Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Newtown enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 81°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 48.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 112 feet.
Temperature
44°F Jan (7°C)81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
62.7°F
16% above US avg
January Average
44°F (7°C)
July Average
81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
310 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
Population Density
1,863/sq mi
Coordinates
34.4013°N, 79.3568°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Dillon County County
Nearest Airport
Lumberton Regional (LBT) 22 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.6"
28% above US avg
Snowfall0.8"
Wettest Month (Jul)5.51"
Driest Month (Nov)2.83"
Air Quality
AQI Median
43.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
84.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability
87.6 / 100
Community Resilience
25.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
15 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
115 km
7 km
Jun 29, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.6
129 km
3 km
Jun 29, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.5
129 km
3 km
Jun 26, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.4
128 km
4 km
May 9, 2022
5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina
M3.3
129 km
4 km
Jan 29, 1994
12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina
M2.9
95 km
2 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
64 km
8 km
May 10, 2022
5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.8
129 km
2 km
Mar 9, 2024
5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.7
129 km
3 km
Jan 5, 2022
5 km SW of Lugoff, South Carolina
M2.6
128 km
0 km
Apr 26, 2025
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.6
128 km
2 km
May 10, 2022
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.6
128 km
2 km
Jan 3, 2022
5 km S of Lugoff, South Carolina
M2.5
126 km
2 km
Sep 15, 2024
6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina
M2.5
128 km
2 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
63 km
14 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
22 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
123 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
97 km
2019
Dorian
Category 3
115 mph
175 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
99 km
2016
Matthew
Category 2
98 mph
106 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
175 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
247 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
180 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
238 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
90 km
2004
Gaston
Category 1
75 mph
157 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
265 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
92 mph
203 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
142 km
1999
Dennis
Category 2
104 mph
241 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
152 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
107 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
143 km
1989
Hugo
Category 4
138 mph
133 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
253 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
383 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 44 fatalities, 1,368 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 7, 1995
EF4
29 km
0.7 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
45 km
17.0 mi
7
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
55 km
7.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
34 km
40.0 mi
4
Apr 8, 1957
EF4
34 km
0.8 mi
0
Feb 15, 2021
EF3
95 km
21.9 mi
3
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
71 km
52.9 mi
2
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
65 km
40.0 mi
12
May 20, 1980
EF3
18 km
10.7 mi
0
Feb 22, 1971
EF3
85 km
85.7 mi
2
Apr 18, 1969
EF3
71 km
77.3 mi
0
Apr 18, 1969
EF3
99 km
25.8 mi
0
Nov 24, 1967
EF3
54 km
3.3 mi
0
Aug 17, 1965
EF3
90 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 29, 1964
EF3
45 km
21.9 mi
0
Oct 9, 1950
EF3
74 km
2.0 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF2
78 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 5, 2019
EF2
100 km
9.3 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
81 km
29.9 mi
3
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
54 km
13.1 mi
1
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: HIGHWAY 31 (17,004 acres, 2009).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2009
HIGHWAY 31
17,004
81 km
1991
UNNAMED
3,968
56 km
1997
UNNAMED
3,111
88 km
1991
UNNAMED
3,094
86 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,743
58 km
1986
UNNAMED
2,642
90 km
2008
05/05 RX BURN
2,351
85 km
2001
UNNAMED
2,204
83 km
2007
06-09 RX BURN
2,054
84 km
2022
SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE
2,039
87 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,989
100 km
2007
LONGBRANCH-ROBESON COMPLEX
1,944
32 km
1998
981406
1,892
79 km
1994
CM 15 16 17
1,871
77 km
2009
UNNAMED
1,870
94 km
2021
SLATES CHURCH FIRE
1,824
64 km
1994
COMP 1112
1,798
87 km
1998
980803
1,780
80 km
2000
2000 1003
1,768
85 km
1999
19990505
1,756
85 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
44°F (7°C)
3.8 in
Coldest
February
47°F (8°C)
3.6 in
March
54°F (12°C)
4.4 in
April
62°F (17°C)
2.9 in
May
70°F (21°C)
3.6 in
June
77°F (25°C)
4.7 in
July
81°F (27°C)
5.5 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
79°F (26°C)
5.2 in
September
74°F (23°C)
3.5 in
October
63°F (17°C)
3.0 in
November
54°F (12°C)
2.8 in
Driest
December
46°F (8°C)
3.2 in
Newtown has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 44°F in January to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.5") and November the driest (2.8").