Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Tangier enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 39°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 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 6.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 1 feet.
Temperature
39°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.8°F
9% above US avg
January Average
39°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1 ft (0 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
Population Density
444/sq mi
Coordinates
37.8234°N, 75.9928°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Accomack County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 44 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.2"
24% above US avg
Snowfall6.6"
Wettest Month (Mar)4.02"
Driest Month (Apr)2.64"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
81.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
87.3 / 100
Community Resilience
75.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
6 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.0.
Oct 2, 2010
10 km NNW of Ashland, Virginia
M3.0
134 km
19 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
78 km
1 km
Jan 14, 2025
1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.8
142 km
0 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
85 km
11 km
Sep 23, 2019
3 km WNW of Wyndham, Virginia
M2.5
146 km
8 km
Apr 29, 2000
3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia
M2.5
133 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
14 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
255 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
181 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
250 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
78 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
292 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
271 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
196 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
298 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
114 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
195 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
196 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
195 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
84 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
127 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
215 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 128 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Feb 24, 2016
EF3
88 km
30.3 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
97 km
46.9 mi
2
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
72 km
18.0 mi
0
Aug 6, 1993
EF3
58 km
2.9 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
100 km
5.0 mi
1
Nov 2, 1966
EF3
68 km
0.1 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
53 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
60 km
3.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
72 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
37 km
15.6 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
90 km
6.2 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
45 km
2.8 mi
0
Sep 4, 1999
EF2
95 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
98 km
0.8 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
36 km
5.0 mi
0
Oct 13, 1983
EF2
79 km
4.0 mi
0
Aug 31, 1983
EF2
70 km
0.2 mi
0
May 11, 1981
EF2
63 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF2
95 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 25, 1975
EF2
56 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: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
63 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
63 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
63 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
65 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
61 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
62 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
61 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
63 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
63 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
61 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
60 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
64 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
66 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
65 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
65 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
60 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
69 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
61 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
61 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,260
63 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
39°F (4°C)
3.4 in
Coldest
February
40°F (4°C)
3.1 in
March
46°F (8°C)
4.0 in
Wettest
April
55°F (13°C)
2.6 in
Driest
May
63°F (17°C)
3.4 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.1 in
July
79°F (26°C)
3.7 in
Warmest
August
76°F (24°C)
3.9 in
September
70°F (21°C)
3.1 in
October
60°F (16°C)
2.8 in
November
51°F (10°C)
2.9 in
December
42°F (6°C)
3.1 in
Tangier has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 39°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 39.1 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.0") and April the driest (2.6").