Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Port Elizabeth enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 36°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 297 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 39. The city sits at an elevation of 6 feet.
Temperature
36°F Jan (2°C)77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
55.7°F
3% above US avg
January Average
36°F (2°C)
July Average
77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
297 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
6 ft (2 m)
Area
1.6 sq mi (4.2 km²)
Population Density
202/sq mi
Coordinates
39.3099°N, 74.9714°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Cape May County County
Nearest Airport
Atlantic City International (ACY) 23 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Wettest Month (Aug)4.25"
Driest Month (Feb)3.11"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
91.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
37.2 / 100
Community Resilience
98.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
19 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.6.
Jan 16, 1994
2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M4.6
145 km
5 km
Jan 16, 1994
0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M4.2
144 km
5 km
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
51 km
10 km
Jan 9, 1992
4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey
M3.1
129 km
8 km
Aug 26, 2003
4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey
M3.1
145 km
3 km
Nov 14, 1997
0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania
M3.0
144 km
5 km
Jan 16, 1994
0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M2.9
143 km
5 km
May 10, 1993
1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania
M2.8
146 km
5 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
58 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
140 km
—
Jan 25, 2015
4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
M2.6
97 km
2 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
150 km
3 km
Oct 28, 1996
2 km W of Reinholds, Pennsylvania
M2.6
146 km
5 km
Jul 5, 1996
2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
M2.6
80 km
18 km
Jan 18, 1994
3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania
M2.6
146 km
5 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
142 km
11 km
May 7, 1994
2 km SW of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M2.5
144 km
5 km
Jan 8, 1995
1 km WSW of Montrose Manor, Pennsylvania
M2.5
141 km
5 km
Feb 26, 1993
2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey
M2.5
63 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
9 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2014
Arthur
Category 1
92 mph
229 km
2012
Sandy
Category 2
92 mph
190 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
135 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
—
296 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
75 mph
296 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
109 mph
270 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
109 mph
176 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
213 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
109 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
240 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 7 fatalities, 176 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
84 km
14.3 mi
1
Sep 1, 2021
EF3
47 km
12.4 mi
0
Jul 29, 2021
EF3
91 km
3.4 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF3
84 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1983
EF3
72 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 28, 1961
EF3
65 km
0.3 mi
0
Mar 22, 1955
EF3
92 km
9.6 mi
1
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
100 km
5.9 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
92 km
8.3 mi
1
Jul 29, 2021
EF2
83 km
4.2 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
51 km
35.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
86 km
20.8 mi
0
Oct 31, 2019
EF2
82 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
98 km
6.2 mi
0
Sep 28, 2004
EF2
68 km
5.0 mi
0
May 2, 2002
EF2
96 km
4.5 mi
0
Aug 20, 1999
EF2
68 km
0.4 mi
0
May 31, 1998
EF2
90 km
5.6 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
97 km
4.0 mi
0
Sep 27, 1993
EF2
71 km
10.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1840
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Earthquake
—
—
58 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: GREENWOOD STATE FOREST (21,271 acres, 1995).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1995
GREENWOOD STATE FOREST
21,271
84 km
2007
WARREN GROVE
15,315
69 km
2022
MULLICA RIVER FIRE
13,082
49 km
1999
BASS RIVER
12,129
59 km
2019
SPRING HILL FIRE
8,182
70 km
2023
ALLEN ROAD
6,213
57 km
1992
FORKED RIVER MOUTAIN APR
5,093
85 km
1992
POWER PLANT
4,928
86 km
1992
UNNAMED
4,470
86 km
2024
TEA TIME HILL
4,444
62 km
2006
UNNAMED
3,780
54 km
2017
PENN SWAMP FIRE
3,587
50 km
2023
JIMMYS WATER HOLE
3,585
93 km
1989
SIMM PLACE
3,262
70 km
2002
UNNAMED
2,824
87 km
2007
ATSION
2,705
51 km
1992
FOUR MILE COLONY
2,647
71 km
1996
UNNAMED
2,625
54 km
2010
FORT DIX RANGE 1-14
2,615
87 km
1990
UNNAMED
2,367
54 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
36°F (2°C)
3.5 in
February
35°F (2°C)
3.1 in
Coldest, Driest
March
43°F (6°C)
3.8 in
April
52°F (11°C)
3.6 in
May
61°F (16°C)
3.5 in
June
70°F (21°C)
3.1 in
July
77°F (25°C)
3.7 in
Warmest
August
74°F (23°C)
4.3 in
Wettest
September
68°F (20°C)
3.4 in
October
57°F (14°C)
3.2 in
November
47°F (9°C)
3.4 in
December
38°F (4°C)
3.5 in
Port Elizabeth has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 35°F in February to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").