Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gaston enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 305 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 49.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 124 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)80°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.6°F
10% above US avg
January Average
40°F (4°C)
July Average
80°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
124 ft (38 m)
Area
1.7 sq mi (4.4 km²)
Population Density
511/sq mi
Coordinates
36.4952°N, 77.6464°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Greensville County County
Nearest Airport
Halifax/Northampton Regional (RZZ) 11 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall49.5"
30% above US avg
Wettest Month (Jul)4.96"
Driest Month (Oct)2.91"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
17.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
95.4 / 100
Community Resilience
32.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
12 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.8.
Oct 21, 1998
13 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.8
125 km
13 km
Mar 15, 1991
7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.8
141 km
16 km
May 5, 2003
Virginia
M3.6
129 km
13 km
May 22, 2014
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia
M3.1
121 km
10 km
May 6, 2025
8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.0
130 km
8 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
131 km
1 km
Jan 14, 2025
1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.8
135 km
0 km
Mar 13, 2017
6 km ENE of Goochland, Virginia
M2.6
135 km
11 km
Feb 26, 2015
4 km NNE of Goochland, Virginia
M2.5
137 km
10 km
Sep 23, 2019
3 km WNW of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.5
135 km
8 km
Sep 3, 2001
Virginia
M2.5
110 km
5 km
Apr 29, 2000
3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia
M2.5
135 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
19 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
299 km
2019
Dorian
Category 2
104 mph
234 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
245 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
81 mph
249 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
199 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
154 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
252 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
252 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
23 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
291 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
117 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 2
109 mph
169 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
173 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
166 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
266 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
271 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
158 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
223 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
278 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
324 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 34 fatalities, 761 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 6, 1993
EF4
81 km
1.0 mi
4
Sep 27, 2024
EF3
60 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 8, 2024
EF3
98 km
6.5 mi
1
Jul 19, 2023
EF3
59 km
13.5 mi
0
Aug 3, 2020
EF3
96 km
10.0 mi
2
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
77 km
17.9 mi
12
Nov 15, 2008
EF3
86 km
8.2 mi
1
Apr 28, 2008
EF3
89 km
24.0 mi
0
May 4, 1990
EF3
93 km
8.0 mi
0
Oct 14, 1986
EF3
34 km
12.0 mi
0
May 8, 1984
EF3
95 km
5.0 mi
0
May 8, 1984
EF3
83 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
86 km
14.0 mi
2
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
57 km
6.0 mi
6
May 22, 1983
EF3
71 km
3.5 mi
0
Apr 19, 1978
EF3
43 km
35.6 mi
0
Jul 4, 1967
EF3
96 km
2.0 mi
0
Nov 8, 1957
EF3
89 km
46.9 mi
0
Mar 15, 1953
EF3
90 km
30.1 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
61 km
15.9 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
7 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: OLD STAGE ROAD (2,238 acres, 2008).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2008
OLD STAGE ROAD
2,238
56 km
2008
LYNCH ROAD
1,824
38 km
2008
POCAHONTAS ROAD
1,146
36 km
2008
SYCAMORE SHORES
1,044
25 km
2008
HIGHWAY 1
766
83 km
2017
VAGDR FY17 RX DGIF SUPPORT
674
70 km
2019
VAJRR-FY19-RX-FUEL REDUCTION
514
98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (4°C)
3.6 in
Coldest
February
42°F (6°C)
3.7 in
March
50°F (10°C)
3.8 in
April
58°F (15°C)
3.1 in
May
67°F (19°C)
4.0 in
June
75°F (24°C)
3.9 in
July
80°F (26°C)
5.0 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
77°F (25°C)
4.7 in
September
71°F (22°C)
3.5 in
October
60°F (16°C)
2.9 in
Driest
November
51°F (11°C)
3.0 in
December
43°F (6°C)
3.3 in
Gaston has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 40°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.0") and October the driest (2.9").