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Weather & Climate in West Canton, NC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
West Canton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 73°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 45.0 inches. The area receives 10.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 2,681 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 55.1°F |
| 2% above US avg | |
| January Average | 37°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 310 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,681 ft (817 m) |
| Area | 1.4 sq mi (3.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,014/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.5384°N, 82.8671°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Haywood County County |
| Nearest Airport | Asheville Regional (AVL) 20 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 77.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 61.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 52.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | No Rating |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
127 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.
| May 10, 2025 | 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee | M4.1 | 101 km | 25 km |
| Jul 30, 1997 | 6 km NNE of Tazewell, Tennessee | M3.8 | 124 km | 23 km |
| Jan 20, 2020 | 2 km NE of Fincastle, Tennessee | M3.8 | 144 km | 35 km |
| Jul 5, 1995 | 12 km ESE of Tellico Plains, Tennessee | M3.7 | 120 km | 10 km |
| Jun 17, 1998 | 9 km SSE of Coalfield, Tennessee | M3.6 | 145 km | 11 km |
| Jun 16, 2006 | 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina | M3.4 | 31 km | 1 km |
| Mar 5, 2019 | 7 km NE of Maynardville, Tennessee | M3.4 | 115 km | 17 km |
| Aug 31, 2009 | 2 km NNE of Friendsville, Tennessee | M3.3 | 117 km | 14 km |
| Apr 11, 2006 | 5 km NE of Etowah, Tennessee | M3.3 | 147 km | 20 km |
| Apr 20, 2010 | 4 km SW of Maryville, Tennessee | M3.3 | 105 km | 2 km |
| Jun 4, 2023 | 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina | M3.2 | 5 km | 0 km |
| Jul 26, 2001 | 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee | M3.2 | 81 km | 17 km |
| May 10, 2006 | 3 km WNW of Madisonville, Tennessee | M3.2 | 138 km | 25 km |
| Aug 1, 2009 | 8 km ENE of Ducktown, Tennessee | M3.2 | 140 km | 5 km |
| Jul 26, 2001 | 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee | M3.2 | 78 km | 14 km |
| Apr 29, 2018 | 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee | M3.1 | 97 km | 21 km |
| Nov 10, 1992 | 4 km ESE of Greenback, Tennessee | M3.0 | 115 km | 10 km |
| Sep 24, 1991 | 6 km NE of Greenback, Tennessee | M3.0 | 114 km | 13 km |
| Apr 13, 2001 | 11 km W of Sneedville, Tennessee | M3.0 | 118 km | 0 km |
| Nov 24, 2012 | 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee | M3.0 | 71 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 |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 2 | 98 mph | 186 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
184 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 14 fatalities, 291 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 99 km | 15.0 mi | 2 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 56 km | 15.8 mi | 6 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 65 km | 13.6 mi | 2 |
| Jul 10, 1980 | EF3 | 87 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 1973 | EF3 | 94 km | 60.2 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1952 | EF3 | 99 km | 22.7 mi | 2 |
| Mar 23, 2022 | EF2 | 76 km | 6.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2020 | EF2 | 84 km | 5.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 66 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 8, 2017 | EF2 | 87 km | 8.4 mi | 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 99 km | 3.8 mi | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 85 km | 8.8 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | EF2 | 81 km | 3.7 mi | 0 |
| Jan 7, 1998 | EF2 | 86 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1994 | EF2 | 78 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | EF2 | 92 km | 45.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | EF2 | 99 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | EF2 | 93 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 23, 1979 | EF2 | 88 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1976 | EF2 | 37 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: ROCK MOUNTAIN (25,224 acres, 2016).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2016 | ROCK MOUNTAIN | 25,224 | 85 km |
| 2016 | CHIMNEY TOPS 2 | 14,998 | 60 km |
| 2016 | TELLICO | 14,172 | 71 km |
| 2000 | BRUSHY RIDGE | 12,405 | 95 km |
| 2016 | BOTELER | 8,626 | 90 km |
| 2016 | PARTY ROCK | 8,572 | 57 km |
| 2016 | PINNACLE MOUNTAIN | 7,869 | 55 km |
| 2016 | MAPLE SPRINGS | 7,696 | 98 km |
| 2007 | LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) | 7,151 | 92 km |
| 2016 | SILVER MINE | 6,082 | 42 km |
| 2001 | SHARP | 6,039 | 54 km |
| 2022 | LOST BEAR RX FY2022 | 4,276 | 62 km |
| 2017 | WHITE CREEK | 4,166 | 95 km |
| 2016 | CLEAR CREEK | 3,493 | 71 km |
| 2016 | CAMP BRANCH | 3,234 | 74 km |
| 2023 | PANTHER KNOB | 3,170 | 78 km |
| 2001 | LARMAN | 3,072 | 43 km |
| 2000 | TIPTON HILL | 2,661 | 80 km |
| 1998 | FOURNEY CREEK | 2,579 | 61 km |
| 2016 | HALLS TOP | 2,464 | 45 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F (3°C) | 4.7 in | Coldest |
| February | 38°F (3°C) | 4.7 in | |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 5.6 in | Wettest |
| April | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 in | |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 5.0 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 4.7 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 4.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 69°F (21°C) | 4.8 in | |
| September | 64°F (18°C) | 4.1 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 3.4 in | Driest |
| November | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 in | |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 4.4 in |
West Canton has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 37°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 54.4 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.6") and October the driest (3.4").