Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Silver City enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 79°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 48.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 2.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 214 feet.
Temperature
41°F Jan (5°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
60.4°F
12% above US avg
January Average
41°F (5°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
310 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
214 ft (65 m)
Area
1.5 sq mi (3.9 km²)
Population Density
530/sq mi
Coordinates
34.9972°N, 79.2292°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Scotland County County
Nearest Airport
Fayetteville Regional/Grannis Field (FAY) 20 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.6"
28% above US avg
Snowfall2.8"
Wettest Month (Jul)5.59"
Driest Month (Apr)2.91"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
63.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
97.5 / 100
Community Resilience
25.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5 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
139 km
7 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
58 km
8 km
Jul 12, 1993
5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina
M2.7
127 km
5 km
Mar 26, 2019
8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
M2.5
119 km
4 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
62 km
14 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
21 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
189 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
139 km
2019
Dorian
Category 3
109 mph
216 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
134 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
92 mph
168 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
209 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
242 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
200 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
264 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
142 km
2004
Gaston
Category 1
75 mph
225 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
221 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
92 mph
245 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
159 km
1999
Dennis
Category 2
104 mph
280 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
155 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
53 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
148 km
1989
Hugo
Category 4
138 mph
174 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
249 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
331 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 50 fatalities, 1,519 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 7, 1995
EF4
96 km
0.7 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
78 km
7.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
61 km
17.0 mi
7
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
53 km
40.0 mi
4
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
89 km
21.0 mi
3
Apr 8, 1957
EF4
35 km
0.8 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
39 km
65.2 mi
6
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
9 km
52.9 mi
2
Nov 23, 1992
EF3
73 km
160.0 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
38 km
40.0 mi
12
May 20, 1980
EF3
76 km
10.7 mi
0
Feb 22, 1971
EF3
30 km
85.7 mi
2
Apr 18, 1969
EF3
67 km
25.8 mi
0
Oct 7, 1965
EF3
91 km
1.0 mi
1
Aug 29, 1964
EF3
29 km
21.9 mi
0
Mar 31, 2022
EF2
93 km
7.2 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF2
70 km
0.2 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
65 km
13.1 mi
1
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
55 km
29.9 mi
3
Apr 6, 2009
EF2
85 km
1.4 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (3,968 acres, 1991).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1991
UNNAMED
3,968
53 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,743
53 km
1986
UNNAMED
2,642
69 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,989
76 km
2007
LONGBRANCH-ROBESON COMPLEX
1,944
53 km
1994
CM 15 16 17
1,871
99 km
2021
SLATES CHURCH FIRE
1,824
22 km
1998
980803
1,780
99 km
2016
COUNTY LINE ROAD FIRE
1,704
26 km
1991
UNNAMED
1,454
99 km
2008
08/06 RX BURN
1,451
99 km
2006
OVERHILLS
1,436
33 km
1994
COMP 3
1,382
99 km
2009
UNNAMED
1,319
78 km
2010
CHUCKS FIRST BIG ONE
1,252
25 km
2020
UWH NARROWS DAM RX
1,222
90 km
2018
STRAUSBURG ROAD
1,219
23 km
1999
19990806
1,172
99 km
1996
96 8 1
1,162
99 km
1994
COMP 8 9
1,157
99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
41°F (5°C)
4.0 in
Coldest
February
45°F (7°C)
3.7 in
March
53°F (12°C)
4.3 in
April
61°F (16°C)
2.9 in
Driest
May
69°F (20°C)
3.7 in
June
76°F (24°C)
4.6 in
July
79°F (26°C)
5.6 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
78°F (26°C)
4.9 in
September
73°F (23°C)
4.0 in
October
62°F (16°C)
3.2 in
November
53°F (12°C)
3.0 in
December
45°F (7°C)
3.3 in
Silver City has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 41°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.6") and April the driest (2.9").