Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Water Valley enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (16°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 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 58.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 1.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 324 feet.
Temperature
41°F Jan (5°C)80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
61.5°F
14% above US avg
January Average
41°F (5°C)
July Average
80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
301 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
324 ft (99 m)
Area
7.0 sq mi (18.2 km²)
Population Density
482/sq mi
Coordinates
34.1620°N, 89.6301°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Yalobusha County County
Nearest Airport
Tupelo Regional (TUP) 50 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall58.6"
54% above US avg
Snowfall1.2"
Wettest Month (Mar)6.14"
Driest Month (Aug)3.15"
Air Quality
AQI Median
43.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
19.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
73.4 / 100
Community Resilience
32.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
13 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.9.
Oct 29, 2012
8 km SW of Parkin, Arkansas
M3.9
148 km
21 km
Aug 11, 1996
9 km WSW of Shaw, Mississippi
M3.1
132 km
10 km
Oct 26, 2002
3 km SE of Alligator, Mississippi
M3.1
99 km
3 km
May 10, 2008
1 km SSE of Sherman, Mississippi
M3.1
76 km
0 km
Aug 7, 2015
16 km W of Millington, Tennessee
M3.0
140 km
4 km
Aug 11, 2002
8 km ESE of Darling, Mississippi
M2.8
54 km
4 km
Feb 25, 1999
10 km NE of Oakland, Mississippi
M2.8
21 km
5 km
Feb 11, 1991
10 km SSW of Clarksdale, Mississippi
M2.7
89 km
12 km
Jan 3, 1993
4 km SW of Sunset, Arkansas
M2.7
128 km
17 km
Oct 2, 1995
9 km ENE of Clarkedale, Arkansas
M2.6
138 km
8 km
Jun 25, 2016
2 km SSE of Jericho, Arkansas
M2.5
134 km
8 km
Sep 2, 2013
0 km SW of Jericho, Arkansas
M2.5
136 km
12 km
Nov 9, 2009
3 km SE of Marion, Arkansas
M2.5
125 km
7 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
2005
Katrina
Category 1
—
252 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
430 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 100 fatalities, 1,013 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Dec 23, 2015
EF4
49 km
75.1 mi
9
Apr 19, 1970
EF4
85 km
47.6 mi
4
Apr 29, 1963
EF4
84 km
4.7 mi
3
Mar 21, 1952
EF4
79 km
29.6 mi
16
Mar 24, 2023
EF3
88 km
36.6 mi
2
Apr 28, 2014
EF3
75 km
31.0 mi
0
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
83 km
70.4 mi
0
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
8 km
13.6 mi
0
Apr 27, 2011
EF3
58 km
51.5 mi
4
May 2, 2010
EF3
82 km
29.6 mi
3
May 8, 2008
EF3
78 km
7.6 mi
0
Feb 5, 2008
EF3
29 km
7.2 mi
0
Feb 24, 2001
EF3
30 km
52.0 mi
6
Feb 24, 2001
EF3
90 km
22.0 mi
0
Jan 3, 2000
EF3
7 km
43.2 mi
0
Mar 1, 1997
EF3
60 km
30.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1997
EF3
21 km
5.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1997
EF3
24 km
5.0 mi
0
Mar 1, 1997
EF3
39 km
10.0 mi
0
Mar 22, 1991
EF3
75 km
23.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: COMP 109 (3,663 acres, 2010).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2010
COMP 109
3,663
32 km
2014
C-55 CHILLI LAKE
3,555
72 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,152
70 km
2014
C-39 EAST CHEWALLA
3,107
70 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,031
73 km
2022
HOLLY SPRINGS BB 119/90/88
2,955
42 km
2013
UNNAMED
2,848
67 km
2006
WITCHDCE W
2,846
68 km
2014
C-84 BAGLEY BOTTOMS
2,766
41 km
2016
UNNAMED
2,645
33 km
2013
MIDWAY CEM PRESCRIBED BURN
2,513
44 km
2016
UNNAMED
2,376
27 km
2007
WITCHDANCE EAST
2,285
70 km
2013
PUSKUS LAKE
2,271
40 km
2017
UNNAMED
2,248
58 km
2021
TOMBIGBEE CPT - 18/19/23/24
2,201
69 km
2022
HOLLY SPRINGS BB 51/52/53
2,182
74 km
2010
COMP 42
2,142
67 km
2017
UNNAMED
2,073
41 km
2022
HOLLY SPRINGS BB10 11 12 14
1,977
95 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
41°F (5°C)
5.1 in
Coldest
February
45°F (7°C)
4.7 in
March
53°F (12°C)
6.1 in
Wettest
April
61°F (16°C)
5.6 in
May
69°F (20°C)
5.4 in
June
76°F (25°C)
4.5 in
July
80°F (27°C)
4.3 in
Warmest
August
79°F (26°C)
3.2 in
Driest
September
73°F (23°C)
3.5 in
October
62°F (17°C)
3.5 in
November
52°F (11°C)
5.4 in
December
44°F (7°C)
6.0 in
Water Valley has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 41°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 57.4 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.1") and August the driest (3.2").