Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Vernon Center 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 275 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 41.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 712 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
50.1°F
7% below US avg
January Average
27°F (-3°C)
July Average
72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
275 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
712 ft (217 m)
Area
3.0 sq mi (7.7 km²)
Population Density
505/sq mi
Coordinates
41.1888°N, 74.5040°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Sussex County County
Nearest Airport
New York Stewart International (SWF) 30 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall41.0"
8% above US avg
Wettest Month (May)4.53"
Driest Month (Feb)2.99"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
77.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
10.6 / 100
Community Resilience
84.5 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very High
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
18 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.8.
Apr 5, 2024
2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake
M4.8
59 km
3 km
Apr 5, 2024
7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M3.7
59 km
4 km
Jan 9, 1992
4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey
M3.1
93 km
8 km
Aug 26, 2003
4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey
M3.1
82 km
3 km
Oct 28, 1991
3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut
M3.0
79 km
10 km
Aug 3, 2025
0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
M3.0
53 km
10 km
Feb 3, 2009
1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey
M3.0
36 km
0 km
Apr 27, 2024
7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M2.9
59 km
5 km
May 24, 2024
6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
M2.9
57 km
7 km
Aug 5, 2025
1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
M2.8
44 km
12 km
Apr 12, 1991
2 km ENE of North Castle, New York
M2.7
71 km
9 km
May 1, 2024
1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M2.6
53 km
5 km
Aug 14, 2015
3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey
M2.6
49 km
8 km
Apr 10, 2024
5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
M2.6
58 km
9 km
Oct 27, 2001
1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York
M2.6
63 km
5 km
Aug 22, 2000
2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York
M2.6
77 km
7 km
Apr 5, 2024
6 km ESE of Califon, New Jersey
M2.6
60 km
6 km
Jan 15, 1992
5 km NNE of Tuxedo Park, New York
M2.5
29 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
1991
Bob
Category 2
109 mph
218 km
1985
Gloria
Category 1
86 mph
121 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
217 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 12 fatalities, 130 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 31, 1998
EF3
51 km
20.0 mi
0
Oct 18, 1990
EF3
82 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 14, 1988
EF3
16 km
7.2 mi
0
Sep 26, 1977
EF3
91 km
5.9 mi
0
Mar 21, 1976
EF3
61 km
0.5 mi
0
May 28, 1973
EF3
43 km
0.4 mi
0
May 28, 1973
EF3
42 km
0.4 mi
0
Apr 22, 2023
EF2
77 km
10.0 mi
0
May 15, 2018
EF2
77 km
1.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2010
EF2
90 km
25.7 mi
0
Jul 29, 2009
EF2
15 km
7.4 mi
0
Jul 29, 2009
EF2
69 km
4.6 mi
0
Aug 8, 2007
EF2
70 km
5.9 mi
0
Jul 12, 2006
EF2
55 km
10.1 mi
0
May 27, 2001
EF2
94 km
1.5 mi
0
May 18, 2000
EF2
83 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 7, 1998
EF2
92 km
0.2 mi
0
May 31, 1998
EF2
60 km
2.0 mi
0
May 31, 1998
EF2
59 km
3.0 mi
0
Nov 8, 1996
EF2
96 km
2.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1964
LONG ISLAND, NY
Meteorological
0.3 m
-
126 km
1895
HIGH BRIDGE, NJ
Earthquake
-
-
66 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
15 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (23,000 acres, 1985).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1985
UNNAMED
23,000
32 km
2016
16 MILE
7,896
54 km
2024
JENNINGS CREEK
5,069
18 km
2015
ROOSA GAP
2,747
50 km
2008
UNNAMED
2,224
63 km
2016
SAMS POINT FIRE-VERKEERDER FIRE
1,929
56 km
2006
CHERRYTOWN FIRE
943
75 km
1988
UNNAMED
833
32 km
2020
SEVEN PINES
790
69 km
1985
UNNAMED
737
91 km
2015
PIPELINE 1
666
99 km
2016
BEAR TOWN
649
60 km
2016
SHERWOOD
642
34 km
2024
WHITEHOUSE
607
80 km
1999
WORTHINGTO
514
56 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
27°F (-3°C)
3.5 in
Coldest
February
27°F (-3°C)
3.0 in
Driest
March
37°F (3°C)
3.8 in
April
47°F (9°C)
4.1 in
May
58°F (14°C)
4.5 in
Wettest
June
66°F (19°C)
4.3 in
July
72°F (22°C)
4.4 in
Warmest
August
70°F (21°C)
4.1 in
September
62°F (17°C)
4.3 in
October
51°F (11°C)
3.6 in
November
41°F (5°C)
4.1 in
December
31°F (-1°C)
3.6 in
Vernon Center has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 27°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.3 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.5") and February the driest (3.0").