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Weather & Climate in Riverhead, NY
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Riverhead experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 75°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 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of 58 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (0°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 54.1°F |
| 0% below US avg | |
| January Average | 33°F (0°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 58 ft (18 m) |
| Area | 15.1 sq mi (39.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 999/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.9513°N, 72.6761°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Suffolk County County |
| Nearest Airport | John F Kennedy International (JFK) 62 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 36.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 97.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 21.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 94.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
14 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.3.
| Jun 16, 2000 | 5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts | M3.3 | 128 km | 10 km |
| Jan 12, 2015 | 0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut | M3.3 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Mar 22, 1996 | 2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island | M3.1 | 145 km | 12 km |
| Apr 9, 2019 | 63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York | M3.0 | 85 km | 7 km |
| Aug 3, 2025 | 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey | M3.0 | 116 km | 10 km |
| Oct 28, 1991 | 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut | M3.0 | 77 km | 10 km |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey | M2.8 | 115 km | 12 km |
| Mar 10, 1992 | 2 km SW of Napeague, New York | M2.8 | 50 km | 10 km |
| Apr 12, 1991 | 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York | M2.7 | 85 km | 9 km |
| Aug 14, 2014 | 6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut | M2.7 | 47 km | 4 km |
| Oct 27, 2001 | 1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York | M2.6 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Aug 22, 2000 | 2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York | M2.6 | 95 km | 7 km |
| Jan 13, 2015 | 2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut | M2.6 | 110 km | 9 km |
| Jan 15, 1992 | 5 km NNE of Tuxedo Park, New York | M2.5 | 128 km | 7 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 | 224 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 81 mph | 227 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 1 | 92 mph | 298 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 109 mph | 83 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 66 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
133 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 2 fatalities, 207 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF4 | 51 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | EF3 | 74 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | EF3 | 76 km | 11.6 mi | 1 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | EF3 | 71 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1999 | EF2 | 14 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1998 | EF2 | 91 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF2 | 81 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF2 | 99 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF2 | 17 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1984 | EF2 | 83 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | EF2 | 75 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | EF2 | 77 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 6, 1973 | EF2 | 95 km | 3.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1973 | EF2 | 87 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | EF2 | 83 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1971 | EF2 | 65 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 27, 1970 | EF2 | 75 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1962 | EF2 | 97 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 24, 1955 | EF2 | 69 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | EF2 | 97 km | 43.9 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 | — | 39 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
1 wildfire (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 | 15 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (0°C) | 3.8 in | |
| February | 32°F (-0°C) | 3.5 in | Coldest |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 4.1 in | |
| April | 48°F (9°C) | 3.9 in | |
| May | 58°F (15°C) | 3.6 in | |
| June | 67°F (20°C) | 3.0 in | Driest |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 3.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 4.0 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 3.3 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 3.4 in | |
| November | 45°F (7°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| December | 36°F (2°C) | 4.1 in |
Riverhead has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 32°F in February to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.1 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.1") and June the driest (3.0").