Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Whitsett enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 305 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 45.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 682 feet.
Temperature
40°F Jan (4°C)80°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
59.8°F
11% above US avg
January Average
40°F (4°C)
July Average
80°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
682 ft (208 m)
Area
2.6 sq mi (6.7 km²)
Population Density
229/sq mi
Coordinates
36.0792°N, 79.5723°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Alamance County County
Nearest Airport
Piedmont Triad International (GSO) 21 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall45.9"
21% above US avg
Wettest Month (Jul)4.57"
Driest Month (Nov)3.07"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
77.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability
24.4 / 100
Community Resilience
51.2 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively High
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
11 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.2.
Jun 5, 1998
4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina
M3.2
124 km
9 km
May 16, 2009
2 km NNE of Cave Spring, Virginia
M3.0
136 km
13 km
Mar 21, 2011
9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina
M2.9
141 km
8 km
Jul 6, 2023
5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia
M2.7
125 km
0 km
Aug 18, 2000
2 km SSE of Narrows, Virginia
M2.7
128 km
10 km
Jul 12, 1993
5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina
M2.7
23 km
5 km
Jun 10, 2018
2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina
M2.7
139 km
2 km
Jul 8, 2023
Virginia-North Carolina border region
M2.6
127 km
4 km
Feb 4, 2021
1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina
M2.6
147 km
2 km
Mar 26, 2019
8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
M2.5
32 km
4 km
Jul 29, 2012
7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina
M2.5
146 km
14 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 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2020
Isaias
Category 1
92 mph
261 km
2018
Florence
Category 2
104 mph
255 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
81 mph
292 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
86 mph
298 km
2004
Charley
Category 1
75 mph
266 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
98 mph
181 km
1999
Floyd
Category 2
104 mph
251 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 3
115 mph
253 km
1996
Fran
Category 3
115 mph
126 km
1996
Bertha
Category 2
104 mph
215 km
1989
Hugo
Category 2
98 mph
207 km
1984
Diana
Category 4
132 mph
259 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
260 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 20 fatalities, 489 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Nov 27, 1988
EF4
78 km
83.0 mi
4
Apr 19, 2019
EF3
91 km
8.1 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
86 km
65.2 mi
6
Mar 28, 2010
EF3
47 km
4.3 mi
0
May 8, 2008
EF3
74 km
2.9 mi
0
May 7, 1998
EF3
73 km
2.0 mi
0
Mar 20, 1998
EF3
51 km
12.0 mi
2
Nov 23, 1992
EF3
35 km
5.5 mi
2
May 5, 1989
EF3
61 km
10.5 mi
0
May 22, 1985
EF3
63 km
3.5 mi
0
Mar 24, 1969
EF3
92 km
0.1 mi
1
Oct 7, 1965
EF3
53 km
1.0 mi
1
Sep 27, 2024
EF2
73 km
6.9 mi
0
Apr 19, 2019
EF2
39 km
10.1 mi
0
Apr 15, 2018
EF2
17 km
32.8 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
81 km
16.1 mi
0
May 24, 2017
EF2
94 km
5.9 mi
0
Feb 24, 2016
EF2
97 km
5.1 mi
0
Nov 16, 2011
EF2
69 km
12.5 mi
2
Apr 27, 2011
EF2
89 km
18.1 mi
1
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
9 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BULL MOUNTAIN (3,300 acres, 2006).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2006
BULL MOUNTAIN
3,300
90 km
2020
UWH NARROWS DAM RX
1,222
87 km
2021
GRINDSTONE
1,106
86 km
2008
HIGHWAY 1
766
100 km
2019
ROBEDO SOUTH RX
727
92 km
2018
UNNAMED
665
94 km
2022
PINE ROAD
582
89 km
2022
UNNAMED
579
93 km
2020
UNNAMED
565
94 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
40°F (4°C)
3.6 in
Coldest
February
41°F (5°C)
3.6 in
March
49°F (10°C)
4.0 in
April
58°F (14°C)
3.2 in
May
66°F (19°C)
4.3 in
June
74°F (23°C)
4.0 in
July
80°F (26°C)
4.6 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
76°F (24°C)
4.2 in
September
70°F (21°C)
3.6 in
October
59°F (15°C)
3.4 in
November
50°F (10°C)
3.1 in
Driest
December
41°F (5°C)
3.4 in
Whitsett has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 40°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.8 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.6") and November the driest (3.1").