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Weather & Climate in Lansing, NC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Lansing experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 305 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 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 2,705 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 53.4°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 305 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,705 ft (824 m) |
| Area | 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 600/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.4995°N, 81.5096°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Ashe County County |
| Nearest Airport | Foothills Regional (MRN) 47 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 66.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 84.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 33.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
40 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.4.
| Feb 12, 1994 | 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia | M3.4 | 55 km | 5 km |
| Jun 26, 1995 | 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia | M3.4 | 28 km | 2 km |
| Sep 13, 2017 | 11 km NE of Peterstown, West Virginia | M3.2 | 130 km | 18 km |
| Jun 5, 1998 | 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina | M3.2 | 124 km | 9 km |
| Jul 7, 1995 | 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee | M3.0 | 29 km | 10 km |
| Jan 1, 1993 | 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina | M3.0 | 86 km | 2 km |
| Aug 4, 2007 | 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M3.0 | 124 km | 9 km |
| Jan 22, 1995 | 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia | M2.9 | 89 km | 9 km |
| Aug 25, 2013 | 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina | M2.9 | 40 km | 9 km |
| Aug 14, 2009 | 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia | M2.9 | 82 km | 16 km |
| Mar 6, 2006 | 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina | M2.8 | 99 km | 4 km |
| Jul 4, 2009 | 3 km E of Narrows, Virginia | M2.8 | 113 km | 0 km |
| Feb 15, 2005 | 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia | M2.8 | 85 km | 11 km |
| Feb 12, 2021 | 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee | M2.8 | 100 km | 3 km |
| Jul 15, 2021 | 10 km S of Narrows, Virginia | M2.8 | 103 km | 20 km |
| May 12, 2017 | 6 km SSW of Narrows, Virginia | M2.8 | 105 km | 4 km |
| Aug 14, 2025 | 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina | M2.7 | 146 km | 6 km |
| Jul 6, 2023 | 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia | M2.7 | 74 km | 0 km |
| Mar 21, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M2.7 | 121 km | 9 km |
| Nov 8, 1990 | 6 km WSW of Cumberland, Kentucky | M2.7 | 147 km | 3 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 1.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 2 | 75 mph | 292 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 1 | — | 204 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
147 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 7 fatalities, 144 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 7, 1998 | EF4 | 71 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 43 km | 19.6 mi | 3 |
| Jul 10, 1980 | EF3 | 82 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | EF3 | 54 km | 8.4 mi | 1 |
| May 26, 2022 | EF2 | 79 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 23, 2022 | EF2 | 85 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 85 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 2017 | EF2 | 96 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 2017 | EF2 | 99 km | 16.1 mi | 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 94 km | 4.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 45 km | 12.0 mi | 2 |
| Apr 8, 2011 | EF2 | 88 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Oct 26, 2010 | EF2 | 94 km | 2.5 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF2 | 42 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF2 | 63 km | 1.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 7, 2005 | EF2 | 88 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 7, 2005 | EF2 | 80 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF2 | 87 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF2 | 63 km | 15.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1979 | EF2 | 85 km | 0.3 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 | 79 km |
| 2007 | LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) | 7,151 | 83 km |
| 2016 | CHESTNUT KNOB | 6,418 | 99 km |
| 1987 | SAMS BRANCH | 5,872 | 90 km |
| 1991 | BRADSHAW | 5,029 | 95 km |
| 1987 | KIWIS CREEK | 4,879 | 85 km |
| 2001 | CROCKETT BRANCH | 4,702 | 93 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 4,610 | 89 km |
| 2001 | MOUNTAIN FORK | 4,393 | 94 km |
| 2017 | WHITE CREEK | 4,166 | 81 km |
| 1987 | SOUTH FORK OF TUG RIVER | 3,490 | 92 km |
| 1995 | JIM BRANCH | 3,019 | 100 km |
| 1991 | JOHNSON HOLLOW | 2,987 | 81 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 2,976 | 74 km |
| 2000 | TIPTON HILL | 2,661 | 83 km |
| 1987 | RAYSAL | 2,658 | 94 km |
| 2001 | PUCKETT RIDGE | 2,291 | 93 km |
| 2007 | UNNAMED | 2,242 | 30 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 2,194 | 45 km |
| 2008 | SUNRISE | 1,906 | 81 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 3.6 in | |
| February | 33°F (1°C) | 4.0 in | Coldest |
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 4.9 in | |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 4.3 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 5.0 in | Wettest |
| June | 64°F (18°C) | 4.5 in | |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 4.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 67°F (19°C) | 4.4 in | |
| September | 62°F (16°C) | 4.3 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 4.2 in | |
| December | 35°F (2°C) | 3.5 in | Driest |
Lansing has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 33°F in February to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 51.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (5.0") and December the driest (3.5").