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Weather & Climate in Sussex, VA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sussex enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 79°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 47.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 4.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 109 feet.
Temperature
38°F Jan (3°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 58.4°F |
| 8% above US avg | |
| January Average | 38°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 305 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 109 ft (33 m) |
| Area | 4.7 sq mi (12.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 23/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.9174°N, 77.2719°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Sussex County County |
| Nearest Airport | Franklin Regional (FKN) 25 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 13.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 77.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 41.2 / 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 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
34 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 | 125 km | 6 km |
| Aug 25, 2011 | 8 km SW of Mineral, Virginia | M4.5 | 130 km | 7 km |
| Aug 24, 2011 | 11 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia | M4.2 | 126 km | 0 km |
| Oct 21, 1998 | 13 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia | M3.8 | 118 km | 13 km |
| Mar 15, 1991 | 7 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia | M3.8 | 108 km | 16 km |
| May 5, 2003 | Virginia | M3.6 | 99 km | 13 km |
| Aug 24, 2011 | 16 km NNW of Goochland, Virginia | M3.4 | 117 km | 0 km |
| Sep 1, 2011 | 7 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia | M3.4 | 129 km | 3 km |
| May 22, 2014 | 15 km ENE of Cumberland, Virginia | M3.1 | 98 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2012 | 9 km SSE of Louisa, Virginia | M3.1 | 130 km | 3 km |
| Oct 12, 2011 | 9 km S of Louisa, Virginia | M3.0 | 130 km | 4 km |
| Oct 2, 2010 | 10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia | M3.0 | 106 km | 19 km |
| Mar 26, 2012 | 13 km S of Louisa, Virginia | M3.0 | 127 km | 9 km |
| May 6, 2025 | 8 km S of Dillwyn, Virginia | M3.0 | 122 km | 8 km |
| Aug 3, 1995 | 13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia | M2.9 | 74 km | 1 km |
| Aug 23, 2011 | 9 km SSW of Mineral, Virginia | M2.8 | 127 km | 0 km |
| Mar 15, 2015 | 6 km SW of Mineral, Virginia | M2.8 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Jan 14, 2025 | 1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia | M2.8 | 93 km | 0 km |
| Feb 19, 2012 | 12 km S of Louisa, Virginia | M2.7 | 127 km | 3 km |
| Aug 29, 2011 | 10 km S of Louisa, Virginia | M2.7 | 130 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
16 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 2 | 98 mph | 243 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | - | 292 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 1 | 81 mph | 272 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 98 mph | 202 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 86 mph | 142 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 81 mph | 280 km |
| 2004 | Alex | Category 2 | 98 mph | 259 km |
| 2003 | Isabel | Category 2 | 104 mph | 45 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 1 | 81 mph | 105 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 2 | 109 mph | 175 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 215 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 2 | 75 mph | 230 km |
| 1993 | Emily | Category 3 | 115 mph | 247 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 3 | 115 mph | 251 km |
| 1986 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 139 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 104 mph | 202 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
378 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 33 fatalities, 760 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Aug 6, 1993 | EF4 | 34 km | 1.0 mi | 4 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 97 km | 17.9 mi | 12 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF3 | 57 km | 46.9 mi | 2 |
| Apr 28, 2008 | EF3 | 57 km | 24.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 6, 1993 | EF3 | 96 km | 2.9 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 80 km | 5.0 mi | 1 |
| May 4, 1990 | EF3 | 66 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | EF3 | 51 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 14, 1986 | EF3 | 47 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 1984 | EF3 | 43 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 1984 | EF3 | 36 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF3 | 88 km | 6.0 mi | 6 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF3 | 79 km | 14.0 mi | 2 |
| May 22, 1983 | EF3 | 65 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 5, 1979 | EF3 | 76 km | 2.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | EF3 | 27 km | 35.6 mi | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1967 | EF3 | 74 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 39 km | 15.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 53 km | 3.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2018 | EF2 | 63 km | 1.6 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
12 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: LATERAL WEST (6,188 acres, 2011).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2011 | LATERAL WEST | 6,188 | 79 km |
| 2008 | SOUTH 1 | 5,940 | 79 km |
| 2008 | OLD STAGE ROAD | 2,238 | 24 km |
| 2008 | MCPHERSON ROAD | 2,087 | 94 km |
| 2008 | LYNCH ROAD | 1,824 | 96 km |
| 1998 | SE BLOCKS | 1,278 | 85 km |
| 2008 | POCAHONTAS ROAD | 1,146 | 35 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 1,091 | 99 km |
| 2008 | SYCAMORE SHORES | 1,044 | 73 km |
| 2017 | VAGDR FY17 RX DGIF SUPPORT | 674 | 17 km |
| 2006 | WEST DRUMMOND | 562 | 78 km |
| 2019 | VAJRR-FY19-RX-FUEL REDUCTION | 514 | 42 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38°F (3°C) | 3.8 in | Coldest |
| February | 41°F (5°C) | 3.5 in | |
| March | 49°F (9°C) | 4.0 in | |
| April | 58°F (14°C) | 3.2 in | |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 4.1 in | |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 3.8 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 4.8 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 76°F (25°C) | 4.7 in | |
| September | 70°F (21°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 59°F (15°C) | 3.3 in | |
| November | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 in | Driest |
| December | 42°F (6°C) | 3.3 in |
Sussex has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 38°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.8") and November the driest (3.2").