Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
New Church enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 305 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 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 6.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 20 feet.
Temperature
39°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.8°F
9% above US avg
January Average
39°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Area
1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²)
Population Density
202/sq mi
Coordinates
37.9832°N, 75.5291°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Accomack County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 25 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.2"
24% above US avg
Snowfall6.6"
Wettest Month (Aug)4.17"
Driest Month (Apr)2.83"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
81.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
87.3 / 100
Community Resilience
75.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M2.9.
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
122 km
1 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
41 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
15 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
256 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
165 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
207 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
48 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
262 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
270 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
239 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
287 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
141 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
179 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
183 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
158 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
71 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
101 km
1981
Dennis
Category 1
75 mph
292 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
138 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 57 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
87 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
83 km
18.0 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
92 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
55 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
81 km
15.6 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
17 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
66 km
6.2 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
88 km
2.8 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
77 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 18, 1984
EF2
91 km
1.5 mi
0
Apr 25, 1975
EF2
98 km
0.1 mi
0
Oct 2, 1973
EF2
37 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 21, 1969
EF2
86 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 12, 1955
EF2
73 km
2.7 mi
0
Apr 3, 2024
EF1
94 km
5.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2022
EF1
45 km
2.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF1
68 km
2.2 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF1
87 km
6.2 mi
0
Aug 7, 2017
EF1
40 km
1.5 mi
0
Apr 6, 2017
EF1
88 km
3.7 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
61 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
66 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
64 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
64 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
58 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
58 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
62 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
64 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
64 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
57 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
57 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
62 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
62 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
62 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
67 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
62 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
72 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
62 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
57 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,260
66 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
39°F (4°C)
3.5 in
February
39°F (4°C)
3.1 in
Coldest
March
46°F (8°C)
4.0 in
April
54°F (12°C)
2.8 in
Driest
May
63°F (17°C)
3.4 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.1 in
July
79°F (26°C)
3.9 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.2 in
Wettest
September
70°F (21°C)
3.2 in
October
59°F (15°C)
3.0 in
November
50°F (10°C)
2.8 in
December
41°F (5°C)
3.2 in
New Church has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 39°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.1 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.2") and April the driest (2.8").