Dover weather in August

In August, Dover sees average daytime highs of 83°F and overnight lows near 70°F, with 4.3 in of rain across 10.5 wet days and about 13.5 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 83°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in August, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 14 h 06 min at the start of August to 12 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, August is Dover's 4th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Dover's year-round climate.

Daytime high
83°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
70°
11th coldest
Rainfall
4.3 in
10.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 30 min
5:20 AM – 6:53 PM
Cloud cover
55%
4th clearest
Wind
6 mph
12th windiest
Solar energy
5.51 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
out of 10

Dover is capital city of the U.S. state of Delaware and seat of Kent County.

Density
648/km²
people per km²
Founded
1683

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in August

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 83°F through the month.

A typical August day in Dover reaches about 83°F in the afternoon and slips back to 70°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 77°F and 90°F. Set against its neighbours, August runs about 2°F cooler than July and about 6°F warmer than September.

60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18571
28571
38471
48471
58471
68471
78471
88471
98471
108471
118471
128471
138370
148370
158370
168370
178370
188370
198370
208369
218369
228369
238369
248369
258269
268269
278269
288268
298268
308268
318268

How August really feels in Dover

Once humidity and wind are folded in, August averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

August sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Dover weather by month

How August compares with the rest of the year at a glance. August is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan43° / 30°3.19.22.99.60.4
Feb45° / 31°3.08.92.910.51.0
Mar53° / 38°4.110.31.611.72.9
Apr64° / 47°3.39.90.2135.6
May72° / 57°3.410.7014.16.6
Jun81° / 66°3.610.2014.76.2
Jul85° / 71°3.711014.55.2
Aug83° / 70°4.310.5013.55.8
Sep77° / 63°4.19.2012.37.0
Oct67° / 52°3.780116.5
Nov56° / 42°2.97.50.29.94.0
Dec47° / 35°3.79.11.39.31.6

Cloud cover in August

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in August.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of August, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 45%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15248
25248
35248
45347
55446
65446
75446
85446
95446
105347
115347
125347
135347
145347
155446
165446
175446
185446
195545
205545
215545
225644
235644
245644
255644
265644
275743
285743
295743
305743
315743

Chance of precipitation in August

Any precipitation

Dover gets around 4.3 in of rain over 10.5 wet days in August, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 34% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
138
237
337
437
537
638
738
838
938
1038
1138
1238
1338
1438
1538
1637
1736
1835
1934
2033
2132
2231
2331
2430
2529
2629
2728
2828
2928
3028
3128

Humidity in August

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of August feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, August lands in the muggy band about 31% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 59% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1392033341
23102033331
33102033331
43102032331
54112032331
64112032331
74112032321
84112031321
95112131321
105112131311
115112131311
125112131301
136112231301
146112231292
156112231281
166112232271
176122332271
186122332261
196122332251
206132332241
216132333241
227142332231
237142332231
247152332221
257152331221
268162430221
278162430211
288172429211
299172428211
309172428211
3110182527201

Wind in August

Winds average 6 mph in August, the calmest month.

Across August, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in August

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 min at the start of August to 12 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 72 minutes over August. Sunrise moves from 5:06 AM to 5:34 AM, and sunset from 7:10 PM to 6:30 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
114.15:067:10
214.05:077:09
314.05:087:08
414.05:097:07
513.95:107:06
613.95:107:05
713.95:117:04
813.85:127:03
913.85:137:02
1013.85:147:00
1113.75:156:59
1213.75:166:58
1313.75:176:57
1413.65:186:55
1513.65:196:54
1613.55:206:53
1713.55:216:51
1813.55:226:50
1913.45:236:48
2013.45:246:47
2113.45:256:46
2213.35:256:44
2313.35:266:43
2413.25:276:41
2513.25:286:40
2613.15:296:38
2713.15:306:37
2813.15:316:35
2913.05:326:33
3013.05:336:32
3112.95:346:30

Solar energy in August

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in August, about 5.51 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.93 kWh/m² to a high of 6.33 kWh/m² in June across the year — August's 5.51 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.8Bright
65.7Bright
75.7Bright
85.7Bright
95.7Bright
105.6Bright
115.6Bright
125.6Bright
135.5Bright
145.5Bright
155.5Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.4Bright
195.4Bright
205.4Bright
215.4Bright
225.3Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.3Bright
265.2Bright
275.2Bright
285.2Bright
295.1Bright
305.1Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in August

Hazard calendar for Dover

In seasonPeak

In August, Dover sits inside its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Dover sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is August a good time to visit Dover?

Our two travel scores rate August for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.8
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.9
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

August is a reasonable time to visit Dover for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Dover in August

From August's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In August, Dover sees daytime highs around 83°F and nights near 70°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Dover in August

The nearest coast averages about 76°F in August — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 8 mi away) is warmest in August at about 76°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 19 to Oct 3 — about 3.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr49Bracing
May58Bracing
Jun67Cool
Jul74Refreshing
Aug76Warm
Sep73Refreshing
Oct64Cool
Nov53Bracing
Dec44Bracing

UV index in Dover in August

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in August peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Dover peaks around July 10 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 8Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Dover in August

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where August falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Dover is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1115 µg/m³Nov 127 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar12Good
Apr12Good
May13Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct8Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Dover?

Dover sits at 39.2°N, 75.5°W, 30 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Middletown, 22 mi away.

Topography around Dover

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Dover.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Dover has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 131 ft around an average of 39 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 174 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 761 ft.

The land around Dover is covered by trees (41%), artificial surfaces (29%) and grassland (21%) within 2 miles, trees (30%) and cropland (26%) within 10 miles, and trees (39%), water (27%) and cropland (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
131 ft
10 miles
174 ft
50 miles
761 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
August weather nearby: Middletown 22 mi · Bridgeton 24 mi · Millville 31 mi · South Vineland 33 mi · Bear 34 mi · Vineland 35 mi · Elkton 35 mi · Cape May 37 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Dover (39.1582°, -75.5244°, elevation 30 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).