Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Mount Vernon enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 293 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 48.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 3 feet.
Temperature
38°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.7°F
9% above US avg
January Average
38°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
3 ft (1 m)
Area
13.0 sq mi (33.7 km²)
Population Density
68/sq mi
Coordinates
38.2396°N, 75.7853°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Somerset County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 16 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.0"
26% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug)4.37"
Driest Month (Feb)3.03"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
59.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
72.1 / 100
Community Resilience
91.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
7 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
144 km
10 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
123 km
1 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
147 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
137 km
—
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
143 km
3 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
68 km
11 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
146 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
12 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2019
Dorian
Category 2
98 mph
292 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
201 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
226 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
70 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
295 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
241 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
163 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
216 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
220 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
188 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
107 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
114 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
215 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 69 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
59 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
49 km
18.0 mi
0
Nov 2, 1966
EF3
90 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
98 km
11.4 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
76 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
84 km
15.6 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
23 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
99 km
35.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
37 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
41 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
94 km
2.4 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
93 km
2.8 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
73 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
90 km
0.8 mi
0
Jul 31, 1992
EF2
90 km
4.0 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
67 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 18, 1984
EF2
65 km
1.5 mi
0
Oct 13, 1983
EF2
70 km
4.0 mi
0
Aug 31, 1983
EF2
91 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 27, 1978
EF2
93 km
6.9 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
25 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
30 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
29 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
28 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
22 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
22 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
26 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
28 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
28 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
21 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
21 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
26 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
26 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
26 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
31 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
27 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
84 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
37 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
27 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
21 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
38°F (4°C)
3.7 in
February
38°F (3°C)
3.0 in
Coldest, Driest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.2 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.2 in
May
63°F (17°C)
3.5 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.3 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.4 in
Wettest
September
69°F (21°C)
3.6 in
October
58°F (15°C)
3.2 in
November
49°F (9°C)
3.1 in
December
40°F (5°C)
3.2 in
Mount Vernon has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 38°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.5 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.4") and February the driest (3.0").