Weather & Climate in Preston, MD

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Preston experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°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 46.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 45 feet.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)

Annual Average	55.4°F
	3% above US avg
January Average	35°F (1°C)
July Average	77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days	293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	45 ft (14 m)
Area	0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
Population Density	1,444/sq mi
Coordinates	38.7102°N, 75.9075°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Caroline County County
Nearest Airport	Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 14 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.3"

22% above US avg

Snowfall 12.8"

Wettest Month (Jul) 4.33"

Driest Month (Feb) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median	41.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Relatively Low
Risk Score	45.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability	58.7 / 100
Community Resilience	56.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Hurricane	Relatively Moderate
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave	Relatively Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Moderate
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Relatively Low
Drought	Relatively High
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Very Low
Coastal Flood	Relatively Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

12 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	144 km	7 km
Oct 23, 1990	3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey	M3.2	96 km	10 km
Jul 1, 2009	3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey	M2.8	110 km	5 km
Mar 15, 1993	5 km W of Columbia, Maryland	M2.7	103 km	5 km
Oct 28, 1994	1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland	M2.7	89 km	—
Jan 25, 2015	4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania	M2.6	145 km	2 km
Jan 13, 1990	6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland	M2.6	116 km	5 km
Jun 25, 2021	2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland	M2.6	96 km	3 km
Jul 5, 1996	2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania	M2.6	138 km	18 km
Feb 9, 2023	29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia	M2.6	106 km	11 km
Sep 29, 1997	Virginia	M2.5	134 km	3 km
Mar 10, 1993	3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland	M2.5	102 km	5 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

10 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	244 km
2012	Sandy	Category 1	92 mph	240 km
2011	Irene	Category 1	75 mph	104 km
2003	Isabel	Category 1	75 mph	274 km
1999	Floyd	Category 1	—	213 km
1998	Bonnie	Category 1	86 mph	265 km
1993	Emily	Category 3	115 mph	264 km
1991	Bob	Category 3	115 mph	222 km
1986	Charley	Category 1	81 mph	158 km
1985	Gloria	Category 2	98 mph	127 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

316 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 8 fatalities, 191 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023	EF3	24 km	14.3 mi	1
Apr 28, 2002	EF3	47 km	18.0 mi	0
Sep 24, 2001	EF3	96 km	17.5 mi	2
Jun 9, 1961	EF3	82 km	0.1 mi	0
Sep 1, 2021	EF2	62 km	11.4 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	56 km	35.8 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	32 km	1.3 mi	0
Aug 4, 2020	EF2	81 km	3.8 mi	0
Apr 15, 2019	EF2	32 km	6.2 mi	0
Jul 23, 2017	EF2	48 km	2.4 mi	0
Apr 28, 2002	EF2	95 km	3.0 mi	0
Oct 5, 1995	EF2	91 km	2.5 mi	0
May 18, 1995	EF2	20 km	10.0 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	81 km	0.8 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	66 km	4.0 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	68 km	7.0 mi	0
Jul 27, 1994	EF2	93 km	0.8 mi	0
Sep 27, 1993	EF2	92 km	10.0 mi	0
Jul 31, 1992	EF2	48 km	4.0 mi	0
Jul 18, 1984	EF2	30 km	1.5 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	—	—	136 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

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	37 km
2004	RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH	5,678	39 km
2014	BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14	5,433	38 km
2005	MARSH RX-FWS	4,380	36 km
2007	GUINEA MARSH	4,173	38 km
2009	DOCTORS CREEK	3,686	37 km
1999	FB R O C I	3,525	40 km
2019	MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT	3,197	38 km
2011	COMPARTMENT J	2,775	38 km
2005	ISLAND CREEK	2,729	38 km
2004	UNNAMED	2,156	39 km
1992	UNNAMED	2,038	35 km
2005	VEGETATION RESEARCH	1,926	34 km
2011	THOROFARE	1,850	34 km
1987	UNNAMED	1,692	38 km
2004	ROBBINS FIRE	1,612	41 km
1988	SLAU BCH 2	1,578	57 km
2020	SPLIT DITCH	1,518	98 km
2004	BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION	1,518	36 km
2014	RAILROAD	1,431	98 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	35°F (1°C)	3.8 in	Coldest
February	36°F (2°C)	3.0 in	Driest
March	45°F (7°C)	4.2 in
April	54°F (12°C)	3.4 in
May	64°F (18°C)	4.0 in
June	72°F (22°C)	3.5 in
July	77°F (25°C)	4.3 in	Warmest, Wettest
August	75°F (24°C)	4.2 in
September	69°F (21°C)	3.7 in
October	58°F (14°C)	3.2 in
November	48°F (9°C)	3.3 in
December	39°F (4°C)	3.4 in

Preston has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.0").

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