Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
West Portsmouth experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 76°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 43.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 702 feet.
Temperature
32°F Jan (0°C)76°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average
54.9°F
2% above US avg
January Average
32°F (0°C)
July Average
76°F (25°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
702 ft (214 m)
Area
4.7 sq mi (12.2 km²)
Population Density
596/sq mi
Coordinates
38.7666°N, 83.0364°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Lewis County County
Nearest Airport
Greater Portsmouth Regional (PMH) 11 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall43.1"
13% above US avg
Wettest Month (May)4.41"
Driest Month (Oct)2.72"
Air Quality
AQI Median
43.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
41.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
74.0 / 100
Community Resilience
7.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Very Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
22 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.6.
Feb 19, 1995
8 km SSE of Rocky Fork Point, Ohio
M3.6
54 km
10 km
Nov 20, 2013
2 km SW of Buchtel, Ohio
M3.5
104 km
8 km
Apr 24, 2009
7 km ENE of Rio Grande, Ohio
M3.4
66 km
8 km
May 24, 2017
1 km S of McArthur, Ohio
M3.4
71 km
10 km
Sep 8, 1990
5 km N of Owingsville, Kentucky
M3.3
90 km
0 km
Feb 3, 2025
2 km NNW of Oak Hill, Ohio
M3.1
43 km
26 km
Apr 25, 2020
2 km SE of South Shore, Kentucky
M2.9
11 km
27 km
May 6, 2002
3 km SE of Racine, Ohio
M2.8
101 km
5 km
Mar 17, 1999
2 km NNE of Ripley, Ohio
M2.8
69 km
0 km
May 11, 2015
5 km ESE of Maysville, Kentucky
M2.6
58 km
11 km
Jun 6, 2014
13 km NNE of Sissonville, West Virginia
M2.6
127 km
30 km
Mar 16, 2012
7 km SE of Alum Creek, West Virginia
M2.6
127 km
5 km
Mar 8, 2016
0 km N of Thurman, Ohio
M2.6
54 km
20 km
Feb 11, 2015
8 km SE of Richmond Dale, Ohio
M2.6
50 km
20 km
Jul 23, 2013
6 km NNE of Germantown, Kentucky
M2.6
79 km
4 km
Jan 28, 2024
3 km SW of Old Washington, Kentucky
M2.5
72 km
15 km
Mar 20, 2023
13 km SSW of Rio Grande, Ohio
M2.5
53 km
6 km
Mar 27, 2013
3 km W of Apple Grove, West Virginia
M2.5
72 km
15 km
Sep 27, 2009
22 km NNW of Hindman, Kentucky
M2.5
139 km
7 km
Feb 17, 2023
6 km ESE of Cheshire, Ohio
M2.5
88 km
16 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
256 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 10 fatalities, 235 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 23, 1968
EF5
22 km
34.0 mi
7
May 10, 2003
EF3
62 km
25.0 mi
0
Oct 13, 1999
EF3
93 km
3.6 mi
0
Jul 2, 1997
EF3
100 km
12.0 mi
0
Jun 30, 1993
EF3
70 km
15.0 mi
0
Apr 3, 1974
EF3
49 km
15.5 mi
1
Sep 3, 1970
EF3
98 km
2.3 mi
0
Apr 23, 1968
EF3
9 km
0.1 mi
0
May 7, 1967
EF3
61 km
2.0 mi
0
Nov 16, 1965
EF3
90 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 8, 1965
EF3
13 km
2.0 mi
0
Apr 8, 1965
EF3
55 km
6.9 mi
0
Feb 10, 1959
EF3
67 km
10.5 mi
0
Apr 2, 2024
EF2
59 km
1.1 mi
0
Apr 2, 2024
EF2
45 km
1.9 mi
0
Jun 8, 2022
EF2
72 km
9.1 mi
0
Oct 15, 2021
EF2
68 km
0.9 mi
0
May 27, 2019
EF2
87 km
5.3 mi
0
Jul 4, 2016
EF2
82 km
2.6 mi
0
Mar 2, 2012
EF2
42 km
11.1 mi
1
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: MILL CREEK ROAD (7,029 acres, 1987).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1987
MILL CREEK ROAD
7,029
97 km
1987
UNNAMED
6,337
99 km
1987
PLUM BRANCH
6,223
99 km
1991
PRICHARD
5,220
76 km
1991
UNNAMED
4,451
94 km
1999
UNNAMED
3,373
91 km
2009
UNNAMED
3,259
18 km
1991
DUNLOW
3,074
97 km
1995
UNNAMED
2,786
99 km
1987
UNNAMED
2,559
73 km
1987
UNNAMED
2,302
84 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,683
71 km
2022
1170 DONITHON ROAD
1,428
97 km
2022
127
1,349
38 km
2019
CY19 BLUEGRASS PRESCRIBED BURN
1,190
46 km
1994
UNNAMED
1,085
98 km
2003
PEACH ORCHARD
1,043
3 km
1991
PADDLE CREEK
1,009
86 km
1987
GREENBRIAR CREEK
950
83 km
1991
UNNAMED
912
99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
32°F (0°C)
2.8 in
Coldest
February
33°F (1°C)
2.8 in
March
43°F (6°C)
3.9 in
April
53°F (12°C)
3.6 in
May
62°F (17°C)
4.4 in
Wettest
June
70°F (21°C)
3.8 in
July
76°F (25°C)
4.3 in
Warmest
August
73°F (23°C)
4.1 in
September
67°F (19°C)
3.0 in
October
55°F (13°C)
2.7 in
Driest
November
45°F (7°C)
3.2 in
December
36°F (2°C)
3.4 in
West Portsmouth has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 32°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.4") and October the driest (2.7").