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Weather & Climate in Highfield-Cascade, MD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Highfield-Cascade experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 74°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 48.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 1,301 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 53.4°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 293 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,301 ft (397 m) |
| Area | 1.7 sq mi (4.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 624/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.7136°N, 77.4946°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Frederick County County |
| Nearest Airport | Hagerstown Regional/Richard A Henson Field (HGR) 12 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 74.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 77.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
25 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Jan 16, 1994 | 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.6 | 142 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.2 | 144 km | 5 km |
| Jul 16, 2010 | 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland | M3.6 | 51 km | 7 km |
| Jun 13, 2019 | 9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania | M3.4 | 79 km | 27 km |
| Jun 3, 2010 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M3.1 | 61 km | 2 km |
| Jan 17, 2016 | 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia | M3.0 | 52 km | 5 km |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania | M3.0 | 116 km | 5 km |
| Apr 24, 2009 | 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 56 km | 1 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 144 km | 5 km |
| Sep 15, 2019 | 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 55 km | 5 km |
| May 10, 1993 | 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 144 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 2009 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 61 km | 1 km |
| Mar 15, 1993 | 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland | M2.7 | 74 km | 5 km |
| Oct 28, 1994 | 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland | M2.7 | 90 km | — |
| Mar 11, 1995 | 0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania | M2.7 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Jan 13, 1990 | 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland | M2.6 | 62 km | 5 km |
| Jun 25, 2021 | 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland | M2.6 | 81 km | 3 km |
| Jan 18, 1994 | 3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 121 km | 5 km |
| Oct 28, 1996 | 2 km W of Reinholds, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Jan 8, 1995 | 1 km WSW of Montrose Manor, Pennsylvania | M2.5 | 143 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 75 mph | 281 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 297 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
391 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 5 fatalities, 204 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Sep 24, 2001 | EF3 | 98 km | 17.5 mi | 2 |
| Jul 19, 1996 | EF3 | 50 km | 2.2 mi | 0 |
| May 22, 1983 | EF3 | 21 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1980 | EF3 | 47 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1961 | EF3 | 94 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 16, 1961 | EF3 | 38 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1952 | EF3 | 45 km | 17.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 37 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 92 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 2018 | EF2 | 49 km | 5.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF2 | 65 km | 2.6 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 2004 | EF2 | 96 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | EF2 | 99 km | 15.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | EF2 | 60 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | EF2 | 84 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | EF2 | 35 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2001 | EF2 | 44 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1996 | EF2 | 41 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1996 | EF2 | 96 km | 20.0 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 1995 | EF2 | 97 km | 2.5 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.0 in | Coldest |
| February | 31°F (-0°C) | 2.9 in | Driest |
| March | 40°F (4°C) | 3.4 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 60°F (16°C) | 4.2 in | Wettest |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 4.2 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 3.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 3.5 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 3.5 in | |
| November | 44°F (6°C) | 3.7 in | |
| December | 34°F (1°C) | 3.2 in |
Highfield-Cascade has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 31°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.5 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (2.9").