Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Welcome enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 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 45.5 inches. The area receives 3.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 866 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.3°F
10% above US avg
January Average
40°F (4°C)
July Average
78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
310 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
866 ft (264 m)
Area
9.3 sq mi (24.1 km²)
Population Density
392/sq mi
Coordinates
35.9066°N, 80.2548°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Davidson County County
Nearest Airport
Piedmont Triad International (GSO) 22 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall45.5"
20% above US avg
Snowfall3.3"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.21"
Driest Month (Nov)3.11"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
87.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability
42.4 / 100
Community Resilience
37.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very High
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.4.
Jun 26, 1995
6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia
M3.4
145 km
2 km
Jun 5, 1998
4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina
M3.2
62 km
9 km
Aug 25, 2013
3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina
M2.9
130 km
9 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
126 km
8 km
Jan 22, 1995
0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia
M2.9
136 km
9 km
Jul 6, 2023
5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia
M2.7
99 km
0 km
Jul 12, 1993
5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina
M2.7
41 km
5 km
Aug 30, 2010
7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee
M2.7
147 km
11 km
Aug 18, 2000
2 km SSE of Narrows, Virginia
M2.7
145 km
10 km
Jun 10, 2018
2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina
M2.7
86 km
2 km
Aug 17, 2021
6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina
M2.7
129 km
6 km
Jul 8, 2023
Virginia-North Carolina border region
M2.6
101 km
4 km
Feb 4, 2021
1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina
M2.6
102 km
2 km
Mar 28, 2011
2 km S of Pulaski, Virginia
M2.5
133 km
3 km
Mar 26, 2019
8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
M2.5
34 km
4 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
130 km
14 km
Jun 12, 2014
4 km NE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina
M2.5
129 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
11 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
275 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
98 mph
271 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
81 mph
291 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
274 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
245 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
288 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
286 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
161 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
261 km
1989
Hugo
Category 2
98 mph
155 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
277 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tornado History
281 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 10 fatalities, 219 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Mar 28, 2010
EF3
17 km
4.3 mi
0
May 8, 2008
EF3
14 km
2.9 mi
0
May 7, 1998
EF3
17 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 20, 1998
EF3
60 km
12.0 mi
2
Nov 23, 1992
EF3
99 km
5.5 mi
2
May 5, 1989
EF3
22 km
10.5 mi
0
May 22, 1985
EF3
22 km
3.5 mi
0
Oct 7, 1965
EF3
48 km
1.0 mi
1
May 26, 2022
EF2
62 km
6.0 mi
0
Mar 31, 2022
EF2
89 km
7.2 mi
0
Mar 23, 2022
EF2
92 km
1.9 mi
0
Feb 6, 2020
EF2
53 km
6.2 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
96 km
10.1 mi
0
Apr 15, 2018
EF2
47 km
32.8 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
49 km
3.2 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
43 km
16.1 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
35 km
5.9 mi
0
Mar 3, 2012
EF2
82 km
2.9 mi
0
Nov 16, 2011
EF2
20 km
12.5 mi
2
Oct 26, 2010
EF2
85 km
2.5 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
16 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BULL MOUNTAIN (3,300 acres, 2006).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2006
BULL MOUNTAIN
3,300
89 km
2000
UNNAMED
1,989
93 km
2020
UWH NARROWS DAM RX
1,222
57 km
2021
GRINDSTONE
1,106
52 km
1985
UNNAMED
1,064
99 km
2002
UNNAMED
889
95 km
2011
LUMBER PLANT
779
89 km
2000
MERRITT CK
750
92 km
1992
COMP 6 B
737
94 km
2019
ROBEDO SOUTH RX
727
70 km
2018
UNNAMED
665
64 km
2022
PINE ROAD
582
58 km
2022
UNNAMED
579
73 km
2020
UNNAMED
565
73 km
2009
UNNAMED
536
93 km
2024
0101/02_0202 PER RX
511
94 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (4°C)
3.6 in
Coldest
February
42°F (5°C)
3.7 in
March
49°F (10°C)
4.1 in
April
58°F (14°C)
3.2 in
May
66°F (19°C)
4.1 in
June
73°F (23°C)
4.1 in
July
78°F (26°C)
4.2 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
76°F (24°C)
3.9 in
September
70°F (21°C)
3.5 in
October
59°F (15°C)
3.5 in
November
49°F (10°C)
3.1 in
Driest
December
41°F (5°C)
3.5 in
Welcome has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.2") and November the driest (3.1").