Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Mount Gilead enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 310 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 48.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 411 feet.
Temperature
41°F Jan (5°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
60.3°F
12% above US avg
January Average
41°F (5°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
310 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
411 ft (125 m)
Area
3.5 sq mi (9.0 km²)
Population Density
334/sq mi
Coordinates
35.2164°N, 80.0050°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Stanly County County
Nearest Airport
Concord-Padgett Regional (USA) 41 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.3"
27% above US avg
Snowfall0.8"
Wettest Month (Jul)5.00"
Driest Month (Apr)2.95"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
58.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
29.4 / 100
Community Resilience
53.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
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 Low
Ice Storm
Relatively High
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.9.
Apr 13, 1998
9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina
M3.9
99 km
7 km
Jun 29, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.6
134 km
3 km
Jun 29, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.5
134 km
3 km
Jun 26, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.4
134 km
4 km
May 9, 2022
5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.3
135 km
4 km
Jun 5, 1998
4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina
M3.2
80 km
9 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
46 km
8 km
May 10, 2022
5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.8
134 km
2 km
Jul 12, 1993
5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina
M2.7
93 km
5 km
Mar 9, 2024
5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.7
135 km
3 km
Apr 26, 2025
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.6
135 km
2 km
May 10, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.6
134 km
2 km
Jan 5, 2022
5 km SW of Lugoff, South Carolina
M2.6
132 km
0 km
Jan 3, 2022
5 km S of Lugoff, South Carolina
M2.5
132 km
2 km
Sep 15, 2024
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.5
133 km
2 km
Mar 26, 2019
8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
M2.5
80 km
4 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
50 km
14 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
16 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2022
Ian
Category 1
81 mph
226 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
201 km
2019
Dorian
Category 2
109 mph
280 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
98 mph
200 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
86 mph
212 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
280 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
272 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
198 km
2004
Gaston
Category 1
75 mph
249 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
265 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
233 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
229 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
119 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
220 km
1989
Hugo
Category 4
138 mph
115 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
207 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
328 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 37 fatalities, 1,189 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 5, 1989
EF4
71 km
13.0 mi
1
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
71 km
7.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
95 km
4.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
67 km
17.0 mi
7
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
75 km
40.0 mi
4
Apr 8, 1957
EF4
84 km
121.4 mi
4
Apr 8, 1957
EF4
95 km
0.8 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
64 km
65.2 mi
6
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
82 km
52.9 mi
2
Mar 28, 2010
EF3
83 km
4.3 mi
0
May 8, 2008
EF3
91 km
2.9 mi
0
May 7, 1998
EF3
96 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 27, 1994
EF3
97 km
18.5 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
67 km
12.0 mi
0
Feb 22, 1971
EF3
100 km
85.7 mi
2
Apr 18, 1969
EF3
89 km
77.3 mi
0
Oct 7, 1965
EF3
51 km
1.0 mi
1
Aug 29, 1964
EF3
70 km
21.9 mi
0
Mar 31, 2022
EF2
25 km
7.2 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF2
37 km
0.2 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (3,968 acres, 1991).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1991
UNNAMED
3,968
54 km
1991
UNNAMED
3,094
84 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,743
51 km
2008
05/05 RX BURN
2,351
69 km
2007
06-09 RX BURN
2,054
73 km
2022
SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE
2,039
79 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,989
15 km
1998
981406
1,892
77 km
1994
CM 15 16 17
1,871
75 km
2021
SLATES CHURCH FIRE
1,824
56 km
1994
COMP 1112
1,798
80 km
1998
980803
1,780
71 km
2000
2000 1003
1,768
77 km
1999
19990505
1,756
69 km
2016
COUNTY LINE ROAD FIRE
1,704
50 km
1992
COMP 15
1,697
75 km
2018
SCCRR-FY18-RX-COMP-14
1,687
77 km
2012
4-NOV
1,636
77 km
1993
UNNAMED
1,623
79 km
1995
95 15 2
1,619
74 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
41°F (5°C)
4.1 in
Coldest
February
44°F (7°C)
3.7 in
March
52°F (11°C)
4.5 in
April
60°F (15°C)
3.0 in
Driest
May
68°F (20°C)
3.9 in
June
75°F (24°C)
4.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
5.0 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
77°F (25°C)
4.3 in
September
72°F (22°C)
3.9 in
October
61°F (16°C)
3.5 in
November
52°F (11°C)
3.0 in
December
44°F (7°C)
3.4 in
Mount Gilead has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 41°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.0") and April the driest (3.0").