	100 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	35°F (1°C)	3.8 in	Coldest
February	37°F (3°C)	3.1 in	Driest
March	45°F (7°C)	4.3 in
April	54°F (12°C)	3.4 in
May	64°F (18°C)	3.9 in
June	72°F (22°C)	3.5 in
July	77°F (25°C)	4.4 in	Warmest, Wettest
August	75°F (24°C)	4.3 in
September	69°F (21°C)	3.7 in
October	58°F (14°C)	3.2 in
November	48°F (9°C)	3.2 in
December	40°F (4°C)	3.4 in

Galestown has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.4") and February the driest (3.1").

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