Updated October 2026
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Weather by Month
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 90°F and a low of 73°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 44°F and an average low of 30°F. July is the wettest month, with about 4.7 inches of precipitation.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 2 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
90°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
30°F avg low
Wettest month
Jul
4.7 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.8 h of daylight
Average weather at Fort McHenry by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44°F | 30°F | 3.1 in | 9.5 h |
| February | 47°F | 32°F | 2.8 in | 10.5 h |
| March | 55°F | 39°F | 3.9 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 67°F | 48°F | 3.6 in | 13.0 h |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 3.4 in | 14.2 h |
| June | 85°F | 68°F | 3.4 in | 14.8 h |
| July | 90°F | 73°F | 4.7 in | 14.5 h |
| August | 87°F | 71°F | 4.4 in | 13.5 h |
| September | 80°F | 65°F | 4.5 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 69°F | 53°F | 3.5 in | 10.9 h |
| November | 58°F | 43°F | 3.0 in | 9.8 h |
| December | 48°F | 35°F | 3.7 in | 9.2 h |
| Year total | 44.0 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USW00093784, 2 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Fort McHenry is at that time of year.
Fort McHenry weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 44°F in January, between 48°F in December and 47°F in February, with average lows between 30°F and 35°F. The average low is at or below freezing in January and February. Together the three months average 9.6 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.2 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 55°F in March to 76°F in May, with average lows between 39°F and 58°F. Together the three months average 10.9 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 14.2 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 90°F in July, between 85°F in June and 87°F in August, with average lows between 68°F and 73°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in July. Together the three months average 12.5 inches of precipitation, about 28% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.8 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 80°F in September to 58°F in November, with average lows between 43°F and 65°F. Together the three months average 11 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 9.8 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Temperatures and weather in the spring and fall months tend to be mild. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures can occur during winter. Extreme heat can occur during the summer months. Inclement weather may impact park hours of operation year round. Refer to the park alerts or call ahead to confirm operating hours.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Fort McHenry
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 39.26°N, 76.58°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 1.4× the visitors of the park's average month. January is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Fort McHenry.
Where to stay near Fort McHenry
Picked a month for Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort McHenry
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Fort McHenry?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Fort McHenry by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, with an average high of 90°F and an average low of 73°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 2 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, with an average low of 30°F and an average high of 44°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
July is the wettest month, with about 4.7 inches of precipitation. February is the driest, at about 2.8 inches. The station records about 44 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Daylight at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine runs from about 9.2 hours a day in December to about 14.8 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
11 mi away · warmest in July (87°F)
26 mi away · warmest in July (87°F)
33 mi away · warmest in July (88°F)
34 mi away · warmest in July (90°F)
34 mi away · warmest in July (90°F)
34 mi away · warmest in July (90°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USW00093784), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.