Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
West Haven experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 275 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 41.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39. The city sits at an elevation of 95 feet.
Temperature
31°F Jan (-1°C)74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average
52.0°F
4% below US avg
January Average
31°F (-1°C)
July Average
74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days
275 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
95 ft (29 m)
Area
10.9 sq mi (28.3 km²)
Population Density
5,130/sq mi
Coordinates
41.2721°N, 72.9675°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
South Central Connecticut Planning Region County
Nearest Airport
Bradley International (BDL) 48 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall41.8"
10% above US avg
Wettest Month (Apr)4.17"
Driest Month (Feb)3.43"
Air Quality
AQI Median
39.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Risk Score
95.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
45.2 / 100
Community Resilience
79.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Relatively Moderate
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively High
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Very High
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Relatively Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.7.
Oct 2, 1994
6 km W of Hardwick, Massachusetts
M3.7
133 km
10 km
Jan 12, 2015
0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
M3.3
103 km
5 km
Oct 2, 1994
1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts
M3.3
136 km
10 km
Jun 16, 2000
5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts
M3.3
93 km
10 km
Apr 9, 2019
63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York
M3.0
128 km
7 km
Aug 3, 2025
0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
M3.0
102 km
10 km
Oct 28, 1991
3 km WNW of Stamford, Connecticut
M3.0
56 km
10 km
Feb 3, 2009
1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey
M3.0
138 km
0 km
Aug 5, 2025
1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
M2.8
94 km
12 km
Mar 10, 1992
2 km SW of Napeague, New York
M2.8
80 km
10 km
Apr 12, 1991
2 km ENE of North Castle, New York
M2.7
59 km
9 km
Aug 14, 2014
6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut
M2.7
40 km
4 km
Aug 22, 2000
2 km WSW of Brewster Hill, New York
M2.6
58 km
7 km
Oct 27, 2001
1 km NNW of Manhattan, New York
M2.6
100 km
5 km
Aug 14, 2015
3 km SE of Mendham, New Jersey
M2.6
147 km
8 km
Jan 13, 2015
2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
M2.6
105 km
9 km
Jan 15, 1992
5 km NNE of Tuxedo Park, New York
M2.5
100 km
7 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 2.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2021
Henri
Category 1
75 mph
267 km
2014
Arthur
Category 1
75 mph
271 km
1991
Bob
Category 2
109 mph
115 km
1985
Gloria
Category 1
86 mph
71 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
211 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 10 fatalities, 939 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 10, 1989
EF4
13 km
3.0 mi
0
Oct 3, 1979
EF4
72 km
11.3 mi
3
Jun 1, 2011
EF3
94 km
37.6 mi
3
Jul 29, 1971
EF3
32 km
0.1 mi
0
May 24, 1962
EF3
33 km
11.6 mi
1
May 10, 1954
EF3
83 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 21, 1951
EF3
52 km
0.1 mi
0
May 15, 2018
EF2
65 km
1.2 mi
0
Jul 12, 2006
EF2
79 km
10.1 mi
0
Jun 23, 2001
EF2
60 km
0.5 mi
0
Aug 8, 1999
EF2
48 km
4.0 mi
0
Sep 7, 1998
EF2
92 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
62 km
0.5 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
53 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
39 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 1989
EF2
69 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 5, 1984
EF2
44 km
3.0 mi
0
Jun 30, 1976
EF2
82 km
1.0 mi
0
Jul 24, 1975
EF2
95 km
0.3 mi
0
Sep 18, 1973
EF2
82 km
1.9 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 0.3 m (1 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1964
LONG ISLAND, NY
Meteorological
0.3 m
—
54 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
4 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (23,000 acres, 1985).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1985
UNNAMED
23,000
97 km
2012
CRESCENT BOW FIRE
1,068
45 km
1988
UNNAMED
833
97 km
2016
SHERWOOD
642
95 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
31°F (-1°C)
3.7 in
Coldest
February
31°F (-1°C)
3.4 in
Driest
March
39°F (4°C)
4.1 in
April
49°F (9°C)
4.2 in
Wettest
May
60°F (15°C)
4.0 in
June
69°F (20°C)
3.7 in
July
74°F (23°C)
3.8 in
Warmest
August
73°F (23°C)
3.9 in
September
65°F (18°C)
3.7 in
October
54°F (12°C)
3.7 in
November
44°F (7°C)
4.1 in
December
34°F (1°C)
4.0 in
West Haven has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 31°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.1 inches, with April being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (3.4").