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Weather & Climate in Tazewell, VA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Tazewell experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 72°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 44.6 inches. The area receives 17.6 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 2,471 feet.

Temperature

33°F Jan (1°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average53.4°F
1% below US avg
January Average33°F (1°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days305 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,471 ft (753 m)
Area6.9 sq mi (17.8 km²)
Population Density643/sq mi
Coordinates37.1289°N, 81.5066°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyTazewell County County
Nearest AirportRoanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) (ROA)
85 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 44.6"
17% above US avg
Snowfall 17.6"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.53"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.19"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score60.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability79.7 / 100
Community Resilience20.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave No Rating
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

46 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.2.

Nov 10, 2012 6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky M4.2 137 km 17 km
Apr 22, 1991 14 km ESE of Falling Spring, West Virginia M3.5 146 km 15 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 42 km 2 km
Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 57 km 5 km
Sep 13, 2017 11 km NE of Peterstown, West Virginia M3.2 81 km 18 km
Nov 8, 1990 5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky M3.2 135 km 0 km
Dec 4, 2001 9 km W of Alderson, West Virginia M3.1 94 km 9 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 148 km 2 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 77 km 10 km
Jun 28, 1991 4 km ENE of Pratt, West Virginia M3.0 124 km 7 km
May 16, 2009 2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia M3.0 134 km 13 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 86 km 16 km
Jan 22, 1995 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia M2.9 64 km 9 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 108 km 9 km
Feb 15, 2005 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia M2.8 37 km 11 km
Jul 4, 2009 3 km E of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 68 km 0 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 147 km 3 km
Jul 15, 2021 10 km S of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 62 km 20 km
May 12, 2017 6 km SSW of Narrows, Virginia M2.8 61 km 4 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 83 km 0 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 1.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
1989 Hugo Category 1 — 273 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

73 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 7 fatalities, 124 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 66 km 19.6 mi 3
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 48 km 8.4 mi 1
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 64 km 9.2 mi 0
Apr 4, 1974 EF3 86 km 32.2 mi 1
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 95 km 1.9 mi 0
Oct 7, 2014 EF2 59 km 3.0 mi 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 93 km 12.0 mi 2
Apr 8, 2011 EF2 63 km 1.9 mi 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 76 km 4.9 mi 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 44 km 1.1 mi 0
May 8, 2009 EF2 93 km 1.7 mi 0
Aug 21, 1977 EF2 98 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 11, 1976 EF2 98 km 4.1 mi 0
Jan 25, 1975 EF2 45 km 3.2 mi 0
Apr 12, 1965 EF2 47 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 8, 1965 EF2 73 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 3, 1962 EF2 85 km 0.1 mi 0
Feb 25, 1961 EF2 100 km 3.0 mi 0
Jul 5, 2022 EF1 73 km 2.2 mi 0
Aug 31, 2021 EF1 88 km 1.9 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (41,794 acres, 1987).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
1987 UNNAMED 41,794 78 km
1987 UNNAMED 32,565 80 km
1991 KAYFORD MOUNTAIN 31,509 98 km
1987 UNNAMED 27,317 95 km
1987 ELLIS CREEK 24,070 87 km
1991 UNNAMED 22,282 68 km
1991 TUG RIVER 20,813 80 km
1991 BROWNS BRANCH 17,324 90 km
1991 HUFF CREEK 15,190 68 km
1991 ROLLINS BRANCH 14,435 72 km
1991 ROCK HOUSE BRANCH 13,056 98 km
1991 UNNAMED 11,117 82 km
1999 UNNAMED 10,990 93 km
1991 BRUSHY FORK 10,704 87 km
1987 UNNAMED 9,572 93 km
1999 UNNAMED 9,384 95 km
1991 UNNAMED 9,084 85 km
1991 CANE ROCK 9,017 100 km
1987 PINE CREEK 8,864 83 km
1994 SCISSORSVILLE BRANCH 8,711 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 33°F (1°C) 3.3 in Coldest
February 34°F (1°C) 3.3 in
March 42°F (6°C) 3.8 in
April 50°F (10°C) 3.7 in
May 59°F (15°C) 4.5 in
June 66°F (19°C) 3.9 in
July 72°F (22°C) 4.5 in Warmest, Wettest
August 69°F (21°C) 3.9 in
September 63°F (17°C) 3.4 in
October 53°F (12°C) 3.2 in
November 43°F (6°C) 3.2 in Driest
December 35°F (2°C) 3.3 in

Tazewell has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 33°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.5") and November the driest (3.2").

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