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Weather & Climate in West Haven, CT

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 Average52.0°F
4% below US avg
January Average31°F (-1°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation95 ft (29 m)
Area10.9 sq mi (28.3 km²)
Population Density5,130/sq mi
Coordinates41.2721°N, 72.9675°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountySouth Central Connecticut Planning Region County
Nearest AirportBradley International (BDL)
48 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 41.8"
10% above US avg
Wettest Month (Apr) 4.17"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.43"

Air Quality

AQI Median39.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability45.2 / 100
Community Resilience79.7 / 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").

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