Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Tamaqua experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 271 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 51.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 27.3 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 1,320 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
50.0°F
7% below US avg
January Average
27°F (-3°C)
July Average
72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
271 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,320 ft (402 m)
Area
3.8 sq mi (9.7 km²)
Population Density
724/sq mi
Coordinates
40.8041°N, 75.9266°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Carbon County County
Nearest Airport
Hazleton Regional (HZL) 13 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall51.9"
37% above US avg
Snowfall27.3"
Wettest Month (May)4.76"
Driest Month (Feb)2.95"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
59.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
35.0 / 100
Community Resilience
61.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
32 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.8.
Apr 5, 2024
2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake
M4.8
99 km
3 km
Jan 16, 1994
2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M4.6
54 km
5 km
Jan 16, 1994
0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M4.2
54 km
5 km
Apr 5, 2024
7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M3.7
100 km
4 km
Jun 13, 2019
9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania
M3.4
140 km
27 km
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
148 km
10 km
Aug 26, 2003
4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey
M3.1
73 km
3 km
Jan 9, 1992
4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey
M3.1
143 km
8 km
Jun 3, 2010
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M3.1
119 km
2 km
Nov 14, 1997
0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania
M3.0
78 km
5 km
Feb 3, 2009
1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey
M3.0
118 km
0 km
Apr 24, 2009
1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.9
124 km
1 km
Jan 16, 1994
0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
M2.9
54 km
5 km
May 24, 2024
6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
M2.9
99 km
7 km
Apr 27, 2024
7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M2.9
100 km
5 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
129 km
5 km
Jun 10, 2025
10 km NW of Forksville, Pennsylvania
M2.8
105 km
8 km
May 10, 1993
1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania
M2.8
51 km
5 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
134 km
5 km
Oct 25, 2009
4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania
M2.8
119 km
1 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 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
216 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
323 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 11 fatalities, 164 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 14, 2004
EF3
80 km
7.5 mi
0
Jun 2, 1998
EF3
91 km
26.0 mi
2
May 31, 1998
EF3
89 km
20.0 mi
0
May 31, 1998
EF3
36 km
8.3 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF3
73 km
2.0 mi
3
Jul 26, 1981
EF3
29 km
3.3 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF3
66 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 18, 1970
EF3
55 km
1.9 mi
1
Mar 22, 1955
EF3
96 km
9.6 mi
1
Nov 4, 1950
EF3
69 km
15.9 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
97 km
8.3 mi
1
Jul 29, 2021
EF2
97 km
6.3 mi
0
May 28, 2019
EF2
72 km
3.1 mi
0
Apr 14, 2019
EF2
59 km
3.7 mi
0
Jun 13, 2018
EF2
49 km
2.9 mi
0
Feb 25, 2017
EF2
52 km
12.5 mi
0
Feb 24, 2016
EF2
89 km
4.9 mi
0
Jul 8, 2014
EF2
95 km
6.7 mi
0
Apr 28, 2011
EF2
70 km
1.1 mi
0
Jul 29, 2009
EF2
59 km
4.6 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1895
HIGH BRIDGE, NJ
Earthquake
—
—
89 km
1840
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Earthquake
—
—
128 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
9 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: 16 MILE (7,896 acres, 2016).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2016
16 MILE
7,896
79 km
2009
PENOBSCOT
2,091
44 km
2004
CRYSTAL LAKE
1,838
40 km
2012
HOPEWELL FIRE
812
67 km
2020
SEVEN PINES
790
64 km
2015
RAZOR FIRE
728
21 km
2015
PIPELINE 1
666
41 km
2016
BEAR TOWN
649
73 km
1999
WORTHINGTO
514
72 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
27°F (-3°C)
3.3 in
February
27°F (-3°C)
3.0 in
Coldest, Driest
March
36°F (2°C)
3.5 in
April
47°F (8°C)
3.9 in
May
57°F (14°C)
4.8 in
Wettest
June
66°F (19°C)
4.7 in
July
72°F (22°C)
4.2 in
Warmest
August
70°F (21°C)
4.3 in
September
63°F (17°C)
4.3 in
October
52°F (11°C)
3.6 in
November
42°F (5°C)
4.3 in
December
32°F (-0°C)
3.7 in
Tamaqua has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 27°F in February to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.8") and February the driest (3.0").