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Weather & Climate in Watertown, NY
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Watertown experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 44.4 inches. The area receives 116.4 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of 474 feet.
Temperature
20°F Jan (-7°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 46.4°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 20°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 246 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 474 ft (144 m) |
| Area | 9.4 sq mi (24.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,721/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.9733°N, 75.9100°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Lewis County County |
| Nearest Airport | Watertown International (ART) 6 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 36.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 24.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 28.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 83.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | No Rating |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
25 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.8.
| Apr 20, 2000 | 7 km WSW of Newcomb, New York | M3.8 | 132 km | 5 km |
| Apr 8, 2003 | 17 km ESE of Saint Regis Falls, New York | M3.7 | 144 km | 10 km |
| Apr 23, 2023 | New York | M3.6 | 15 km | 9 km |
| Jun 29, 2024 | 14 km W of Ellisburg, New York | M3.3 | 43 km | 5 km |
| Jul 31, 1997 | 0 km WSW of Lyons Falls, New York | M3.2 | 58 km | 5 km |
| Aug 24, 2011 | 13 km ENE of Saint Regis Falls, New York | M3.2 | 146 km | 5 km |
| Nov 7, 2002 | 13 km SSW of Belleville, Canada | M3.0 | 122 km | 18 km |
| Mar 2, 1995 | 3 km ENE of Tupper Lake, New York | M3.0 | 122 km | 4 km |
| Oct 13, 1997 | 18 km NW of Cranberry Lake, New York | M3.0 | 87 km | 4 km |
| Sep 4, 2004 | 3 km S of Massena, New York | M2.9 | 131 km | 4 km |
| Sep 29, 1994 | 13 km WNW of North Creek, New York | M2.9 | 145 km | 16 km |
| Oct 12, 1997 | 7 km SSW of Fort Covington Hamlet, New York | M2.9 | 150 km | 14 km |
| Jul 10, 1997 | 8 km WNW of Cornwall, Canada | M2.9 | 146 km | 18 km |
| Jul 14, 2021 | 8 km WNW of Massena, New York | M2.8 | 132 km | 7 km |
| Mar 20, 2008 | 12 km S of Osgoode, Canada | M2.8 | 120 km | 6 km |
| Mar 17, 2004 | 3 km SSW of Massena, New York | M2.7 | 130 km | 8 km |
| Mar 14, 2021 | 19 km SW of Winchester, Canada | M2.7 | 113 km | 10 km |
| Mar 21, 2018 | 9 km NNW of Saint Regis Falls, New York | M2.7 | 136 km | 5 km |
| Aug 11, 2007 | 4 km N of Kingston, Canada | M2.6 | 56 km | 4 km |
| Jul 27, 2019 | 9 km SE of Saint Regis Falls, New York | M2.6 | 137 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
60 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 14 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Aug 7, 2023 | EF3 | 66 km | 16.0 mi | 0 |
| May 2, 1983 | EF3 | 70 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| May 2, 1983 | EF3 | 88 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 16, 2024 | EF2 | 91 km | 5.3 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1990 | EF2 | 98 km | 17.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1986 | EF2 | 44 km | 0.2 mi | 1 |
| Jul 16, 2024 | EF1 | 89 km | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 16, 2024 | EF1 | 78 km | 6.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 2024 | EF1 | 43 km | 2.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 2023 | EF1 | 76 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2021 | EF1 | 86 km | 2.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 3, 2021 | EF1 | 75 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2014 | EF1 | 90 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2014 | EF1 | 34 km | 12.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 17, 2014 | EF1 | 98 km | 11.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 2012 | EF1 | 94 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2011 | EF1 | 90 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| Aug 1, 2005 | EF1 | 33 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| May 26, 1994 | EF1 | 81 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1993 | EF1 | 91 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°F (-7°C) | 3.7 in | |
| February | 20°F (-7°C) | 2.8 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 in | |
| May | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 in | |
| June | 63°F (17°C) | 3.6 in | |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 67°F (19°C) | 4.0 in | |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 4.5 in | |
| October | 48°F (9°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 37°F (3°C) | 4.7 in | Wettest |
| December | 24°F (-4°C) | 4.0 in |
Watertown has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 20°F in February to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.2 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.7") and February the driest (2.8").