Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Greensboro enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 304 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 35.4 inches. The area receives 1.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 840 feet.
Temperature
45°F Jan (7°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
60.2°F
11% above US avg
January Average
45°F (7°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
304 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
840 ft (256 m)
Area
131.8 sq mi (341.4 km²)
Population Density
2,223/sq mi
Coordinates
36.0949°N, 79.8236°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Guilford County County
Nearest Airport
Piedmont Triad International (GSO) 7 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall35.4"
7% below US avg
Snowfall1.6"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.57"
Driest Month (Nov)3.03"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
93.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
42.8 / 100
Community Resilience
56.4 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Very High
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
13 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
106 km
9 km
May 16, 2009
2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia
M3.0
129 km
13 km
Jan 22, 1995
0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia
M2.9
137 km
9 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
141 km
8 km
Jul 6, 2023
5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia
M2.7
106 km
0 km
Aug 18, 2000
2 km SSE of Narrows, Virginia
M2.7
122 km
10 km
Jul 12, 1993
5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina
M2.7
7 km
5 km
Jun 10, 2018
2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina
M2.7
116 km
2 km
Jul 8, 2023
Virginia-North Carolina border region
M2.6
108 km
4 km
Feb 4, 2021
1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina
M2.6
125 km
2 km
Mar 28, 2011
2 km S of Pulaski, Virginia
M2.5
134 km
3 km
Mar 26, 2019
8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
M2.5
19 km
4 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
146 km
14 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
11 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
272 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
267 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
81 mph
298 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
275 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
202 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
269 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
270 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
142 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
235 km
1989
Hugo
Category 2
98 mph
194 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
271 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
244 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 19 fatalities, 469 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 27, 1988
EF4
100 km
83.0 mi
4
Apr 19, 2019
EF3
85 km
8.1 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
96 km
65.2 mi
6
Mar 28, 2010
EF3
27 km
4.3 mi
0
May 8, 2008
EF3
52 km
2.9 mi
0
May 7, 1998
EF3
51 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 20, 1998
EF3
37 km
12.0 mi
2
Nov 23, 1992
EF3
58 km
5.5 mi
2
May 5, 1989
EF3
38 km
10.5 mi
0
May 22, 1985
EF3
40 km
3.5 mi
0
Oct 7, 1965
EF3
50 km
1.0 mi
1
Sep 27, 2024
EF2
77 km
6.9 mi
0
Mar 23, 2022
EF2
95 km
1.9 mi
0
Feb 6, 2020
EF2
94 km
6.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
60 km
10.1 mi
0
Apr 15, 2018
EF2
8 km
32.8 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
72 km
5.9 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
59 km
16.1 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
93 km
3.2 mi
0
Nov 16, 2011
EF2
53 km
12.5 mi
2
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
8 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BULL MOUNTAIN (3,300 acres, 2006).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2006
BULL MOUNTAIN
3,300
76 km
2020
UWH NARROWS DAM RX
1,222
79 km
2021
GRINDSTONE
1,106
65 km
2019
ROBEDO SOUTH RX
727
87 km
2018
UNNAMED
665
86 km
2022
PINE ROAD
582
81 km
2022
UNNAMED
579
89 km
2020
UNNAMED
565
90 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
45°F (7°C)
3.5 in
February
42°F (5°C)
3.5 in
March
49°F (10°C)
4.0 in
April
58°F (15°C)
3.2 in
May
66°F (19°C)
4.2 in
June
74°F (23°C)
4.0 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.6 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
76°F (25°C)
4.1 in
September
70°F (21°C)
3.6 in
October
59°F (15°C)
3.5 in
November
50°F (10°C)
3.0 in
Driest
December
41°F (5°C)
3.4 in
Coldest
Greensboro has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 41°F in December to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.6") and November the driest (3.0").