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Weather & Climate in Harrisburg, NC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Harrisburg enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 80°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 47.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 3.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 633 feet.
Temperature
41°F Jan (5°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 60.7°F |
| 12% above US avg | |
| January Average | 41°F (5°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 310 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Area | 9.1 sq mi (23.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,528/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.3075°N, 80.6456°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Cabarrus County County |
| Nearest Airport | Concord-Padgett Regional (USA) 7 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 87.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 12.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 68.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
29 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 93 km | 7 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 127 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 127 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 127 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 128 km | 4 km |
| Jun 5, 1998 | 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina | M3.2 | 30 km | 9 km |
| Aug 4, 2007 | 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M3.0 | 132 km | 9 km |
| Jan 1, 1993 | 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina | M3.0 | 145 km | 2 km |
| Feb 18, 2005 | 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina | M2.9 | 139 km | 1 km |
| Aug 25, 2013 | 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina | M2.9 | 132 km | 9 km |
| Mar 21, 2011 | 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina | M2.9 | 92 km | 8 km |
| May 10, 2022 | 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.8 | 126 km | 2 km |
| Aug 14, 2025 | 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina | M2.7 | 141 km | 6 km |
| Jul 12, 1993 | 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina | M2.7 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Mar 21, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M2.7 | 129 km | 9 km |
| Jun 10, 2018 | 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina | M2.7 | 114 km | 2 km |
| Mar 9, 2024 | 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.7 | 127 km | 3 km |
| Aug 17, 2021 | 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina | M2.7 | 109 km | 6 km |
| May 10, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.6 | 127 km | 2 km |
| Jan 5, 2022 | 5 km SW of Lugoff, South Carolina | M2.6 | 125 km | 0 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
12 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 | 260 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 251 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | 92 mph | 252 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 1 | 86 mph | 251 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 245 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 274 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 292 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 287 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 177 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 279 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 79 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 259 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
362 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 19 fatalities, 406 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 7, 1998 | EF4 | 91 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 87 km | 14.0 mi | 4 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 37 km | 13.0 mi | 1 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 87 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 76 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF3 | 89 km | 4.3 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2008 | EF3 | 79 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | EF3 | 83 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | EF3 | 42 km | 18.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 37 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF3 | 95 km | 10.5 mi | 0 |
| May 22, 1985 | EF3 | 94 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1965 | EF3 | 83 km | 1.0 mi | 1 |
| May 26, 2022 | EF2 | 77 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF2 | 43 km | 7.2 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 2020 | EF2 | 87 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 77 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 71 km | 8.7 mi | 0 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 22 km | 6.2 mi | 0 |
| Jan 11, 2020 | EF2 | 98 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CHESTNUT KNOB (6,418 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | CHESTNUT KNOB | 6,418 | 98 km |
| 2010 | BURNING UNIT | 5,567 | 99 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 4,610 | 96 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,094 | 96 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 2,743 | 98 km |
| 2008 | 05/05 RX BURN | 2,351 | 84 km |
| 2007 | 06-09 RX BURN | 2,054 | 88 km |
| 2022 | SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE | 2,039 | 91 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 1,989 | 59 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 1,918 | 98 km |
| 1998 | 981406 | 1,892 | 94 km |
| 1994 | CM 15 16 17 | 1,871 | 94 km |
| 1994 | COMP 1112 | 1,798 | 91 km |
| 1998 | 980803 | 1,780 | 89 km |
| 2000 | 2000 1003 | 1,768 | 91 km |
| 1999 | 19990505 | 1,756 | 84 km |
| 1992 | COMP 15 | 1,697 | 92 km |
| 2018 | SCCRR-FY18-RX-COMP-14 | 1,687 | 93 km |
| 2012 | 4-NOV | 1,636 | 92 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 1,623 | 94 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 in | Coldest |
| February | 44°F (6°C) | 3.7 in | |
| March | 51°F (11°C) | 4.5 in | Wettest |
| April | 59°F (15°C) | 3.0 in | Driest |
| May | 67°F (20°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 75°F (24°C) | 4.1 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 4.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 4.1 in | |
| September | 71°F (22°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 60°F (16°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 51°F (11°C) | 3.2 in | |
| December | 43°F (6°C) | 3.4 in |
Harrisburg has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 41°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.5") and April the driest (3.0").