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Weather & Climate in Iron Station, NC

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Iron Station enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 78°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 49.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 5.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 836 feet.

Temperature

41°F Jan (5°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.8°F
11% above US avg
January Average41°F (5°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation836 ft (255 m)
Area2.4 sq mi (6.1 km²)
Population Density306/sq mi
Coordinates35.4539°N, 81.1547°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyLincoln County County
Nearest AirportCharlotte/Douglas International (CLT)
20 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.5"
30% above US avg
Snowfall 5.6"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.61"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.11"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score73.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability39.8 / 100
Community Resilience55.8 / 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 Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

42 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 120 km 7 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.6 149 km 3 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.5 148 km 3 km
Jun 26, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.4 148 km 4 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 147 km 2 km
May 9, 2022 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina M3.3 149 km 4 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 35 km 9 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 96 km 2 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 131 km 10 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 85 km 9 km
Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 139 km 8 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 91 km 9 km
Feb 18, 2005 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina M2.9 149 km 1 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 118 km 4 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 138 km 3 km
May 10, 2022 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M2.8 148 km 2 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 96 km 6 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 146 km 0 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 82 km 9 km
Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 137 km 5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

7 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 81 mph 299 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 92 mph 298 km
2018 Florence Category 1 92 mph 299 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 86 mph 294 km
2004 Charley Category 1 81 mph 290 km
1996 Fran Category 3 115 mph 225 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 138 mph 84 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

370 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 16 fatalities, 341 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 51 km 4.0 mi 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 65 km 13.0 mi 1
May 5, 1989 EF4 82 km 15.0 mi 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 39 km 14.0 mi 4
May 8, 2008 EF3 91 km 2.9 mi 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 94 km 2.0 mi 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 98 km 30.0 mi 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 35 km 18.5 mi 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 68 km 12.0 mi 0
May 26, 2022 EF2 58 km 6.0 mi 0
Mar 31, 2022 EF2 92 km 7.2 mi 0
May 5, 2020 EF2 97 km 14.0 mi 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 39 km 8.7 mi 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 54 km 6.2 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 39 km 4.9 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 93 km 3.0 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 64 km 4.9 mi 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 51 km 3.2 mi 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 80 km 5.9 mi 0
Mar 3, 2012 EF2 48 km 2.9 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 acres, 2000).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 81 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 98 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 80 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 49 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 88 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 48 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 100 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 78 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 92 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 79 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 99 km
2016 UNNAMED 1,964 91 km
2009 UNNAMED 1,918 84 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 83 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 82 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 97 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 53 km
2017 DOBSON KNOB 1,720 86 km
2001 OAK MT. FIRE 1,677 87 km
2016 UNNAMED 1,554 84 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 41°F (5°C) 4.0 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 3.8 in
March 51°F (10°C) 4.6 in Wettest
April 58°F (15°C) 3.1 in Driest
May 66°F (19°C) 4.0 in
June 74°F (23°C) 4.1 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.0 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 4.1 in
September 70°F (21°C) 3.9 in
October 59°F (15°C) 3.5 in
November 50°F (10°C) 3.3 in
December 42°F (6°C) 3.7 in

Iron Station has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 41°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.6") and April the driest (3.1").

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