Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Mount Clifton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 74°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 37.2 inches. The area receives 21.0 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 1,017 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (-0°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
52.8°F
2% below US avg
January Average
32°F (-0°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
302 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,017 ft (310 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.2 km²)
Population Density
436/sq mi
Coordinates
38.7609°N, 78.7215°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Shenandoah County County
Nearest Airport
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD) 36 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall37.2"
2% below US avg
Snowfall21.0"
Wettest Month (May)3.66"
Driest Month (Jan)2.32"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
59.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
55.4 / 100
Community Resilience
50.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
39 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
117 km
6 km
Aug 25, 2011
8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia
M4.5
112 km
7 km
Aug 24, 2011
11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M4.2
116 km
0 km
Mar 15, 1991
7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.8
133 km
16 km
Jul 16, 2010
5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland
M3.6
126 km
7 km
May 5, 2003
Virginia
M3.6
143 km
13 km
Aug 24, 2011
16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.4
124 km
0 km
Sep 1, 2011
7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M3.4
113 km
3 km
Sep 22, 2001
5 km E of Pantops, Virginia
M3.2
87 km
0 km
May 22, 2014
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia
M3.1
148 km
10 km
Jan 30, 2012
9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia
M3.1
111 km
3 km
Jan 17, 2016
3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
M3.0
99 km
5 km
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
146 km
19 km
Mar 26, 2012
13 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M3.0
115 km
9 km
Oct 12, 2011
9 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M3.0
112 km
4 km
May 6, 2025
8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.0
146 km
8 km
Mar 15, 2015
6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia
M2.8
111 km
5 km
Apr 21, 1998
1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia
M2.8
67 km
2 km
Aug 23, 2011
9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M2.8
115 km
0 km
Feb 19, 2012
12 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M2.7
114 km
3 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
1 hurricane (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
246 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
181 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 15 fatalities, 82 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Sep 24, 2001
EF4
68 km
10.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF3
84 km
9.0 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
83 km
3.5 mi
0
Jul 25, 1985
EF3
68 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF3
56 km
5.6 mi
0
May 19, 1967
EF3
87 km
0.3 mi
1
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
57 km
2.0 mi
1
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
80 km
0.8 mi
11
Apr 28, 2011
EF2
24 km
33.5 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
89 km
7.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
54 km
8.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
59 km
5.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
85 km
13.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
83 km
8.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
90 km
2.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
66 km
5.0 mi
0
Sep 8, 2004
EF2
87 km
1.5 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
10 km
4.0 mi
0
Jun 2, 1998
EF2
75 km
15.0 mi
0
Sep 27, 1993
EF2
89 km
3.0 mi
0
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
40 km
2016
ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016
9,299
50 km
2024
WATERFALL MOUNTAIN
9,251
16 km
2014
ARCHER KNOB RX
6,093
90 km
2022
UNNAMED
5,893
90 km
2024
WAITES RUN
5,496
33 km
2021
UNNAMED
5,345
59 km
2015
UNNAMED
5,149
59 km
2013
UNNAMED
4,687
51 km
2002
FULTZ RUN
4,638
31 km
1999
SHOP RUN
4,261
67 km
1986
BIG RUN
4,161
52 km
2018
UNNAMED
4,022
51 km
2012
SHIPWRECK
3,779
29 km
2021
UNNAMED
3,667
27 km
2014
CUB RUN RX
2,868
27 km
2011
VALLEY
2,514
37 km
2024
RAMSHORN-GUINN RIDGES RX
2,469
99 km
2019
UNNAMED
2,460
16 km
2024
CAPON
2,302
18 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (-0°C)
2.3 in
Coldest, Driest
February
34°F (1°C)
2.3 in
March
42°F (6°C)
2.9 in
April
52°F (11°C)
2.7 in
May
61°F (16°C)
3.7 in
Wettest
June
69°F (20°C)
3.4 in
July
74°F (23°C)
3.6 in
Warmest
August
71°F (22°C)
3.5 in
September
65°F (18°C)
3.4 in
October
54°F (12°C)
3.2 in
November
44°F (7°C)
2.9 in
December
35°F (2°C)
2.4 in
Mount Clifton has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 32°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 36.3 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.7") and January the driest (2.3").