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Weather & Climate in Stony Brook, NY
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Stony Brook experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 282 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of 160 feet.
Temperature
33°F Jan (0°C)
74°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 53.4°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 33°F (0°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 282 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 160 ft (49 m) |
| Area | 5.8 sq mi (15.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,204/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.9078°N, 73.1275°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Nassau County County |
| Nearest Airport | John F Kennedy International (JFK) 39 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 36.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 97.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 25.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 97.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
23 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Apr 5, 2024 | 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake | M4.8 | 139 km | 3 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M3.7 | 138 km | 4 km |
| Jan 12, 2015 | 0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut | M3.3 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Jun 16, 2000 | 5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts | M3.3 | 135 km | 10 km |
| Jan 9, 1992 | 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey | M3.1 | 119 km | 8 km |
| Apr 9, 2019 | 63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York | M3.0 | 112 km | 7 km |
| Oct 28, 1991 | 3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut | M3.0 | 42 km | 10 km |
| Aug 3, 2025 | 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey | M3.0 | 78 km | 10 km |
| Feb 3, 2009 | 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey | M3.0 | 118 km | 0 km |
| May 24, 2024 | 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey | M2.9 | 139 km | 7 km |
| Apr 27, 2024 | 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.9 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey | M2.8 | 77 km | 12 km |
| Mar 10, 1992 | 2 km SW of Napeague, New York | M2.8 | 88 km | 10 km |
| Apr 12, 1991 | 2 km ENE of North Castle, New York | M2.7 | 52 km | 9 km |
| Aug 14, 2014 | 6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut | M2.7 | 72 km | 4 km |
| Oct 27, 2001 | 1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York | M2.6 | 72 km | 5 km |
| Jan 13, 2015 | 2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut | M2.6 | 140 km | 9 km |
| Apr 5, 2024 | 6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey | M2.6 | 140 km | 6 km |
| Aug 14, 2015 | 3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey | M2.6 | 123 km | 8 km |
| May 1, 2024 | 1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey | M2.6 | 132 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2021 | Henri | Category 1 | 75 mph | 247 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 81 mph | 248 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 1 | 92 mph | 290 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 109 mph | 103 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 37 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
159 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 3 fatalities, 241 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF4 | 56 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | EF3 | 72 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | EF3 | 71 km | 11.6 mi | 1 |
| Aug 21, 1951 | EF3 | 91 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 15, 2018 | EF2 | 81 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 2007 | EF2 | 88 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 2006 | EF2 | 65 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 23, 2001 | EF2 | 99 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1999 | EF2 | 52 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1998 | EF2 | 55 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF2 | 77 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF2 | 31 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1989 | EF2 | 73 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1984 | EF2 | 86 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | EF2 | 43 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1973 | EF2 | 79 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1973 | EF2 | 97 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1973 | EF2 | 79 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1971 | EF2 | 74 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1971 | EF2 | 33 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1964 | LONG ISLAND, NY | Meteorological | 0.3 m | — | 12 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
4 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (23,000 acres, 1985).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 23,000 | 89 km |
| 2012 | CRESCENT BOW FIRE | 1,068 | 25 km |
| 1988 | UNNAMED | 833 | 92 km |
| 2016 | SHERWOOD | 642 | 87 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (0°C) | 3.7 in | |
| February | 32°F (0°C) | 3.0 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 40°F (4°C) | 4.0 in | Wettest |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 4.0 in | |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3.7 in | |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 3.3 in | |
| July | 74°F (24°C) | 3.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 3.8 in | |
| September | 65°F (19°C) | 3.4 in | |
| October | 55°F (13°C) | 3.4 in | |
| November | 46°F (8°C) | 3.9 in | |
| December | 36°F (2°C) | 3.7 in |
Stony Brook has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 32°F in February to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 43.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (3.0").