Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
McGaheysville experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 302 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 39.0 inches. The area receives 19.4 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 1,141 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (0°C)75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
53.6°F
1% below US avg
January Average
32°F (0°C)
July Average
75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
302 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,141 ft (348 m)
Area
0.9 sq mi (2.2 km²)
Population Density
1,359/sq mi
Coordinates
38.3729°N, 78.7326°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Harrisonburg city County
Nearest Airport
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD) 12 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall39.0"
3% above US avg
Snowfall19.4"
Wettest Month (Jul)3.94"
Driest Month (Feb)2.56"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
26.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
34.3 / 100
Community Resilience
16.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Very 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: M5.8.
Aug 23, 2011
11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M5.8
87 km
6 km
Aug 25, 2011
8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia
M4.5
82 km
7 km
Aug 24, 2011
11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M4.2
85 km
0 km
Mar 15, 1991
7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.8
100 km
16 km
Oct 21, 1998
13 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.8
109 km
13 km
May 5, 2003
Virginia
M3.6
107 km
13 km
Apr 22, 1991
14 km ESE of Falling Spring, West Virginia
M3.5
137 km
15 km
Sep 1, 2011
7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M3.4
84 km
3 km
Aug 24, 2011
16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.4
92 km
0 km
Sep 22, 2001
5 km E of Pantops, Virginia
M3.2
49 km
0 km
May 22, 2014
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia
M3.1
110 km
10 km
Jan 30, 2012
9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia
M3.1
81 km
3 km
Jan 17, 2016
3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
M3.0
131 km
5 km
Mar 26, 2012
13 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M3.0
83 km
9 km
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
121 km
19 km
Oct 12, 2011
9 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M3.0
81 km
4 km
May 6, 2025
8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.0
104 km
8 km
Aug 23, 2011
9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M2.8
85 km
0 km
Mar 15, 2015
6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia
M2.8
82 km
5 km
Apr 21, 1998
1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia
M2.8
27 km
2 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
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
207 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
291 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
163 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 14 fatalities, 52 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Sep 24, 2001
EF4
69 km
10.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF3
83 km
9.0 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
67 km
3.5 mi
0
Jul 25, 1985
EF3
33 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 9, 1977
EF3
97 km
5.9 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF3
34 km
5.6 mi
0
Jun 16, 1966
EF3
95 km
1.0 mi
0
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
68 km
6.5 mi
0
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
37 km
0.8 mi
11
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
28 km
2.0 mi
1
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
90 km
2.0 mi
0
Apr 28, 2011
EF2
37 km
33.5 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
29 km
8.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
87 km
8.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
28 km
5.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
72 km
7.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
93 km
13.0 mi
0
Sep 8, 2004
EF2
86 km
1.5 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
35 km
4.0 mi
0
May 4, 1990
EF2
60 km
7.0 mi
2
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: PINNACLES (24,792 acres, 2000).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2000
PINNACLES
24,792
44 km
2012
RICH HOLE
15,923
98 km
2016
MOUNT PLEASANT
11,001
81 km
2016
ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016
9,299
9 km
2024
WATERFALL MOUNTAIN
9,251
36 km
2014
ARCHER KNOB RX
6,093
62 km
2022
UNNAMED
5,893
62 km
2024
WAITES RUN
5,496
75 km
2021
UNNAMED
5,345
48 km
2015
UNNAMED
5,149
48 km
2013
UNNAMED
4,687
40 km
2002
FULTZ RUN
4,638
22 km
2008
ST MARYS
4,373
63 km
1999
SHOP RUN
4,261
24 km
1986
BIG RUN
4,161
10 km
2018
UNNAMED
4,022
40 km
2012
SHIPWRECK
3,779
16 km
2021
UNNAMED
3,667
18 km
2019
UNNAMED
3,569
99 km
2006
PEAVINE COMPLEX
2,950
100 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (0°C)
2.7 in
Coldest
February
34°F (1°C)
2.6 in
Driest
March
43°F (6°C)
3.2 in
April
52°F (11°C)
2.9 in
May
61°F (16°C)
3.9 in
June
69°F (21°C)
3.6 in
July
75°F (24°C)
3.9 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
72°F (22°C)
3.7 in
September
65°F (19°C)
3.8 in
October
54°F (12°C)
3.5 in
November
44°F (7°C)
3.2 in
December
36°F (2°C)
2.7 in
McGaheysville has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 32°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 39.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (3.9") and February the driest (2.6").