Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
St. Michaels enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (15°C). Winters average 37°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 47.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 14.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 7 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.1°F
8% above US avg
January Average
37°F (3°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
7 ft (2 m)
Area
1.3 sq mi (3.2 km²)
Population Density
1,180/sq mi
Coordinates
38.7885°N, 76.2226°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Talbot County County
Nearest Airport
Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 20 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.6"
25% above US avg
Snowfall14.1"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.29"
Driest Month (Feb)3.07"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
42.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
46.9 / 100
Community Resilience
97.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
15 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
115 km
7 km
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
101 km
10 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
140 km
5 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
115 km
5 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
76 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
66 km
—
Mar 11, 1995
0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania
M2.7
147 km
5 km
Jan 25, 2015
4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
M2.6
143 km
2 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
91 km
5 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
71 km
3 km
Jul 5, 1996
2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
M2.6
139 km
18 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
132 km
11 km
Jun 25, 2001
8 km S of Remington, Virginia
M2.5
144 km
5 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
106 km
3 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
75 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
272 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
268 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
131 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
266 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
—
221 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
287 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
290 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
250 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
178 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
156 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
379 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 13 fatalities, 434 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002
EF4
87 km
38.0 mi
3
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
51 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
42 km
18.0 mi
0
Sep 24, 2001
EF3
67 km
17.5 mi
2
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
74 km
17.9 mi
1
Jan 26, 1978
EF3
99 km
0.7 mi
1
Apr 1, 1973
EF3
96 km
9.8 mi
0
Jun 9, 1961
EF3
57 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
33 km
11.4 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
98 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
72 km
35.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
55 km
1.3 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
60 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
22 km
2.4 mi
0
May 2, 2002
EF2
98 km
4.5 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
72 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 5, 1995
EF2
63 km
2.5 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
21 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
61 km
0.8 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
70 km
0.8 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
—
—
143 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
48 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
46 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
47 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
46 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
51 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
51 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
50 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
47 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
47 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
52 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
52 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
48 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
47 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
47 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
45 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
50 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
81 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
40 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
49 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
52 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
37°F (3°C)
3.7 in
February
37°F (3°C)
3.1 in
Coldest, Driest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.2 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.4 in
May
64°F (18°C)
4.1 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.6 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.3 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
76°F (24°C)
4.1 in
September
69°F (21°C)
3.8 in
October
58°F (15°C)
3.2 in
November
49°F (9°C)
3.4 in
December
40°F (4°C)
3.5 in
St. Michaels has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 37°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").