Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Goldston 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 310 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 45.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 1.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 404 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.4°F
10% above US avg
January Average
40°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
310 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
404 ft (123 m)
Area
0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²)
Population Density
346/sq mi
Coordinates
35.5934°N, 79.3260°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Chatham County County
Nearest Airport
Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) 36 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall45.9"
21% above US avg
Snowfall1.5"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.69"
Driest Month (Apr)3.07"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
67.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
46.9 / 100
Community Resilience
56.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Jun 5, 1998
4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina
M3.2
132 km
9 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
97 km
8 km
Jul 12, 1993
5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina
M2.7
67 km
5 km
Mar 26, 2019
8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
M2.5
62 km
4 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
102 km
14 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
18 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2022
Ian
Category 1
81 mph
255 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
203 km
2019
Dorian
Category 2
104 mph
275 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
196 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
86 mph
234 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
256 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
262 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
252 km
2004
Gaston
Category 1
75 mph
290 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
208 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
191 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
199 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
199 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
72 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
170 km
1989
Hugo
Category 2
98 mph
189 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
276 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
200 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
291 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 34 fatalities, 790 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 27, 1988
EF4
60 km
83.0 mi
4
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
28 km
65.2 mi
6
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
67 km
52.9 mi
2
Mar 28, 2010
EF3
79 km
4.3 mi
0
Nov 23, 1992
EF3
60 km
160.0 mi
0
Nov 23, 1992
EF3
56 km
5.5 mi
2
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
95 km
40.0 mi
12
Feb 22, 1971
EF3
68 km
85.7 mi
2
Oct 7, 1965
EF3
46 km
1.0 mi
1
Aug 29, 1964
EF3
89 km
21.9 mi
0
Mar 31, 2022
EF2
99 km
7.2 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF2
99 km
0.2 mi
0
May 13, 2019
EF2
84 km
17.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
38 km
10.1 mi
0
Apr 15, 2018
EF2
64 km
32.8 mi
0
Nov 16, 2011
EF2
81 km
12.5 mi
2
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
100 km
26.2 mi
0
Mar 27, 2009
EF2
86 km
2.0 mi
0
May 8, 2008
EF2
81 km
3.9 mi
1
Jan 14, 2005
EF2
95 km
0.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (3,968 acres, 1991).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1991
UNNAMED
3,968
98 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,743
96 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,989
87 km
2021
SLATES CHURCH FIRE
1,824
70 km
2016
COUNTY LINE ROAD FIRE
1,704
67 km
2006
OVERHILLS
1,436
51 km
2010
CHUCKS FIRST BIG ONE
1,252
71 km
2020
UWH NARROWS DAM RX
1,222
70 km
2018
STRAUSBURG ROAD
1,219
70 km
2017
GARDNER FARM LANE
1,112
71 km
2016
UNNAMED
1,090
51 km
2011
VALENTINE
1,083
95 km
2002
UNNAMED
889
88 km
2022
CEDAR CREEK
872
98 km
2009
UNNAMED
871
82 km
2008
HIGHWAY 1
766
98 km
2019
UNNAMED
748
58 km
1992
COMP 6 B
737
87 km
2019
ROBEDO SOUTH RX
727
65 km
2015
RIFLE RANGE FIRE
698
69 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (4°C)
4.0 in
Coldest
February
43°F (6°C)
3.7 in
March
51°F (10°C)
4.3 in
April
59°F (15°C)
3.1 in
Driest
May
67°F (19°C)
4.1 in
June
74°F (24°C)
4.1 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.7 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
77°F (25°C)
4.6 in
September
71°F (22°C)
3.7 in
October
60°F (15°C)
3.4 in
November
51°F (11°C)
3.2 in
December
43°F (6°C)
3.4 in
Goldston has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.7") and April the driest (3.1").