Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Whiteville enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 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 50.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 1.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 79 feet.
Temperature
43°F Jan (6°C)80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average
61.8°F
14% above US avg
January Average
43°F (6°C)
July Average
80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days
301 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
79 ft (24 m)
Area
5.6 sq mi (14.4 km²)
Population Density
849/sq mi
Coordinates
34.3305°N, 78.7014°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Columbus County County
Nearest Airport
Lumberton Regional (LBT) 28 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall50.9"
34% above US avg
Snowfall1.2"
Wettest Month (Jul)6.10"
Driest Month (Oct)2.76"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
86.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
88.3 / 100
Community Resilience
23.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Very High
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M2.9.
Jan 29, 1994
12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina
M2.9
144 km
2 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
117 km
8 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
117 km
14 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
25 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2022
Ian
Category 1
81 mph
124 km
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
51 km
2019
Dorian
Category 3
115 mph
127 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
46 km
2016
Matthew
Category 2
98 mph
84 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
127 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
186 km
2005
Ophelia
Category 1
86 mph
121 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
185 km
2004
Gaston
Category 1
75 mph
170 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
59 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
225 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
92 mph
159 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
88 km
1999
Dennis
Category 2
104 mph
194 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
92 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
55 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
83 km
1994
Gordon
Category 1
81 mph
275 km
1991
Bob
Category 2
98 mph
283 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
404 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 56 fatalities, 1,458 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 7, 1995
EF4
64 km
0.7 mi
0
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
89 km
40.0 mi
4
Mar 28, 1984
EF4
90 km
21.0 mi
3
Apr 8, 1957
EF4
60 km
0.8 mi
0
Feb 15, 2021
EF3
50 km
21.9 mi
3
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
86 km
52.9 mi
2
Nov 16, 2006
EF3
42 km
2.2 mi
8
Mar 28, 1984
EF3
58 km
40.0 mi
12
May 20, 1980
EF3
78 km
10.7 mi
0
Feb 22, 1971
EF3
86 km
85.7 mi
2
Apr 18, 1969
EF3
71 km
25.8 mi
0
Nov 24, 1967
EF3
65 km
3.3 mi
0
Aug 17, 1965
EF3
56 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 29, 1964
EF3
85 km
21.9 mi
0
Apr 8, 1957
EF3
80 km
8.0 mi
0
Oct 9, 1950
EF3
20 km
2.0 mi
0
Aug 7, 2024
EF2
64 km
4.7 mi
0
Aug 3, 2020
EF2
87 km
8.3 mi
0
Apr 13, 2020
EF2
100 km
4.6 mi
0
Sep 5, 2019
EF2
55 km
9.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (77,768 acres, 1986).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1986
UNNAMED
77,768
94 km
2011
JUNIPER ROAD
31,511
96 km
2009
HIGHWAY 31
17,004
60 km
1994
UNNAMED
7,944
85 km
1997
UNNAMED
3,111
95 km
1985
UNNAMED
2,970
94 km
1986
UNNAMED
2,642
56 km
2001
UNNAMED
2,204
56 km
2020
TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD
2,076
94 km
1993
UNNAMED
2,073
67 km
1986
UNNAMED
2,024
82 km
2007
LONGBRANCH-ROBESON COMPLEX
1,944
40 km
2009
UNNAMED
1,870
92 km
2010
UNNAMED
1,683
93 km
2002
LEGENDS
1,666
71 km
2016
CLEMMONS ROAD
1,468
61 km
1990
UNNAMED
1,335
86 km
2009
UNNAMED
1,319
68 km
2011
WOLF ISLAND
1,310
90 km
2022
JUNIPER ROAD TWO
1,307
99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
43°F (6°C)
4.0 in
Coldest
February
47°F (8°C)
3.7 in
March
54°F (12°C)
4.3 in
April
62°F (16°C)
2.9 in
May
69°F (21°C)
4.3 in
June
76°F (25°C)
5.1 in
July
80°F (27°C)
6.1 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
79°F (26°C)
5.7 in
September
74°F (23°C)
4.6 in
October
63°F (17°C)
2.8 in
Driest
November
55°F (13°C)
2.8 in
December
47°F (8°C)
3.3 in
Whiteville has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 43°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (6.1") and October the driest (2.8").