Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Monticello enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 304 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 53.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 279 feet.
Temperature
44°F Jan (7°C)83°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
64.1°F
19% above US avg
January Average
44°F (7°C)
July Average
83°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
304 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
279 ft (85 m)
Area
11.0 sq mi (28.6 km²)
Population Density
775/sq mi
Coordinates
33.6248°N, 91.7937°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Drew County County
Nearest Airport
Pinebluff Regional/Grider Field (PBF) 39 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall53.0"
40% above US avg
Snowfall0.7"
Wettest Month (Mar)5.75"
Driest Month (Aug)3.27"
Air Quality
AQI Median
43.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
35.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
94.1 / 100
Community Resilience
43.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
16 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.7.
Jan 8, 2019
8 km WNW of Hollandale, Mississippi
M3.7
93 km
16 km
Jun 10, 1994
4 km E of Junction City, Arkansas
M3.2
106 km
5 km
Aug 11, 1996
9 km WSW of Shaw, Mississippi
M3.1
85 km
10 km
Oct 26, 2002
3 km SE of Alligator, Mississippi
M3.1
113 km
3 km
Mar 3, 2001
2 km SSE of El Dorado, Arkansas
M3.0
94 km
5 km
May 16, 2007
5 km SW of Calion, Arkansas
M3.0
82 km
5 km
Dec 17, 2001
3 km WSW of El Dorado, Arkansas
M2.8
97 km
10 km
Jan 9, 1997
6 km E of El Dorado, Arkansas
M2.8
89 km
5 km
Feb 24, 2020
12 km ENE of Junction City, Arkansas
M2.8
97 km
14 km
May 11, 2020
13 km SSE of El Dorado, Arkansas
M2.8
95 km
12 km
Feb 11, 1991
10 km SSW of Clarksdale, Mississippi
M2.7
123 km
12 km
Dec 24, 1997
7 km W of El Dorado, Arkansas
M2.6
101 km
5 km
Oct 18, 2009
9 km SE of Redfield, Arkansas
M2.6
90 km
29 km
Apr 11, 1996
9 km ENE of Biscoe, Arkansas
M2.6
144 km
7 km
Jan 12, 2017
9 km E of Leola, Arkansas
M2.6
89 km
10 km
Oct 20, 1999
8 km NE of Clarendon, Arkansas
M2.5
136 km
9 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
2020
Laura
Category 2
98 mph
218 km
2005
Katrina
Category 1
92 mph
295 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
428 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 23 fatalities, 485 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 24, 2001
EF4
67 km
30.3 mi
0
Apr 17, 1978
EF4
76 km
3.6 mi
0
Mar 28, 1975
EF4
31 km
5.4 mi
7
Apr 3, 1968
EF4
33 km
33.7 mi
5
May 10, 2008
EF3
98 km
14.1 mi
0
Feb 24, 2007
EF3
13 km
29.1 mi
0
Nov 24, 2001
EF3
92 km
30.0 mi
3
Feb 24, 2001
EF3
34 km
42.0 mi
0
Jan 21, 1999
EF3
84 km
11.0 mi
0
May 14, 1983
EF3
66 km
5.0 mi
0
Dec 3, 1982
EF3
94 km
10.0 mi
0
Apr 8, 1979
EF3
42 km
17.7 mi
0
Mar 20, 1976
EF3
84 km
4.6 mi
0
Jun 20, 1972
EF3
41 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 28, 1972
EF3
82 km
10.4 mi
0
Nov 27, 1968
EF3
98 km
0.5 mi
0
Feb 9, 1965
EF3
72 km
10.5 mi
0
Feb 9, 1965
EF3
32 km
1.5 mi
0
Dec 19, 1957
EF3
85 km
3.8 mi
0
May 23, 1957
EF3
3 km
5.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (4,134 acres, 2006).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2006
UNNAMED
4,134
51 km
2006
MOLLICY WARREN
2,175
80 km
2006
UNNAMED
2,066
99 km
2000
UNNAMED
2,042
45 km
2012
LACEY
1,439
20 km
2010
DREW
1,283
25 km
2006
SHALLOW LAKE ROAD WEST 2 H
1,146
66 km
2013
SINGLETON CREEK
1,124
39 km
2007
BOULDIN HOUSE N 3F
1,061
69 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,057
58 km
2011
SHALLOW LAKE WEST
900
66 km
2000
SHALLOW LAKE W
892
66 km
1986
UNNAMED
889
67 km
1987
UNNAMED
839
68 km
2010
EAST CAMDEN
837
91 km
1989
SHALLOW LAKE
820
67 km
1996
RIDGE ROAD
804
66 km
2006
PINE ISLAND
757
60 km
2014
ARFSR-FY14-RX-JONES LAKE
752
64 km
1995
BOULDINHSE
748
68 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
44°F (7°C)
4.5 in
Coldest
February
46°F (8°C)
4.8 in
March
54°F (12°C)
5.8 in
Wettest
April
62°F (17°C)
4.7 in
May
70°F (21°C)
4.8 in
June
77°F (25°C)
3.9 in
July
83°F (28°C)
4.5 in
Warmest
August
80°F (27°C)
3.3 in
Driest
September
74°F (23°C)
3.4 in
October
63°F (17°C)
4.2 in
November
53°F (12°C)
5.1 in
December
45°F (7°C)
5.3 in
Monticello has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 44°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 54.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.8") and August the driest (3.3").