Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Willis Wharf enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 79°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 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 6.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 9 feet.
Temperature
39°F Jan (4°C)79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average
58.8°F
9% above US avg
January Average
39°F (4°C)
July Average
79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days
305 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
9 ft (3 m)
Area
0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
Population Density
657/sq mi
Coordinates
37.5179°N, 75.8069°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Northampton County County
Nearest Airport
Newport News/Williamsburg International (PHF) 46 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall47.2"
24% above US avg
Snowfall6.6"
Wettest Month (Mar)4.06"
Driest Month (Apr)2.80"
Air Quality
AQI Median
35.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
44.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability
96.9 / 100
Community Resilience
97.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
2 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M2.9.
Aug 3, 1995
13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia
M2.9
79 km
1 km
Feb 9, 2023
29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia
M2.6
87 km
11 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
16 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
218 km
2016
Matthew
Category 1
—
295 km
2014
Arthur
Category 2
98 mph
148 km
2012
Sandy
Category 1
92 mph
245 km
2011
Irene
Category 1
75 mph
43 km
2010
Earl
Category 1
86 mph
266 km
2004
Alex
Category 2
98 mph
233 km
2003
Isabel
Category 2
104 mph
191 km
1999
Irene
Category 2
109 mph
262 km
1999
Floyd
Category 1
81 mph
84 km
1998
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
159 km
1993
Emily
Category 3
115 mph
161 km
1991
Bob
Category 3
115 mph
162 km
1986
Charley
Category 1
81 mph
55 km
1985
Gloria
Category 2
104 mph
92 km
1981
Dennis
Category 1
75 mph
284 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
174 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 fatalities, 103 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 30, 2023
EF3
75 km
4.5 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF3
89 km
46.9 mi
2
Aug 6, 1993
EF3
69 km
2.9 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF3
81 km
2.5 mi
0
Nov 2, 1966
EF3
97 km
0.1 mi
0
May 3, 2021
EF2
83 km
4.4 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
74 km
3.8 mi
0
Aug 4, 2020
EF2
48 km
15.6 mi
0
Mar 31, 2017
EF2
94 km
8.9 mi
0
Apr 16, 2011
EF2
48 km
2.8 mi
0
Sep 4, 1999
EF2
73 km
1.0 mi
0
Aug 6, 1993
EF2
88 km
2.5 mi
0
May 2, 1989
EF2
66 km
5.0 mi
0
Aug 3, 1988
EF2
76 km
0.2 mi
0
Aug 31, 1983
EF2
99 km
0.2 mi
0
May 11, 1981
EF2
79 km
0.2 mi
0
Sep 5, 1979
EF2
73 km
0.5 mi
0
Apr 25, 1975
EF2
80 km
0.1 mi
0
Oct 2, 1973
EF2
21 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 21, 1969
EF2
29 km
0.1 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
98 km
2004
RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
5,678
100 km
2014
BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14
5,433
99 km
2007
GUINEA MARSH
4,173
96 km
2009
DOCTORS CREEK
3,686
97 km
1999
FB R O C I
3,525
97 km
2019
MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT
3,197
99 km
2011
COMPARTMENT J
2,775
99 km
2005
ISLAND CREEK
2,729
96 km
2004
UNNAMED
2,156
95 km
1992
UNNAMED
2,038
100 km
2004
ROBBINS FIRE
1,612
96 km
2009
BECKERS ISLAND
1,398
97 km
2022
ELLIOTTS ISLAND
1,324
96 km
2006
UNNAMED
1,260
99 km
2011
GUINEA ISLAND COMPLEX
1,170
98 km
1999
FB A 3
1,156
100 km
2006
L 2 FB H 2 G 2
1,039
100 km
2005
SAVANNA LAKE COMPLEX
1,012
96 km
2005
LONG ISLAND/RAGGED ISLAND RXB
982
99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
39°F (4°C)
3.5 in
Coldest
February
40°F (4°C)
3.2 in
March
47°F (8°C)
4.1 in
Wettest
April
55°F (13°C)
2.8 in
Driest
May
64°F (18°C)
3.4 in
June
73°F (23°C)
3.2 in
July
79°F (26°C)
4.0 in
Warmest
August
76°F (24°C)
4.0 in
September
71°F (21°C)
3.2 in
October
60°F (16°C)
3.0 in
November
51°F (11°C)
3.0 in
December
42°F (6°C)
3.4 in
Willis Wharf has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 39°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.6 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.1") and April the driest (2.8").