Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Whitehaven enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 38°F in January while summers reach 79°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 48.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 2 feet.
Temperature
38°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.7°F
9% above US avg
January Average
38°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
2 ft (1 m)
Area
0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²)
Population Density
216/sq mi
Coordinates
38.2698°N, 75.7947°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Wicomico County County
Nearest Airport
Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY) 16 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall48.0"
26% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug)4.37"
Driest Month (Feb)3.03"
Air Quality
AQI Median
41.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
60.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability
26.9 / 100
Community Resilience
76.9 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
7 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Oct 23, 1990
3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey
M3.2
140 km
10 km
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
125 km
1 km
Mar 15, 1993
5 km W of Columbia, Maryland
M2.7
144 km
5 km
Oct 28, 1994
1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland
M2.7
134 km
—
Jun 25, 2021
2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
M2.6
140 km
3 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
70 km
11 km
Mar 10, 1993
3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland
M2.5
143 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
12 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 3.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2019
Dorian
Category 2
98 mph
296 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
205 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
227 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
72 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
297 km
2003
Isabel
Category 1
75 mph
242 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
166 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
219 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
223 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
190 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
110 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
98 mph
114 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
219 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 69 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023
EF3
56 km
14.3 mi
1
Apr 28, 2002
EF3
47 km
18.0 mi
0
Nov 2, 1966
EF3
90 km
0.1 mi
0
Sep 1, 2021
EF2
95 km
11.4 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
77 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
20 km
1.3 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
96 km
35.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
86 km
15.6 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
40 km
3.8 mi
0
Apr 15, 2019
EF2
38 km
6.2 mi
0
Jul 23, 2017
EF2
91 km
2.4 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
95 km
2.8 mi
0
May 18, 1995
EF2
69 km
10.0 mi
0
Jul 27, 1994
EF2
88 km
0.8 mi
0
Jul 31, 1992
EF2
87 km
4.0 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
68 km
5.0 mi
0
Jul 18, 1984
EF2
62 km
1.5 mi
0
Oct 13, 1983
EF2
69 km
4.0 mi
0
Aug 31, 1983
EF2
92 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 27, 1978
EF2
90 km
6.9 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
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
22 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
28 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
26 km
2005
MARSH RX-FWS
4,380
26 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
19 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
20 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
24 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
25 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
26 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
18 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
18 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
23 km
2005
VEGETATION RESEARCH
1,926
23 km
2011
THOROFARE
1,850
23 km
1987
UNNAMED
1,692
29 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
25 km
1988
SLAU BCH 2
1,578
82 km
2004
BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION
1,518
34 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
24 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
18 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
38°F (4°C)
3.7 in
February
38°F (3°C)
3.0 in
Coldest, Driest
March
45°F (7°C)
4.2 in
April
54°F (12°C)
3.2 in
May
63°F (17°C)
3.5 in
June
72°F (22°C)
3.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.3 in
Warmest
August
75°F (24°C)
4.4 in
Wettest
September
69°F (21°C)
3.6 in
October
58°F (15°C)
3.2 in
November
49°F (9°C)
3.1 in
December
40°F (5°C)
3.2 in
Whitehaven has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 38°F in February to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.5 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.4") and February the driest (3.0").