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Weather & Climate in Rock Hill, SC

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

Rock Hill enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 310 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 42.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 666 feet.

Temperature

43°F Jan (6°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average62.1°F
15% above US avg
January Average43°F (6°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days310 days/yr

Geography

Elevation666 ft (203 m)
Area44.5 sq mi (115.2 km²)
Population Density1,681/sq mi
Coordinates34.9382°N, 81.0192°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyYork County County
Nearest AirportCharlotte/Douglas International (CLT)
19 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 42.6"
12% above US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.88"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.11"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score88.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability12.2 / 100
Community Resilience71.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Very High
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

36 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 64 km 7 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.6 90 km 3 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.5 90 km 3 km
Jun 26, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.4 90 km 4 km
May 9, 2022 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina M3.3 91 km 4 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 72 km 9 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 122 km 2 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 115 km 9 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 142 km 2 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 148 km 9 km
Jan 29, 1994 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina M2.9 145 km 2 km
Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 109 km 8 km
Feb 18, 2005 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina M2.9 92 km 1 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 123 km 7 km
May 10, 2022 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M2.8 89 km 2 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 116 km 6 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 113 km 9 km
Jan 7, 1992 5 km NNW of Edgefield, South Carolina M2.7 149 km 3 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 148 km 2 km
Mar 9, 2024 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M2.7 90 km 3 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 4.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 81 mph 247 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 92 mph 258 km
2018 Florence Category 1 92 mph 262 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 92 mph 245 km
2004 Charley Category 1 81 mph 246 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 75 mph 252 km
1996 Fran Category 3 115 mph 213 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 138 mph 28 km
1984 Diana Category 4 127 mph 270 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

432 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 25 fatalities, 504 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 5, 1989 EF4 27 km 13.0 mi 1
May 5, 1989 EF4 84 km 15.0 mi 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 78 km 14.0 mi 4
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 58 km 4.0 mi 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 69 km 21.0 mi 5
Apr 8, 1957 EF4 53 km 121.4 mi 4
Sep 7, 2004 EF3 85 km 7.0 mi 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 57 km 30.0 mi 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 24 km 18.5 mi 0
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 31 km 12.0 mi 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 78 km 19.0 mi 0
Apr 18, 1969 EF3 100 km 77.3 mi 0
Mar 31, 2022 EF2 74 km 7.2 mi 0
May 5, 2020 EF2 39 km 14.0 mi 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 95 km 0.2 mi 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 45 km 8.7 mi 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 75 km 6.2 mi 0
Jan 11, 2020 EF2 72 km 0.6 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 89 km 3.0 mi 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 67 km 4.9 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CHESTNUT KNOB (6,418 acres, 2016).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 95 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 47 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 100 km
2010 C-94-95 133 RX 3,192 81 km
1991 UNNAMED 3,094 83 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,909 81 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 56 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 82 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 60 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 72 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 68 km
2008 05/05 RX BURN 2,351 79 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 60 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 82 km
2010 C-142 RX 2,149 83 km
2007 06-09 RX BURN 2,054 81 km
2022 SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE 2,039 80 km
2021 UNNAMED 2,024 73 km
2019 UNNAMED 2,000 79 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,989 89 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 43°F (6°C) 4.4 in Coldest
February 44°F (7°C) 3.9 in
March 52°F (11°C) 4.9 in Wettest
April 60°F (16°C) 3.1 in Driest
May 68°F (20°C) 3.6 in
June 75°F (24°C) 4.2 in
July 80°F (27°C) 4.2 in Warmest
August 78°F (25°C) 4.4 in
September 72°F (22°C) 4.2 in
October 61°F (16°C) 3.7 in
November 51°F (11°C) 3.4 in
December 44°F (7°C) 3.6 in

Rock Hill has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 43°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.5 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.9") and April the driest (3.1").

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