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Weather & Climate in Palmerton, PA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Palmerton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 271 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 51.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 27.3 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 540 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)
72°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 50.0°F |
| 7% below US avg | |
| January Average | 27°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 271 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 540 ft (165 m) |
| Area | 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,259/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.8041°N, 75.6171°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Carbon County County |
| Nearest Airport | Lehigh Valley International (ABE) 14 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 59.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 35.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 61.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
35 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Apr 5, 2024 | 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake | M4.8 | 73 km | 3 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.6 | 64 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.2 | 62 km | 5 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M3.7 | 74 km | 4 km |
| Oct 23, 1990 | 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey | M3.2 | 144 km | 10 km |
| Aug 26, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey | M3.1 | 48 km | 3 km |
| Jan 9, 1992 | 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey | M3.1 | 118 km | 8 km |
| Jun 3, 2010 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M3.1 | 140 km | 2 km |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania | M3.0 | 91 km | 5 km |
| Aug 3, 2025 | 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey | M3.0 | 132 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2009 | 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey | M3.0 | 92 km | 0 km |
| Apr 24, 2009 | 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 145 km | 1 km |
| Apr 27, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.9 | 74 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 63 km | 5 km |
| May 24, 2024 | 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey | M2.9 | 73 km | 7 km |
| Sep 15, 2019 | 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 147 km | 5 km |
| May 10, 1993 | 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 61 km | 5 km |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey | M2.8 | 135 km | 12 km |
| Jun 10, 2025 | 10 km NW of Forksville, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 122 km | 8 km |
| Jul 1, 2009 | 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey | M2.8 | 130 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 109 mph | 294 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 193 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
296 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 10 fatalities, 183 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF3 | 91 km | 3.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1998 | EF3 | 98 km | 26.0 mi | 2 |
| May 31, 1998 | EF3 | 43 km | 8.3 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1998 | EF3 | 70 km | 20.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 27, 1994 | EF3 | 64 km | 2.0 mi | 3 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 80 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 26, 1981 | EF3 | 5 km | 3.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 21, 1976 | EF3 | 42 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | EF3 | 76 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | EF3 | 94 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1970 | EF3 | 73 km | 1.9 mi | 1 |
| Jun 24, 1960 | EF3 | 93 km | 12.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1955 | EF3 | 93 km | 9.6 mi | 1 |
| Nov 4, 1950 | EF3 | 80 km | 15.9 mi | 0 |
| Feb 21, 2023 | EF2 | 97 km | 5.8 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 84 km | 8.3 mi | 1 |
| Jul 29, 2021 | EF2 | 76 km | 6.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 98 km | 20.8 mi | 0 |
| Oct 31, 2019 | EF2 | 99 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 2019 | EF2 | 76 km | 3.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1895 | HIGH BRIDGE, NJ | Earthquake | - | - | 64 km |
| 1840 | PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA | Earthquake | - | - | 117 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
9 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: 16 MILE (7,896 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | 16 MILE | 7,896 | 59 km |
| 2009 | PENOBSCOT | 2,091 | 48 km |
| 2004 | CRYSTAL LAKE | 1,838 | 44 km |
| 2012 | HOPEWELL FIRE | 812 | 67 km |
| 2020 | SEVEN PINES | 790 | 47 km |
| 2015 | RAZOR FIRE | 728 | 6 km |
| 2015 | PIPELINE 1 | 666 | 36 km |
| 2016 | BEAR TOWN | 649 | 53 km |
| 1999 | WORTHINGTO | 514 | 47 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F (-3°C) | 3.2 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.7 in | Driest |
| March | 37°F (3°C) | 3.5 in | |
| April | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 in | |
| May | 58°F (15°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| June | 67°F (19°C) | 4.2 in | |
| July | 72°F (22°C) | 4.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 4.1 in | |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 4.1 in | |
| October | 53°F (11°C) | 3.5 in | |
| November | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 in | |
| December | 32°F (0°C) | 3.4 in |
Palmerton has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 27°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.7") and February the driest (2.7").