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Weather & Climate in Messiah College, PA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Messiah College experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 275 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 41.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 504 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (0°C)
78°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 55.2°F |
| 2% above US avg | |
| January Average | 33°F (0°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 504 ft (154 m) |
| Area | 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 7,103/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.1574°N, 76.9821°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Dauphin County County |
| Nearest Airport | Harrisburg International (MDT) 12 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 91.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 37.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 96.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
26 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Jan 16, 1994 | 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.6 | 83 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.2 | 85 km | 5 km |
| Jul 16, 2010 | 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland | M3.6 | 106 km | 7 km |
| Jun 13, 2019 | 9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania | M3.4 | 53 km | 27 km |
| Oct 23, 1990 | 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey | M3.2 | 145 km | 10 km |
| Jun 3, 2010 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M3.1 | 8 km | 2 km |
| Jan 17, 2016 | 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia | M3.0 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania | M3.0 | 62 km | 5 km |
| Apr 24, 2009 | 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 11 km | 1 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 85 km | 5 km |
| Sep 15, 2019 | 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 27 km | 5 km |
| May 10, 1993 | 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 85 km | 5 km |
| Jul 1, 2009 | 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey | M2.8 | 140 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 2009 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 7 km | 1 km |
| Oct 28, 1994 | 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland | M2.7 | 101 km | — |
| Mar 11, 1995 | 0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania | M2.7 | 50 km | 5 km |
| Mar 15, 1993 | 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland | M2.7 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Jan 25, 2015 | 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 114 km | 2 km |
| Jun 25, 2021 | 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland | M2.6 | 98 km | 3 km |
| Jan 13, 1990 | 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland | M2.6 | 82 km | 5 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 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 75 mph | 286 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 288 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
366 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 205 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 14, 2004 | EF3 | 37 km | 7.5 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | EF3 | 99 km | 8.3 mi | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1996 | EF3 | 73 km | 2.2 mi | 0 |
| May 22, 1983 | EF3 | 56 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1980 | EF3 | 26 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1970 | EF3 | 64 km | 1.9 mi | 1 |
| Apr 16, 1961 | EF3 | 47 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1952 | EF3 | 40 km | 17.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1950 | EF3 | 73 km | 15.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 96 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 2019 | EF2 | 91 km | 3.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 68 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 79 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 2018 | EF2 | 92 km | 5.5 mi | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF2 | 83 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| May 23, 2011 | EF2 | 58 km | 4.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF2 | 7 km | 2.6 mi | 0 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | EF2 | 45 km | 1.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 2004 | EF2 | 73 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2004 | EF2 | 97 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (0°C) | 3.0 in | |
| February | 31°F (-0°C) | 2.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 40°F (5°C) | 3.5 in | |
| April | 51°F (10°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 61°F (16°C) | 4.3 in | Wettest |
| June | 69°F (21°C) | 4.1 in | |
| July | 78°F (25°C) | 3.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 3.3 in | |
| September | 65°F (19°C) | 4.0 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2 in | |
| November | 44°F (7°C) | 3.5 in | |
| December | 34°F (1°C) | 3.3 in |
Messiah College has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 31°F in February to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (2.8").