Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Pawcatuck experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 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 37 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (0°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
52.5°F
3% below US avg
January Average
32°F (0°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
275 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
37 ft (11 m)
Area
1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²)
Population Density
1,606/sq mi
Coordinates
41.3739°N, 71.8564°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Washington County County
Nearest Airport
Rhode Island Tf Green International (PVD) 33 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall42.8"
13% above US avg
Wettest Month (Nov)4.69"
Driest Month (Jul)3.35"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
64.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
12.2 / 100
Community Resilience
97.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
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
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
16 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
114 km
10 km
Jan 12, 2015
0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
M3.3
42 km
5 km
Jun 16, 2000
5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts
M3.3
114 km
10 km
Oct 2, 1994
1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts
M3.3
114 km
10 km
Mar 22, 1996
2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island
M3.1
62 km
12 km
Apr 9, 2019
63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York
M3.0
109 km
7 km
Oct 28, 1991
3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut
M3.0
148 km
10 km
Mar 10, 1992
2 km SW of Napeague, New York
M2.8
47 km
10 km
Oct 11, 1990
5 km NNE of The Pinehills, Massachusetts
M2.7
123 km
13 km
Oct 13, 1999
2 km E of Littleton Common, Massachusetts
M2.7
135 km
2 km
Aug 14, 2014
6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut
M2.7
54 km
4 km
Aug 22, 2000
2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York
M2.6
148 km
7 km
Apr 22, 1996
3 km NE of North Westport, Massachusetts
M2.6
74 km
5 km
Jan 13, 2015
2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
M2.6
41 km
9 km
Jun 7, 2002
3 km NNW of Hopedale, Massachusetts
M2.5
91 km
5 km
Jan 23, 1990
3 km NNW of Boxborough, Massachusetts
M2.5
130 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
231 km
2014
Arthur
Category 1
75 mph
224 km
1996
Edouard
Category 1
92 mph
271 km
1991
Bob
Category 2
109 mph
29 km
1985
Gloria
Category 1
86 mph
98 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
144 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 3 fatalities, 606 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 10, 1989
EF4
87 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 3, 1979
EF4
88 km
11.3 mi
3
May 10, 1954
EF3
79 km
0.3 mi
0
Jun 9, 1953
EF3
89 km
28.0 mi
0
Aug 21, 1951
EF3
58 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 18, 2023
EF2
53 km
9.1 mi
0
Aug 8, 1999
EF2
69 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
99 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 7, 1986
EF2
56 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 5, 1984
EF2
97 km
3.0 mi
0
Sep 18, 1973
EF2
91 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 6, 1973
EF2
73 km
3.3 mi
0
Aug 31, 1973
EF2
83 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 28, 1970
EF2
84 km
1.0 mi
0
Aug 19, 1965
EF2
84 km
6.6 mi
0
Oct 12, 1962
EF2
85 km
4.1 mi
0
Sep 7, 1958
EF2
69 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 20, 1951
EF2
64 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 12, 1950
EF2
63 km
10.0 mi
0
Jun 26, 2024
EF1
67 km
0.6 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
—
122 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
2 wildfires (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
98 km
2008
NOMANS AERIAL RX
546
88 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (0°C)
4.2 in
February
29°F (-2°C)
3.6 in
Coldest
March
37°F (3°C)
4.4 in
April
46°F (8°C)
4.3 in
May
56°F (13°C)
3.8 in
June
65°F (18°C)
3.7 in
July
74°F (23°C)
3.4 in
Warmest, Driest
August
70°F (21°C)
4.1 in
September
63°F (17°C)
4.0 in
October
53°F (11°C)
3.9 in
November
44°F (7°C)
4.7 in
Wettest
December
34°F (1°C)
4.4 in
Pawcatuck has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 29°F in February to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 48.4 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.7") and July the driest (3.4").