Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Littleton enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 79°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 47.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 5.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 381 feet.
Temperature
41°F Jan (5°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.8°F
11% above US avg
January Average
41°F (5°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
381 ft (116 m)
Area
1.0 sq mi (2.5 km²)
Population Density
469/sq mi
Coordinates
36.4343°N, 77.9110°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Halifax County County
Nearest Airport
Halifax/Northampton Regional (RZZ) 17 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.7"
25% above US avg
Snowfall5.5"
Wettest Month (Aug)4.57"
Driest Month (Apr)3.11"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
72.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
93.1 / 100
Community Resilience
21.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
11 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.8.
Oct 21, 1998
13 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.8
119 km
13 km
Mar 15, 1991
7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.8
146 km
16 km
May 5, 2003
Virginia
M3.6
133 km
13 km
May 22, 2014
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia
M3.1
123 km
10 km
May 6, 2025
8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.0
125 km
8 km
Jan 14, 2025
1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.8
144 km
0 km
Mar 13, 2017
6 km ENE of Goochland, Virginia
M2.6
141 km
11 km
Feb 26, 2015
4 km NNE of Goochland, Virginia
M2.5
143 km
10 km
Sep 23, 2019
3 km WNW of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.5
144 km
8 km
Sep 3, 2001
Virginia
M2.5
108 km
5 km
Apr 29, 2000
3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia
M2.5
145 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
18 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
287 km
2019
Dorian
Category 2
104 mph
249 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
240 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
81 mph
259 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
213 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
175 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
256 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
264 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
35 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
129 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 2
109 mph
174 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
155 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
162 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
286 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
109 mph
290 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
178 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
241 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
273 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
312 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 36 fatalities, 691 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Aug 6, 1993
EF4
95 km
1.0 mi
4
Nov 27, 1988
EF4
98 km
83.0 mi
4
Sep 27, 2024
EF3
52 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 8, 2024
EF3
87 km
6.5 mi
1
Jul 19, 2023
EF3
48 km
13.5 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
94 km
17.9 mi
12
Nov 15, 2008
EF3
76 km
8.2 mi
1
May 4, 1990
EF3
99 km
8.0 mi
0
Oct 14, 1986
EF3
40 km
12.0 mi
0
May 8, 1984
EF3
98 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
72 km
6.0 mi
6
May 22, 1983
EF3
72 km
3.5 mi
0
Apr 19, 1978
EF3
58 km
35.6 mi
0
Mar 24, 1969
EF3
82 km
0.1 mi
1
Nov 8, 1957
EF3
83 km
46.9 mi
0
Mar 15, 1953
EF3
76 km
30.1 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
86 km
15.9 mi
0
May 13, 2019
EF2
83 km
17.2 mi
0
Nov 2, 2018
EF2
94 km
1.7 mi
0
Oct 11, 2018
EF2
90 km
1.6 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
6 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: OLD STAGE ROAD (2,238 acres, 2008).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2008
OLD STAGE ROAD
2,238
71 km
2008
LYNCH ROAD
1,824
23 km
2008
POCAHONTAS ROAD
1,146
49 km
2008
SYCAMORE SHORES
1,044
38 km
2008
HIGHWAY 1
766
60 km
2017
VAGDR FY17 RX DGIF SUPPORT
674
92 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
41°F (5°C)
3.6 in
Coldest
February
41°F (5°C)
3.6 in
March
49°F (9°C)
3.9 in
April
58°F (14°C)
3.1 in
Driest
May
66°F (19°C)
3.9 in
June
73°F (23°C)
3.8 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.5 in
Warmest
August
76°F (25°C)
4.6 in
Wettest
September
70°F (21°C)
3.5 in
October
59°F (15°C)
3.2 in
November
50°F (10°C)
3.3 in
December
42°F (5°C)
3.3 in
Littleton has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 41°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.2 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.6") and April the driest (3.1").