Weather & Climate in St. Paul, VA

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

St. Paul experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 305 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 45.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.4 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 1,496 feet.

Temperature

34°F Jan (1°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)

Annual Average	53.7°F
	1% below US avg
January Average	34°F (1°C)
July Average	73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days	305 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	1,496 ft (456 m)
Area	1.4 sq mi (3.6 km²)
Population Density	758/sq mi
Coordinates	36.9067°N, 82.3170°W
Timezone	America/New_York
County	Russell County County
Nearest Airport	Foothills Regional (MRN) 85 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 45.9"

21% above US avg

Snowfall 12.4"

Wettest Month (Jul) 4.69"

Driest Month (Oct) 3.07"

Air Quality

AQI Median	35.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	36.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability	69.8 / 100
Community Resilience	10.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Hurricane	Very Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Very Low
Flood	Relatively Low
Hail	Very Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	No Rating
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	Relatively Low
Cold Wave	Relatively Moderate
Landslide	Relatively Moderate
Avalanche	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

66 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.2.

Nov 10, 2012	6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky	M4.2	70 km	17 km
Aug 17, 1990	9 km NNW of Loyall, Kentucky	M4.0	95 km	1 km
Jul 30, 1997	6 km NNE of Tazewell, Tennessee	M3.8	118 km	23 km
Sep 17, 2004	8 km ESE of Corbin, Kentucky	M3.7	150 km	1 km
Jun 26, 1995	6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia	M3.4	76 km	2 km
Feb 12, 1994	10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia	M3.4	31 km	5 km
Mar 5, 2019	7 km NE of Maynardville, Tennessee	M3.4	144 km	17 km
Jul 26, 2001	11 km S of New Market, Tennessee	M3.2	150 km	17 km
Nov 8, 1990	5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky	M3.2	67 km	0 km
Apr 29, 2018	10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee	M3.1	117 km	21 km
Jan 17, 1999	7 km NNW of Flat Lick, Kentucky	M3.1	132 km	1 km
Apr 13, 2001	11 km W of Sneedville, Tennessee	M3.0	101 km	0 km
Jan 1, 1993	4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina	M3.0	116 km	2 km
Jul 7, 1995	3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee	M3.0	63 km	10 km
Jul 17, 2019	7 km SW of New Tazewell, Tennessee	M3.0	132 km	13 km
Apr 5, 2005	1 km SE of Blaine, Tennessee	M2.9	149 km	10 km
Aug 14, 2009	4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia	M2.9	16 km	16 km
Aug 25, 2013	3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina	M2.9	101 km	9 km
Jan 22, 1995	0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia	M2.9	137 km	9 km
May 20, 2023	Kentucky-Tennessee border region	M2.8	140 km	17 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

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

Year	Name	Category	Max Wind	Closest
1989	Hugo	Category 1	—	269 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

84 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 8 fatalities, 166 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011	EF3	43 km	19.6 mi	3
Apr 27, 2011	EF3	96 km	13.6 mi	2
Jul 10, 1980	EF3	79 km	1.9 mi	0
Apr 4, 1974	EF3	36 km	8.4 mi	1
Apr 27, 2011	EF2	64 km	12.0 mi	2
Apr 27, 2011	EF2	77 km	8.8 mi	0
May 8, 2009	EF2	33 km	1.1 mi	0
May 8, 2009	EF2	27 km	1.7 mi	0
Jul 6, 1980	EF2	91 km	11.5 mi	0
Jan 25, 1975	EF2	51 km	3.2 mi	0
Apr 22, 1967	EF2	85 km	0.2 mi	0
Apr 9, 1965	EF2	88 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 3, 1962	EF2	36 km	0.1 mi	0
Apr 8, 1957	EF2	74 km	3.0 mi	0
Mar 5, 1955	EF2	69 km	4.3 mi	0
Sep 24, 2024	EF1	84 km	6.0 mi	0
Aug 14, 2023	EF1	82 km	3.0 mi	0
Aug 7, 2023	EF1	97 km	6.2 mi	0
May 16, 2023	EF1	48 km	0.6 mi	0
May 16, 2023	EF1	71 km	0.2 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (66,345 acres, 1987).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
1987	UNNAMED	66,345	71 km
1987	UNNAMED	41,794	80 km
1987	UNNAMED	38,312	99 km
1987	UNNAMED	32,565	62 km
1987	UNNAMED	27,317	94 km
1991	UNNAMED	22,282	61 km
1991	TUG RIVER	20,813	83 km
2001	UNNAMED	18,013	99 km
1999	UNNAMED	17,759	85 km
1991	UNNAMED	17,406	63 km
1999	UNNAMED	17,328	62 km
1994	UNNAMED	15,526	54 km
1987	UNNAMED	15,138	64 km
1991	UNNAMED	14,264	88 km
1987	UNNAMED	13,124	93 km
1991	ROCK HOUSE BRANCH	13,056	100 km
1991	UNNAMED	11,117	76 km
1999	UNNAMED	10,990	51 km
1995	UNNAMED	10,148	98 km
1987	UNNAMED	9,572	47 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	34°F (1°C)	3.4 in	Coldest
February	36°F (2°C)	3.4 in
March	44°F (7°C)	3.9 in
April	53°F (12°C)	3.8 in
May	61°F (16°C)	4.3 in
June	68°F (20°C)	3.9 in
July	73°F (23°C)	4.7 in	Warmest, Wettest
August	71°F (22°C)	3.9 in
September	65°F (19°C)	3.5 in
October	54°F (12°C)	3.1 in	Driest
November	45°F (7°C)	3.3 in
December	37°F (3°C)	3.3 in

St. Paul has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 34°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.7") and October the driest (3.1").

View full profile of St. Paul, VA →