Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
West Denton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 293 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 46.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 8 feet.
Temperature
35°F Jan (1°C)77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average
35°F (1°C)
July Average
77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
8 ft (2 m)
Area
0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Population Density
110/sq mi
Coordinates
38.8896°N, 75.8388°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Caroline County County
Nearest Airport
Cambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE) 26 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall46.3"
22% above US avg
Snowfall12.8"
Wettest Month (Jul)4.21"
Driest Month (Feb)2.99"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
45.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
58.7 / 100
Community Resilience
56.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
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: M3.6.
Jul 16, 2010
5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland
M3.6
142 km
7 km
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
75 km
10 km
Nov 14, 1997
0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania
M3.0
144 km
5 km
Sep 15, 2019
5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
M2.8
148 km
5 km
Jul 1, 2009
3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey
M2.8
89 km
5 km
Mar 11, 1995
0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania
M2.7
143 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
80 km
—
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
99 km
5 km
Jan 25, 2015
4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania
M2.6
124 km
2 km
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
88 km
3 km
Jan 13, 1990
6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland
M2.6
108 km
5 km
Jan 18, 1994
3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania
M2.6
149 km
5 km
Jul 5, 1996
2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
M2.6
117 km
18 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
117 km
11 km
Sep 29, 1997
Virginia
M2.5
139 km
3 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
98 km
5 km
Feb 26, 1993
2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey
M2.5
134 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
10 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2014
Arthur
Category 1
92 mph
250 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
239 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
114 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
293 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
—
234 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
279 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
273 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
229 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
175 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
128 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
330 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 9 fatalities, 204 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
23 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
66 km
18.0 mi
0
Sep 24, 2001
EF3
99 km
17.5 mi
2
Jul 27, 1994
EF3
94 km
4.0 mi
0
Jun 9, 1961
EF3
76 km
0.1 mi
0
Apr 28, 1961
EF3
90 km
0.3 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
66 km
11.4 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
99 km
5.9 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
50 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
96 km
3.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
38 km
35.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
42 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
45 km
2.4 mi
0
Sep 28, 2004
EF2
90 km
5.0 mi
0
May 2, 2002
EF2
86 km
4.5 mi
0
Oct 5, 1995
EF2
97 km
2.5 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
14 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
95 km
0.8 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
49 km
4.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
63 km
7.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1840
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Earthquake
—
—
115 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 acres, 2017).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2017
BESTPITCH
7,743
57 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
59 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
59 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
57 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
59 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
58 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
61 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
59 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
59 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
59 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
59 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
56 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
55 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
55 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
58 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
62 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
47 km
2020
SPLIT DITCH
1,518
80 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
56 km
2014
RAILROAD
1,431
80 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
35°F (1°C)
3.7 in
Coldest
February
36°F (2°C)
3.0 in
Driest
March
44°F (7°C)
4.1 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.4 in
May
63°F (17°C)
4.1 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.7 in
July
77°F (25°C)
4.2 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.1 in
September
69°F (20°C)
3.9 in
October
57°F (14°C)
3.2 in
November
48°F (9°C)
3.3 in
December
39°F (4°C)
3.4 in
West Denton has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (3.0").