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Weather & Climate in Island Heights, NJ
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Island Heights experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 290 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 52.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 34 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (-0°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 52.6°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 32°F (-0°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 290 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,772/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.9418°N, 74.1438°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Ocean County County |
| Nearest Airport | South Jersey Regional (LLY) 37 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 39.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 48.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 90.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
22 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Apr 5, 2024 | 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake | M4.8 | 99 km | 3 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M3.7 | 98 km | 4 km |
| Oct 23, 1990 | 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey | M3.2 | 126 km | 10 km |
| Aug 26, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey | M3.1 | 110 km | 3 km |
| Jan 9, 1992 | 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey | M3.1 | 50 km | 8 km |
| Aug 3, 2025 | 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey | M3.0 | 102 km | 10 km |
| Oct 28, 1991 | 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut | M3.0 | 134 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2009 | 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey | M3.0 | 108 km | 0 km |
| May 24, 2024 | 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey | M2.9 | 100 km | 7 km |
| Apr 27, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.9 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey | M2.8 | 120 km | 12 km |
| Jul 1, 2009 | 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey | M2.8 | 119 km | 5 km |
| Apr 12, 1991 | 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York | M2.7 | 141 km | 9 km |
| Jan 25, 2015 | 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 129 km | 2 km |
| Aug 14, 2015 | 3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey | M2.6 | 97 km | 8 km |
| May 1, 2024 | 1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.6 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Apr 10, 2024 | 5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.6 | 97 km | 9 km |
| Jul 5, 1996 | 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 115 km | 18 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey | M2.6 | 99 km | 6 km |
| Oct 27, 2001 | 1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York | M2.6 | 96 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
9 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2021 | Henri | Category 1 | 75 mph | 276 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 81 mph | 228 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 2 | 92 mph | 200 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 75 mph | 218 km |
| 2010 | Earl | Category 1 | 81 mph | 292 km |
| 1993 | Emily | Category 2 | 109 mph | 299 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 3 | 109 mph | 152 km |
| 1986 | Charley | Category 1 | 75 mph | 297 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 47 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
187 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 3 fatalities, 125 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF3 | 99 km | 12.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF3 | 76 km | 3.4 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 80 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 21, 1983 | EF3 | 32 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 26, 1977 | EF3 | 57 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | EF3 | 65 km | 12.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 32 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 26 km | 1.6 mi | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 22 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Feb 21, 2023 | EF2 | 61 km | 5.8 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 95 km | 8.3 mi | 1 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF2 | 82 km | 6.3 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF2 | 21 km | 4.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 71 km | 20.8 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 2007 | EF2 | 77 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 2001 | EF2 | 48 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 20, 1999 | EF2 | 45 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1998 | EF2 | 88 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | EF2 | 78 km | 5.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 21, 1993 | EF2 | 67 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1964 | LONG ISLAND, NY | Meteorological | 0.3 m | — | 130 km |
| 1895 | HIGH BRIDGE, NJ | Earthquake | — | — | 102 km |
| 1840 | PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA | Earthquake | — | — | 92 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: GREENWOOD STATE FOREST (21,271 acres, 1995).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1995 | GREENWOOD STATE FOREST | 21,271 | 16 km |
| 2007 | WARREN GROVE | 15,315 | 32 km |
| 2022 | MULLICA RIVER FIRE | 13,082 | 54 km |
| 1999 | BASS RIVER | 12,129 | 41 km |
| 2019 | SPRING HILL FIRE | 8,182 | 31 km |
| 2023 | ALLEN ROAD | 6,213 | 43 km |
| 1992 | FORKED RIVER MOUTAIN APR | 5,093 | 15 km |
| 1992 | POWER PLANT | 4,928 | 14 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 4,470 | 31 km |
| 2024 | TEA TIME HILL | 4,444 | 42 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 3,780 | 48 km |
| 2017 | PENN SWAMP FIRE | 3,587 | 52 km |
| 2023 | JIMMYS WATER HOLE | 3,585 | 21 km |
| 1989 | SIMM PLACE | 3,262 | 31 km |
| 2002 | UNNAMED | 2,824 | 32 km |
| 2007 | ATSION | 2,705 | 55 km |
| 1992 | FOUR MILE COLONY | 2,647 | 36 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 2,625 | 47 km |
| 2010 | FORT DIX RANGE 1-14 | 2,615 | 34 km |
| 1990 | UNNAMED | 2,367 | 57 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F (-0°C) | 3.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 3.2 in | Driest |
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 in | |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 3.7 in | |
| June | 69°F (20°C) | 3.3 in | |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 74°F (23°C) | 4.6 in | Wettest |
| September | 67°F (20°C) | 3.5 in | |
| October | 56°F (14°C) | 3.2 in | |
| November | 47°F (9°C) | 3.8 in | |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 3.7 in |
Island Heights has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 32°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.5 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.6") and February the driest (3.2").