Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Parsonsburg enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 79°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 47.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 10.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 67 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average
40°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
67 ft (20 m)
Area
1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²)
Population Density
130/sq mi
Coordinates
38.3917°N, 75.4796°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Wicomico County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 4 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.4"
25% above US avg
Snowfall10.2"
Wettest Month (Aug)4.45"
Driest Month (Nov)3.15"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
60.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
26.9 / 100
Community Resilience
76.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
125 km
10 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
139 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
140 km
—
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
147 km
3 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
54 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
12 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
290 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
195 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
199 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
53 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
281 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
272 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
185 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
215 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
212 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
172 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
113 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
85 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
157 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 69 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
43 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
72 km
18.0 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
79 km
35.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
25 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
34 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
22 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
99 km
2.4 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
70 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 31, 1992
EF2
70 km
4.0 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
99 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 18, 1984
EF2
46 km
1.5 mi
0
Oct 13, 1983
EF2
95 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1983
EF2
89 km
1.0 mi
2
Jun 9, 1977
EF2
71 km
0.2 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF2
100 km
0.2 mi
0
Oct 2, 1973
EF2
81 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 27, 1971
EF2
76 km
28.7 mi
0
Jul 30, 1971
EF2
90 km
8.3 mi
0
Jan 27, 1967
EF2
70 km
0.5 mi
0
Aug 12, 1955
EF2
39 km
2.7 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
46 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
52 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
50 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
48 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
42 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
43 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
49 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
49 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
50 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
42 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
42 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
45 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
44 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
45 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
53 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
50 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
58 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
56 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
49 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (4°C)
3.8 in
February
37°F (3°C)
3.2 in
Coldest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.3 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.4 in
May
63°F (17°C)
3.7 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.4 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.3 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.5 in
Wettest
September
69°F (21°C)
3.7 in
October
58°F (14°C)
3.4 in
November
49°F (9°C)
3.2 in
Driest
December
40°F (4°C)
3.5 in
Parsonsburg has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.5") and November the driest (3.2").