Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Stuarts Draft experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 74°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 40.6 inches. The area receives 21.6 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 1,379 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
54.1°F
0% below US avg
January Average
34°F (1°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,379 ft (420 m)
Area
20.0 sq mi (51.9 km²)
Population Density
407/sq mi
Coordinates
38.0188°N, 79.0347°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Staunton city County
Nearest Airport
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD) 19 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall40.6"
7% above US avg
Snowfall21.6"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.06"
Driest Month (Feb)2.76"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
10.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
30.6 / 100
Community Resilience
79.4 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
45 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M5.8.
Aug 23, 2011
11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M5.8
97 km
6 km
Aug 25, 2011
8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia
M4.5
94 km
7 km
Aug 24, 2011
11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M4.2
95 km
0 km
Mar 15, 1991
7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.8
103 km
16 km
Oct 21, 1998
13 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.8
85 km
13 km
May 5, 2003
Virginia
M3.6
104 km
13 km
Apr 22, 1991
14 km ESE of Falling Spring, West Virginia
M3.5
103 km
15 km
Aug 24, 2011
16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia
M3.4
98 km
0 km
Sep 1, 2011
7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M3.4
97 km
3 km
Sep 22, 2001
5 km E of Pantops, Virginia
M3.2
56 km
0 km
Jan 30, 2012
9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia
M3.1
93 km
3 km
May 22, 2014
15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia
M3.1
101 km
10 km
Oct 12, 2011
9 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M3.0
93 km
4 km
Mar 26, 2012
13 km S of Louisa, Virginia
M3.0
93 km
9 km
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
134 km
19 km
May 16, 2009
2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia
M3.0
121 km
13 km
May 6, 2025
8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia
M3.0
79 km
8 km
Apr 21, 1998
1 km NNW of Free Union, Virginia
M2.8
44 km
2 km
Aug 23, 2011
9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia
M2.8
97 km
0 km
Mar 15, 2015
6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia
M2.8
95 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 1.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
188 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
293 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
124 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 15 fatalities, 69 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 15, 2018
EF3
79 km
20.4 mi
0
Feb 24, 2016
EF3
89 km
16.9 mi
1
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
98 km
3.5 mi
0
Jul 25, 1985
EF3
57 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 9, 1977
EF3
97 km
5.9 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF3
70 km
5.6 mi
0
Jun 16, 1966
EF3
60 km
1.0 mi
0
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
67 km
6.5 mi
0
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
61 km
2.0 mi
1
Sep 30, 1959
EF3
37 km
0.8 mi
11
May 27, 2022
EF2
77 km
6.3 mi
0
Apr 28, 2011
EF2
71 km
33.5 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
67 km
8.0 mi
0
Sep 17, 2004
EF2
60 km
5.0 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
80 km
4.0 mi
0
Apr 28, 2002
EF2
88 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 15, 1996
EF2
88 km
0.5 mi
0
May 4, 1990
EF2
27 km
7.0 mi
2
Jun 12, 1976
EF2
75 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 17, 1965
EF2
86 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: PINNACLES (24,792 acres, 2000).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2000
PINNACLES
24,792
90 km
2012
RICH HOLE
15,923
56 km
2023
MATTS CREEK
11,028
60 km
2016
MOUNT PLEASANT
11,001
34 km
2016
ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016
9,299
46 km
2024
WATERFALL MOUNTAIN
9,251
83 km
2022
UNNAMED
7,791
69 km
2014
ARCHER KNOB RX
6,093
32 km
2022
UNNAMED
5,893
32 km
2021
UNNAMED
5,345
53 km
2015
UNNAMED
5,149
53 km
2013
UNNAMED
4,687
52 km
2002
FULTZ RUN
4,638
69 km
2008
ST MARYS
4,373
16 km
1999
SHOP RUN
4,261
27 km
2012
UNNAMED
4,219
69 km
1986
BIG RUN
4,161
43 km
2018
UNNAMED
4,022
52 km
2012
SHIPWRECK
3,779
63 km
2021
UNNAMED
3,667
65 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
34°F (1°C)
2.9 in
Coldest
February
35°F (2°C)
2.8 in
Driest
March
43°F (6°C)
3.4 in
April
52°F (11°C)
3.1 in
May
61°F (16°C)
4.0 in
June
69°F (21°C)
3.5 in
July
74°F (23°C)
4.1 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
72°F (22°C)
3.7 in
September
66°F (19°C)
3.8 in
October
54°F (12°C)
3.7 in
November
45°F (7°C)
3.3 in
December
36°F (2°C)
2.8 in
Stuarts Draft has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 34°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 41.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (2.8").