All Countries
Weather & Climate in New Athens, IL
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
New Athens experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 77°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 45.6 inches. The area receives 10.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 428 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)
77°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 55.1°F |
| 2% above US avg | |
| January Average | 31°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 293 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 428 ft (130 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 918/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 38.3189°N, 89.8736°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | St. Clair County County |
| Nearest Airport | St Louis Lambert International (STL) 40 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 94.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 37.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 74.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
61 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Sep 26, 1990 | 4 km SE of Chaffee, Missouri | M4.8 | 132 km | 1 km |
| Feb 5, 1994 | 2 km WNW of Dongola, Illinois | M4.2 | 122 km | 16 km |
| Jun 7, 2011 | 18 km NNW of Potosi, Missouri | M3.9 | 94 km | 21 km |
| Jan 2, 2006 | 3 km NNE of Eldorado, Illinois | M3.6 | 138 km | 7 km |
| May 1, 2016 | 5 km SE of New Grand Chain, Illinois | M3.5 | 146 km | 16 km |
| Mar 2, 1990 | 9 km NW of Vernon, Illinois | M3.4 | 85 km | 0 km |
| May 30, 2015 | 4 km ENE of Geff, Illinois | M3.4 | 133 km | 26 km |
| Aug 27, 1993 | 5 km SSE of Olympian Village, Missouri | M3.3 | 55 km | 22 km |
| May 2, 2003 | 10 km ENE of Thompsonville, Illinois | M3.2 | 113 km | 0 km |
| Apr 6, 1994 | 2 km NE of Tamaroa, Illinois | M3.2 | 60 km | 15 km |
| Jan 29, 1993 | 7 km WNW of Brownstown, Illinois | M3.2 | 108 km | 5 km |
| Oct 24, 1990 | 5 km ENE of Woodlawn, Illinois | M3.2 | 79 km | 1 km |
| Dec 27, 1992 | 2 km E of Pocahontas, Missouri | M3.2 | 94 km | 10 km |
| Jul 1, 2017 | 9 km SSE of Mulberry Grove, Illinois | M3.1 | 82 km | 17 km |
| Jan 23, 1991 | 3 km WSW of Logan, Illinois | M3.1 | 97 km | 1 km |
| Mar 12, 2002 | 6 km S of Marble Hill, Missouri | M3.1 | 119 km | 10 km |
| Jun 27, 2005 | 6 km E of Grand Tower, Illinois | M3.0 | 86 km | 10 km |
| Feb 28, 1994 | 5 km NW of Harrison, Illinois | M3.0 | 70 km | 5 km |
| Mar 1, 2006 | 2 km N of Buncombe, Illinois | M3.0 | 120 km | 6 km |
| Sep 5, 2004 | 3 km WNW of Saint Peter, Illinois | M2.9 | 106 km | 33 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
648 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 95 fatalities, 1,623 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Dec 18, 1957 | EF5 | 61 km | 5.4 mi | 1 |
| Feb 28, 2017 | EF4 | 67 km | 53.5 mi | 1 |
| Nov 17, 2013 | EF4 | 39 km | 10.6 mi | 2 |
| Apr 22, 2011 | EF4 | 71 km | 21.3 mi | 0 |
| Sep 22, 2006 | EF4 | 71 km | 27.5 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 1982 | EF4 | 87 km | 17.0 mi | 10 |
| Apr 3, 1981 | EF4 | 50 km | 11.9 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1969 | EF4 | 88 km | 15.1 mi | 4 |
| Jan 24, 1967 | EF4 | 71 km | 25.0 mi | 3 |
| Feb 10, 1959 | EF4 | 68 km | 23.9 mi | 21 |
| Dec 18, 1957 | EF4 | 77 km | 28.3 mi | 11 |
| Dec 18, 1957 | EF4 | 69 km | 16.8 mi | 1 |
| Feb 24, 1956 | EF4 | 92 km | 77.6 mi | 6 |
| Dec 10, 2021 | EF3 | 95 km | 24.8 mi | 1 |
| Dec 10, 2021 | EF3 | 51 km | 4.2 mi | 6 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF3 | 83 km | 16.7 mi | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF3 | 98 km | 18.8 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 2013 | EF3 | 59 km | 10.6 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 2013 | EF3 | 87 km | 31.7 mi | 0 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | EF3 | 56 km | 6.7 mi | 1 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
17 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: RED SHALE UNIT RX (2,123 acres, 2021).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2021 | RED SHALE UNIT RX | 2,123 | 100 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 1,552 | 100 km |
| 1999 | UNNAMED | 1,483 | 100 km |
| 2024 | RED SHALE RX | 1,259 | 100 km |
| 2019 | KINKAID RX | 1,215 | 68 km |
| 2022 | KINKAID STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AREA RX | 1,115 | 68 km |
| 2021 | STATE OF ILLINOIS TRACT RX | 1,011 | 59 km |
| 2021 | MILL CREEK RX | 898 | 96 km |
| 2024 | HAMPTON NORTH RX | 807 | 98 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 741 | 80 km |
| 2018 | UNNAMED | 729 | 66 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 724 | 80 km |
| 2020 | UNNAMED | 687 | 66 km |
| 2024 | HAMPTON RX | 628 | 99 km |
| 1989 | UNNAMED | 600 | 97 km |
| 2022 | BLOWDOWN 16 RX | 553 | 70 km |
| 2019 | PINE HILLS RX | 542 | 96 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.1 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 35°F (2°C) | 2.4 in | |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 in | |
| April | 56°F (13°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 in | |
| September | 69°F (21°C) | 3.4 in | |
| October | 58°F (14°C) | 2.9 in | |
| November | 46°F (8°C) | 3.5 in | |
| December | 35°F (2°C) | 3.2 in |
New Athens has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 31°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 39.9 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.1") and January the driest (2.1").