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Weather & Climate in Townsend, DE
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Townsend enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C). Winters average 36°F in January while summers reach 78°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 47.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 13.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 29 feet.
Temperature
36°F Jan (2°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 57.1°F |
| 6% above US avg | |
| January Average | 36°F (2°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 293 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 29 ft (9 m) |
| Area | 1.1 sq mi (2.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,634/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.4048°N, 75.6991°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | New Castle County County |
| Nearest Airport | Philadelphia International (PHL) 40 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.3 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 28.5 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 83.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
26 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Jan 16, 1994 | 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.6 | 107 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M4.2 | 106 km | 5 km |
| Jul 16, 2010 | 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland | M3.6 | 148 km | 7 km |
| Oct 23, 1990 | 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey | M3.2 | 20 km | 10 km |
| Aug 26, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey | M3.1 | 143 km | 3 km |
| Jun 3, 2010 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M3.1 | 133 km | 2 km |
| Nov 14, 1997 | 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania | M3.0 | 95 km | 5 km |
| Apr 24, 2009 | 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 135 km | 1 km |
| Jan 16, 1994 | 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania | M2.9 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Sep 15, 2019 | 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 119 km | 5 km |
| May 10, 1993 | 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 108 km | 5 km |
| Jul 1, 2009 | 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey | M2.8 | 33 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 2009 | 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania | M2.8 | 134 km | 1 km |
| Mar 11, 1995 | 0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania | M2.7 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Oct 28, 1994 | 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland | M2.7 | 78 km | — |
| Mar 15, 1993 | 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland | M2.7 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Jan 25, 2015 | 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 66 km | 2 km |
| Jul 5, 1996 | 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 59 km | 18 km |
| Oct 28, 1996 | 2 km W of Reinholds, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Jan 18, 1994 | 3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania | M2.6 | 99 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
7 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 92 mph | 277 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 1 | 92 mph | 249 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 75 mph | 157 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 1 | — | 292 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 3 | 109 mph | 239 km |
| 1986 | Charley | Category 1 | 75 mph | 227 km |
| 1985 | Gloria | Category 2 | 98 mph | 153 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
356 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 14 fatalities, 345 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF3 | 72 km | 14.3 mi | 1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF3 | 49 km | 12.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 27, 1994 | EF3 | 93 km | 2.0 mi | 3 |
| Jul 27, 1994 | EF3 | 37 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1961 | EF3 | 82 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1961 | EF3 | 32 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1955 | EF3 | 63 km | 9.6 mi | 1 |
| Nov 4, 1950 | EF3 | 96 km | 15.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 47 km | 5.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 88 km | 8.3 mi | 1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | EF2 | 99 km | 11.4 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 98 km | 20.8 mi | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2020 | EF2 | 38 km | 35.8 mi | 0 |
| Oct 31, 2019 | EF2 | 59 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 2019 | EF2 | 86 km | 3.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2019 | EF2 | 93 km | 6.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 2017 | EF2 | 74 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2016 | EF2 | 73 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| Sep 28, 2004 | EF2 | 32 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 18, 2004 | EF2 | 66 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1840 | PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA | Earthquake | — | — | 61 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: MULLICA RIVER FIRE (13,082 acres, 2022).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2022 | MULLICA RIVER FIRE | 13,082 | 93 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 3,780 | 98 km |
| 2017 | PENN SWAMP FIRE | 3,587 | 96 km |
| 2007 | ATSION | 2,705 | 91 km |
| 1990 | UNNAMED | 2,367 | 89 km |
| 1996 | UNNAMED | 2,122 | 88 km |
| 1997 | UNNAMED | 2,121 | 91 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 1,860 | 89 km |
| 2008 | SAUNDERS DITCH | 1,814 | 89 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 1,685 | 89 km |
| 1988 | SLAU BCH 2 | 1,578 | 67 km |
| 2020 | SPLIT DITCH | 1,518 | 53 km |
| 2020 | BIG TIMBER | 1,434 | 73 km |
| 2014 | RAILROAD | 1,431 | 53 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 1,411 | 97 km |
| 1998 | UNNAMED | 1,386 | 94 km |
| 1989 | UNNAMED | 1,355 | 97 km |
| 1991 | KENTIS WEST | 1,273 | 31 km |
| 2002 | SLAUGHTERBEACH | 1,228 | 67 km |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 1,224 | 100 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F (2°C) | 3.5 in | |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 2.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 43°F (6°C) | 4.0 in | |
| April | 52°F (11°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 62°F (17°C) | 4.2 in | |
| June | 71°F (22°C) | 3.9 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 4.3 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 75°F (24°C) | 4.0 in | |
| September | 68°F (20°C) | 4.1 in | |
| October | 57°F (14°C) | 3.2 in | |
| November | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 in | |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 3.5 in |
Townsend has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 34°F in February to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (2.8").