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Weather & Climate in Madison, MD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Madison enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (15°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 79°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 47.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 14.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 3 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 58.1°F |
| 8% above US avg | |
| January Average | 37°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 293 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Area | 3.2 sq mi (8.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 45/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.5089°N, 76.2042°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Dorchester County County |
| Nearest Airport | Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 10 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 53.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 60.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 97.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
14 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.6.
| Jul 16, 2010 | 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland | M3.6 | 134 km | 7 km |
| Oct 23, 1990 | 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey | M3.2 | 127 km | 10 km |
| Oct 2, 2010 | 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia | M3.0 | 136 km | 19 km |
| Aug 3, 1995 | 13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia | M2.9 | 131 km | 1 km |
| Jul 1, 2009 | 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey | M2.8 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Mar 15, 1993 | 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland | M2.7 | 100 km | 5 km |
| Oct 28, 1994 | 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland | M2.7 | 94 km | — |
| Jan 13, 1990 | 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland | M2.6 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Jun 25, 2021 | 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland | M2.6 | 99 km | 3 km |
| Feb 9, 2023 | 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia | M2.6 | 113 km | 11 km |
| Jun 25, 2001 | 8 km S of Remington, Virginia | M2.5 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Apr 29, 2000 | 3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia | M2.5 | 145 km | 5 km |
| Sep 29, 1997 | Virginia | M2.5 | 113 km | 3 km |
| Mar 10, 1993 | 3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland | M2.5 | 100 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
10 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 92 mph | 248 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 1 | 92 mph | 263 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 75 mph | 115 km |
| 2003 | Isabel | Category 1 | 75 mph | 241 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 1 | — | 190 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 1 | 86 mph | 262 km |
| 1993 | Emily | Category 3 | 115 mph | 265 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 3 | 115 mph | 234 km |
| 1986 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 152 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 149 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
346 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 13 fatalities, 291 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 28, 2002 | EF4 | 85 km | 38.0 mi | 3 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF3 | 56 km | 14.3 mi | 1 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | EF3 | 13 km | 18.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2001 | EF3 | 82 km | 17.5 mi | 2 |
| Sep 5, 1979 | EF3 | 82 km | 17.9 mi | 1 |
| Jan 26, 1978 | EF3 | 95 km | 0.7 mi | 1 |
| Nov 2, 1966 | EF3 | 77 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1961 | EF3 | 85 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 51 km | 11.4 mi | 0 |
| May 3, 2021 | EF2 | 70 km | 4.4 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 99 km | 15.6 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 84 km | 3.8 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 90 km | 35.8 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 40 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2019 | EF2 | 54 km | 6.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 2017 | EF2 | 52 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2002 | EF2 | 68 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 5, 1995 | EF2 | 73 km | 2.5 mi | 0 |
| May 18, 1995 | EF2 | 44 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 27, 1994 | EF2 | 65 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2017 | BESTPITCH | 7,743 | 22 km |
| 2004 | RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH | 5,678 | 18 km |
| 2014 | BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 | 5,433 | 19 km |
| 2005 | MARSH RX-FWS | 4,380 | 19 km |
| 2007 | GUINEA MARSH | 4,173 | 26 km |
| 2009 | DOCTORS CREEK | 3,686 | 25 km |
| 1999 | FB R O C I | 3,525 | 21 km |
| 2019 | MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT | 3,197 | 19 km |
| 2011 | COMPARTMENT J | 2,775 | 19 km |
| 2005 | ISLAND CREEK | 2,729 | 26 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 2,156 | 27 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 2,038 | 22 km |
| 2005 | VEGETATION RESEARCH | 1,926 | 22 km |
| 2011 | THOROFARE | 1,850 | 22 km |
| 1987 | UNNAMED | 1,692 | 16 km |
| 2004 | ROBBINS FIRE | 1,612 | 21 km |
| 1988 | SLAU BCH 2 | 1,578 | 90 km |
| 2004 | BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION | 1,518 | 11 km |
| 2009 | BECKERS ISLAND | 1,398 | 21 km |
| 2022 | ELLIOTTS ISLAND | 1,324 | 27 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F (3°C) | 3.7 in | Coldest |
| February | 37°F (3°C) | 3.1 in | Driest |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 in | Wettest |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 in | |
| May | 64°F (18°C) | 4.1 in | |
| June | 73°F (23°C) | 3.5 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 4.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 4.1 in | |
| September | 70°F (21°C) | 3.7 in | |
| October | 58°F (15°C) | 3.2 in | |
| November | 49°F (9°C) | 3.3 in | |
| December | 40°F (5°C) | 3.5 in |
Madison has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.9 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").