Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Orient experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 282 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of -5 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (0°C)75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average
53.0°F
2% below US avg
January Average
32°F (0°C)
July Average
75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days
282 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
-5 ft (-2 m)
Area
6.2 sq mi (15.9 km²)
Population Density
225/sq mi
Coordinates
41.1489°N, 72.2494°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region County
Nearest Airport
Rhode Island Tf Green International (PVD) 58 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Wettest Month (Nov)4.49"
Driest Month (Jul)3.19"
Air Quality
AQI Median
36.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
83.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
17.9 / 100
Community Resilience
90.4 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
15 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.7.
Oct 2, 1994
6 km W of Hardwick, Massachusetts
M3.7
133 km
10 km
Jan 12, 2015
0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
M3.3
73 km
5 km
Jun 16, 2000
5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts
M3.3
116 km
10 km
Oct 2, 1994
1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts
M3.3
135 km
10 km
Mar 22, 1996
2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island
M3.1
103 km
12 km
Apr 9, 2019
63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York
M3.0
86 km
7 km
Oct 28, 1991
3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut
M3.0
112 km
10 km
Mar 10, 1992
2 km SW of Napeague, New York
M2.8
22 km
10 km
Apr 12, 1991
2 km ENE of North Castle, New York
M2.7
118 km
9 km
Aug 14, 2014
6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut
M2.7
30 km
4 km
Oct 27, 2001
1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York
M2.6
150 km
5 km
Aug 22, 2000
2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York
M2.6
119 km
7 km
Apr 22, 1996
3 km NE of North Westport, Massachusetts
M2.6
115 km
5 km
Jan 13, 2015
2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
M2.6
73 km
9 km
Jun 7, 2002
3 km NNW of Hopedale, Massachusetts
M2.5
126 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2021
Henri
Category 1
75 mph
222 km
2014
Arthur
Category 1
75 mph
228 km
1996
Edouard
Category 1
92 mph
284 km
1991
Bob
Category 2
109 mph
55 km
1985
Gloria
Category 1
86 mph
95 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
129 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 4 fatalities, 704 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 10, 1989
EF4
60 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 3, 1979
EF4
89 km
11.3 mi
3
Jul 29, 1971
EF3
80 km
0.1 mi
0
May 24, 1962
EF3
85 km
11.6 mi
1
May 10, 1954
EF3
88 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 21, 1951
EF3
52 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 18, 2023
EF2
92 km
9.1 mi
0
Aug 8, 1999
EF2
28 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
58 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
88 km
5.0 mi
0
Aug 7, 1986
EF2
96 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 5, 1984
EF2
82 km
3.0 mi
0
Sep 18, 1973
EF2
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 6, 1973
EF2
76 km
3.3 mi
0
Aug 31, 1973
EF2
76 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 12, 1973
EF2
90 km
1.5 mi
0
Jul 19, 1971
EF2
99 km
1.5 mi
0
Aug 19, 1965
EF2
93 km
6.6 mi
0
Jun 18, 1962
EF2
98 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 7, 1958
EF2
84 km
1.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1964
LONG ISLAND, NY
Meteorological
0.3 m
—
81 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CRESCENT BOW FIRE (1,068 acres, 2012).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2012
CRESCENT BOW FIRE
1,068
57 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (0°C)
4.2 in
February
32°F (-0°C)
3.7 in
Coldest
March
38°F (4°C)
4.4 in
April
47°F (8°C)
4.2 in
May
57°F (14°C)
3.7 in
June
66°F (19°C)
3.5 in
July
75°F (24°C)
3.2 in
Warmest, Driest
August
72°F (22°C)
4.0 in
September
65°F (18°C)
3.8 in
October
55°F (13°C)
3.7 in
November
46°F (8°C)
4.5 in
Wettest
December
36°F (2°C)
4.3 in
Orient has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 32°F in February to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.1 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.5") and July the driest (3.2").