Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Paw Paw experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 74°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 42.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 561 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
52.4°F
3% below US avg
January Average
31°F (-1°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
561 ft (171 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
Population Density
830/sq mi
Coordinates
39.5314°N, 78.4553°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Morgan County County
Nearest Airport
Greater Cumberland Regional (CBE) 17 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall42.8"
13% above US avg
Wettest Month (May)3.74"
Driest Month (Feb)2.36"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
30.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
71.6 / 100
Community Resilience
36.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
13 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.6.
Jul 16, 2010
5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland
M3.6
95 km
7 km
Jun 13, 2019
9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania
M3.4
128 km
27 km
Jun 3, 2010
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M3.1
141 km
2 km
Jan 17, 2016
3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
M3.0
59 km
5 km
Apr 24, 2009
1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.9
136 km
1 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
139 km
5 km
Oct 25, 2009
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.8
141 km
1 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
138 km
5 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
136 km
5 km
Jul 27, 1997
5 km SSE of Culpeper, Virginia
M2.5
129 km
19 km
Jun 25, 2001
8 km S of Remington, Virginia
M2.5
131 km
5 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
118 km
3 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
139 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
223 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 2 fatalities, 73 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jun 2, 1998
EF4
87 km
36.5 mi
0
May 31, 1998
EF3
59 km
13.0 mi
1
May 19, 1967
EF3
77 km
0.3 mi
1
Apr 16, 1961
EF3
99 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 25, 2023
EF2
99 km
2.0 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
67 km
2.9 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
79 km
3.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
41 km
2.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
47 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
97 km
4.0 mi
0
Jun 2, 1998
EF2
54 km
15.0 mi
0
Jun 2, 1998
EF2
75 km
15.0 mi
0
Jul 19, 1996
EF2
67 km
2.0 mi
0
Apr 30, 1994
EF2
75 km
6.0 mi
0
Nov 16, 1989
EF2
66 km
9.0 mi
0
Jun 3, 1980
EF2
90 km
2.7 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF2
94 km
0.5 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF2
93 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 31, 1978
EF2
96 km
1.5 mi
0
Jun 20, 1977
EF2
94 km
8.5 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: WATERFALL MOUNTAIN (9,251 acres, 2024).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2024
WATERFALL MOUNTAIN
9,251
96 km
2024
WAITES RUN
5,496
56 km
2019
UNNAMED
2,460
93 km
2024
CAPON
2,302
93 km
2012
NEIGHBOR MTN FIRE
1,986
93 km
2011
SMITH RUN FIRE
1,908
84 km
2001
NEW CREEK MTN
1,689
90 km
2024
DOVE HOLLOW
1,634
79 km
2020
UNNAMED
1,572
69 km
2006
CARDINAL
1,345
95 km
2012
POINT 2
1,126
73 km
2000
BRAKE RUN SHEN. MT. RD.
1,055
88 km
2024
ROCKY BRANCH
1,018
93 km
2014
BEAR DEN
945
39 km
2024
SERENITY RIDGE FIRE
877
90 km
2024
SPRING RUN
847
87 km
2019
KENNEDY PEAK
769
86 km
2024
GRACE MOUNTAIN
760
99 km
2012
WOLF GAP
710
70 km
1994
ELKHORN TOWER
696
85 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
31°F (-1°C)
2.4 in
Coldest
February
33°F (0°C)
2.4 in
Driest
March
41°F (5°C)
3.2 in
April
51°F (11°C)
3.2 in
May
60°F (16°C)
3.7 in
Wettest
June
68°F (20°C)
3.5 in
July
74°F (23°C)
3.7 in
Warmest
August
72°F (22°C)
3.2 in
September
65°F (18°C)
3.2 in
October
53°F (12°C)
3.1 in
November
44°F (6°C)
3.0 in
December
34°F (1°C)
2.6 in
Paw Paw has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 31°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 37.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.7") and February the driest (2.4").