Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Girdletree enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°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 47.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 10.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 21 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average
40°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
21 ft (6 m)
Area
0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)
Population Density
97/sq mi
Coordinates
38.0989°N, 75.4003°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Worcester County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 18 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.4"
25% above US avg
Snowfall10.2"
Wettest Month (Aug)4.37"
Driest Month (Nov)2.95"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
68.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
50.0 / 100
Community Resilience
91.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M2.9.
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
138 km
1 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
31 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
15 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
259 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
169 km
2012
Sandy
Category 2
92 mph
194 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
35 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
258 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
92 mph
278 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
256 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
293 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
157 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
183 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
187 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
151 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
80 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
85 km
1981
Dennis
Category 1
75 mph
292 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
116 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 52 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
76 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
86 km
18.0 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
0 km
3.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
97 km
15.6 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
50 km
1.3 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
55 km
6.2 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
91 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 18, 1984
EF2
80 km
1.5 mi
0
Oct 2, 1973
EF2
54 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 12, 1955
EF2
56 km
2.7 mi
0
Aug 4, 2022
EF1
58 km
2.3 mi
0
Jul 1, 2021
EF1
91 km
4.7 mi
0
Jul 1, 2021
EF1
89 km
3.9 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF1
83 km
2.2 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF1
88 km
2.1 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF1
72 km
6.2 mi
0
Aug 7, 2017
EF1
32 km
1.5 mi
0
Aug 27, 2011
EF1
77 km
0.6 mi
0
Jan 14, 2005
EF1
92 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 14, 2004
EF1
99 km
3.0 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
62 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
67 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
66 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
65 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
58 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
59 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
63 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
65 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
65 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
57 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
57 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
62 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
62 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
62 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
68 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
64 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
89 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
73 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
64 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
57 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (4°C)
3.6 in
February
38°F (3°C)
3.2 in
Coldest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.1 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.1 in
May
63°F (17°C)
3.5 in
June
71°F (22°C)
3.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.0 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.4 in
Wettest
September
69°F (21°C)
3.5 in
October
59°F (15°C)
3.1 in
November
49°F (10°C)
3.0 in
Driest
December
41°F (5°C)
3.4 in
Girdletree has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 38°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 41.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.4") and November the driest (3.0").