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Weather & Climate in Salisbury, MD

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

Salisbury enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 79°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 48.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 46 feet.

Temperature

38°F Jan (4°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average58.7°F
9% above US avg
January Average38°F (4°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation46 ft (14 m)
Area13.8 sq mi (35.8 km²)
Population Density2,395/sq mi
Coordinates38.3753°N, 75.5859°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyWicomico County County
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY)
5 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.0"
26% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.45"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.15"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score60.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability26.9 / 100
Community Resilience76.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

8 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.2.

Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 127 km 10 km
Aug 3, 1995 13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia M2.9 146 km 1 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 141 km 5 km
Mar 15, 1993 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland M2.7 148 km 5 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 135 km —
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 142 km 3 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 60 km 11 km
Mar 10, 1993 3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland M2.5 147 km 5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

12 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
2019 Dorian Category 2 98 mph 294 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 98 mph 202 km
2012 Sandy Category 1 92 mph 208 km
2011 Irene Category 1 75 mph 60 km
2010 Earl Category 1 86 mph 288 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 75 mph 264 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 81 mph 181 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 86 mph 218 km
1993 Emily Category 3 115 mph 218 km
1991 Bob Category 3 115 mph 179 km
1986 Charley Category 1 81 mph 114 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 98 mph 95 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

179 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 70 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 43 km 14.3 mi 1
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 62 km 18.0 mi 0
May 3, 2021 EF2 98 km 4.4 mi 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 35 km 3.8 mi 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 17 km 1.3 mi 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 82 km 35.8 mi 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 22 km 6.2 mi 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 93 km 2.4 mi 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 66 km 10.0 mi 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 72 km 4.0 mi 0
May 2, 1989 EF2 90 km 5.0 mi 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 47 km 1.5 mi 0
Oct 13, 1983 EF2 86 km 4.0 mi 0
Jul 21, 1983 EF2 89 km 1.0 mi 2
Jun 9, 1977 EF2 74 km 0.2 mi 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF2 99 km 0.2 mi 0
Oct 2, 1973 EF2 77 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 27, 1971 EF2 83 km 28.7 mi 0
Jul 30, 1971 EF2 87 km 8.3 mi 0
Jan 27, 1967 EF2 72 km 0.5 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

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 36 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 43 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 41 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 39 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 33 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 34 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 39 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 40 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 40 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 33 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 33 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 36 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 35 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 36 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 43 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 41 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 63 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 47 km
2009 BECKERS ISLAND 1,398 40 km
2022 ELLIOTTS ISLAND 1,324 32 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 38°F (4°C) 3.8 in
February 37°F (3°C) 3.2 in Coldest, Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 4.3 in
April 54°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 64°F (18°C) 3.7 in
June 72°F (22°C) 3.4 in
July 79°F (26°C) 4.4 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.5 in Wettest
September 69°F (21°C) 3.8 in
October 58°F (15°C) 3.3 in
November 49°F (9°C) 3.2 in
December 40°F (4°C) 3.4 in

Salisbury has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.5") and February the driest (3.2").

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