Virginia’s weather swings a lot throughout the year. Residents and visitors get everything from mild winters to those hot, sticky summers. The state sits in the Mid-Atlantic, so you’ll notice some pretty diverse weather patterns. Coastal spots and inland towns can feel like totally different worlds, depending on the month.
Virginia gets four distinct seasons. Monthly temperatures go from winter lows in the 30s up to summer highs in the upper 80s and 90s. Precipitation shifts as well, with winter snow giving way to summer thunderstorms. Knowing these monthly changes helps people plan for outdoor fun, travel, and seasonal preparations all year long.
Weather patterns across Virginia can look pretty different depending on where you are. Coastal areas, mountain regions, and central plains all have their quirks. Sometimes, monthly conditions can vary by 10-15 degrees across the state. Mountain areas almost always stay cooler, while the coast feels more moderate.
Regional differences, plus those seasonal temperature swings and shifting precipitation, make for a complex weather story that changes month to month.
Monthly Weather Patterns in Virginia
Virginia’s seasons show up clearly. Temperatures run from winter lows near freezing up to summer highs close to 90°F. Precipitation stays fairly steady through the year, but cloud cover can really change depending on the season.
Temperature Variations by Month
Virginia’s temperatures follow a pretty reliable pattern. Winters get coldest, with January lows averaging 30°F in Richmond and 35°F in Norfolk.
February stays chilly but starts to warm up just a bit.
Spring creeps in during March, with highs reaching about 60°F in most places. April and May feel comfortable, and by May, highs hit 77°F.
Summer really kicks in around July and August. Richmond and Norfolk both reach their hottest in July at 88°F. August doesn’t cool down much, with temps around 86°F across the state.
Fall cooling starts up in September. Highs drop to 80°F. October brings pleasant weather around 70°F, and November keeps dropping, with highs near 60°F.
December brings winter back. Highs fall to the low 50s, and overnight lows land in the mid-30s.
Monthly Precipitation Patterns
Rain falls pretty evenly through the year in Virginia, but you’ll see small seasonal shifts. Most places get between 2 and 4 inches each month.
Spring brings more rain. Richmond, for example, averages 3.1 inches in March and climbs up to 3.5 inches by May. April sits in the middle at 3.3 inches.
Summer can get pretty wet, especially in some spots. Norfolk sees its most rain in August at 4.5 inches. July isn’t far behind at 4.1 inches. Richmond stays steadier, picking up 3.4 to 3.6 inches in summer.
Fall keeps things moderate. September averages 3.5 to 4.0 inches, depending on where you are. October and November see a little less.
Winter usually dries out. January and February average 2.0 to 2.9 inches. December comes in with 2.7 to 3.0 inches.
Snow shows up mostly from December through March. February tends to bring the most snow in most areas.
Average Cloud Cover Trends
Virginia’s skies change a lot through the year. Fall and summer usually bring the clearest days. Spring? That’s when you’ll see the most overcast skies.
Winter months have moderate cloud cover. January and February are clear or partly cloudy about half the time—49 to 52% across the state.
Spring keeps similar patterns. March through May stay in the low to mid-50s for clear skies.
Summer is the best for blue skies. August and September offer the clearest weather, with clear skies 60 to 64% of the time. July does pretty well too, with 56 to 59% clear.
Fall holds onto those good sky conditions. October is often the clearest month, with 63% clear skies in most places. November starts to cloud up as winter moves in.
Regional Differences in Monthly Weather
Virginia’s geography really shapes the weather. Central places like Richmond get moderate continental conditions. Coastal regions enjoy milder temps and more humidity. Mountain areas? They’re cooler and usually get more precipitation all year.
Weather in Central Virginia
Central Virginia, including Richmond, sits between continental and subtropical climates. Winter temperatures range from lows around -1°C to highs of 9°C in January. Snow piles up to about 119mm during the peak winter months.
Spring warms up quickly. April highs reach 21°C, and rain jumps to about 82mm each month. You’ll get 8 or 9 rainy days a month during spring.
Summer heat peaks in July, with highs of 31°C and lows of 21°C. Humidity makes it muggy for about 20 days. Rainfall stays steady around 88 to 91mm monthly.
Fall cools off gradually. September starts with highs at 27°C, and by November, they’re down to 16°C. October usually has the clearest skies—about 63% of the time. Winds stay moderate, 8 to 10 km/h all year.
Coastal Area Monthly Climate
Coastal Virginia keeps temperatures more stable thanks to the ocean. Winter lows rarely fall below 1°C in Norfolk, and highs reach 10°C. Snow is rare, with just 44mm in January.
The ocean smooths out temperature swings all year. Summer highs still hit 31°C, like inland, but humidity runs higher. July gets muggy for 25 days, compared to 20 inland.
Rainfall patterns look different from central Virginia. Summer brings 104 to 113mm of rain, with August being the wettest. The coast gets about 13 rainy days in July.
Winds stay stronger here, 13 to 19 km/h year-round. Spring and fall are the best, with temps in the 20s and lower humidity.
Mountain Region Monthly Trends
Mountain areas see the wildest seasonal changes and coolest temperatures in Virginia. Arlington, for example, drops to -2°C in January, much colder than the coast. Winter highs only get to 6°C.
Snow piles up most in February, with 157mm—almost double what the coast gets. Snow falls from November through March. Sometimes April even sees a dusting.
Summer stays more comfortable up here, with July highs at 30°C. Nights cool off to 21°C, so there’s relief from the daytime heat. Muggy days happen less often than elsewhere.
Precipitation depends on elevation. Higher spots get more rain and snow. Winds average 9 to 15 km/h, with winter bringing the strongest gusts.
Monthly Temperature Extremes and Averages
Virginia gets some big temperature swings over the year. Summer highs hit the upper 80s, and winter lows drop into the 30s. You’ll notice the wildest swings in spring and fall, when day-to-night temps can differ by 30 degrees or more.
Hottest Months in Virginia
July and August bring the hottest weather. Average highs run from 84°F to 87°F in most of Virginia.
Richmond usually hits 87°F in July. Coastal towns like Norfolk stay a bit cooler, averaging 85°F.
June starts the real heat. Temps climb into the low 80s, and you’ll probably see the first run of 90-degree days.
The highest recorded temps usually show up in July. Humidity can push the heat index over 100°F. Mountain regions out west stay 5 to 8 degrees cooler than the east.
Coldest Months in Virginia
January is the coldest month. Highs average 45°F in the south and 40°F in the north.
January nights usually drop to 25°F to 30°F. Mountain areas get even colder, sometimes dipping below 20°F.
December and February both come next for coldest. December is a little warmer than January, and February starts to warm up but still freezes at night.
Richmond sees January highs around 47°F and lows near 29°F. The city usually has 15 to 20 freezing nights in January.
Monthly Day and Night Temperature Swings
Spring brings the biggest swings. March and April often see 25 to 30 degree differences between highs and lows.
April is a good example. Days might hit 70°F, but nights can drop to 40°F. Clear skies and low humidity make this happen.
Summer swings shrink because of humidity. July usually has a 15 to 20 degree difference from day to night.
Fall looks like spring. October mornings start crisp in the 40s, but afternoons warm up to the 70s. Winter has the smallest swings, usually 15 to 18 degrees between highs and lows.
Precipitation and Snowfall by Month
Virginia picks up different amounts of rain and snow each month. Late summer and early fall get the most rain. Snowfall can vary a lot between the coast and the mountains.
Rainfall Amounts Throughout the Year
Virginia has clear wet and dry seasons. Spring brings moderate rain as things warm up.
May usually sees the most rainy days. About 42% of May days have measurable rain.
Summer rainfall ramps up in July and August. Afternoon thunderstorms happen a lot in these months.
September is the wettest month for many Virginia cities. Charlottesville, for example, gets about 5.2 inches in September.
Fall keeps the rain coming. October still brings regular showers.
February is the driest month across the state. Charlottesville averages just 2.97 inches in February.
Winter months have the least rain. Cold air just can’t hold as much moisture.
Monthly Snowfall in Key Regions
Coastal areas like Norfolk barely see snow. Most winters bring only 1 to 3 inches total.
Richmond gets a bit more—usually 5 to 8 inches each winter.
Mountain regions in western Virginia get the most snow. Some spots pick up 20 to 40 inches a year.
January and February are the snowiest months. Most of the season’s snow falls then.
December brings the first snow of the season, but totals can change a lot year to year.
March sometimes surprises with late snowstorms.
April almost never sees snow except up in the mountains, where peaks might get a little early in the month.
Cloud Cover and Sunshine Patterns
Virginia’s cloud cover and sunshine hours change a lot through the year. June stands out as the sunniest month. Eastern coastal areas usually get more clouds than inland spots, thanks to the ocean.
Clearest Months in the Year
June brings the most sunshine in Virginia. It’s the clearest month, so you’ll want to be outside.
Late spring and early summer—from May through July—give you the best shot at clear skies. During these months, you’ll notice:
- Longer days
- Fewer clouds
- Great weather for outdoor plans
Fall months like September and October are also sunny. Weather patterns then usually mean fewer clouds than in winter.
Virginia’s inland areas get more sunshine than the coast. The Piedmont and mountain regions enjoy clearer skies because they’re farther from all that ocean moisture.
Cloudiest Months and Overcast Trends
Winter months—December through February—usually bring Virginia the thickest, most stubborn cloud cover. January gets the least sunshine, hands down.
The eastern coastal regions deal with way more cloud cover all year. Why? The Atlantic Ocean keeps sending in moisture, regular low-pressure systems roll through, and those maritime air masses just love to drag in overcast skies.
Late fall and winter really set the stage for long stretches of gray. November kicks off Virginia’s cloudiest stretch, and that gloomy vibe sticks around until early March.
Rainfall shapes cloud cover trends in a big way. September stands out with both the highest precipitation and a noticeable bump in cloudiness. The wet season usually matches up with more overcast days across the state.
Seasonal Impacts on Monthly Weather
Virginia’s weather swings a lot over the year. Each season brings its own temperature swings and different kinds of precipitation. These seasonal shifts play a big role in deciding when people can actually enjoy being outside.
Monthly Weather in Different Seasons
Winter months in Virginia bring the coldest days. January and February usually see highs from 5°C to 12°C, depending on where you are. December tends to hover between 8°C and 14°C.
Winchester gets hit with the chilliest winter weather. Chesapeake and Franklin, sitting by the coast, stay a bit warmer.
Spring weather starts to look up in March. Temperatures climb from 12°C to 17°C. April feels just about perfect, with 18°C to 22°C across much of Virginia.
May keeps things comfortable. Most areas enjoy 22°C to 26°C.
Summer brings the real heat. June days usually hit 27°C to 31°C. July is typically the hottest, with highs between 28°C and 32°C.
August doesn’t let up, either. Temperatures hold steady between 27°C and 31°C.
Fall weather finally cools things off. September feels pleasant, with 24°C to 28°C. October is a favorite for many, bringing highs from 18°C to 23°C.
November cools down even more. Temperatures drop to 12°C to 17°C as winter creeps back in.
Effect of Weather on Outdoor Activities
Cold winter months really put a damper on outdoor plans across Virginia. In January and February, poor weather conditions make hiking and camping pretty tough.
Snow and freezing temperatures mean outdoor enthusiasts need special gear. Not everyone feels up for braving the chill, honestly.
Spring weather brings a breath of fresh air. April usually has perfect conditions, so hiking, camping, and festivals finally become possible again.
May keeps things rolling with great weather for outdoor sports and gardening. You can almost feel the excitement as people get outside more.
Hot summer temperatures shake up activity schedules. July and August get so hot that folks usually plan strenuous things for early morning or later in the evening.
Beach activities take center stage during these months along Virginia’s coast. Who doesn’t love a good swim when it’s blazing out?
Fall provides some of the best weather for being outside. September brings pleasant days, and people flock to hiking trails, bike paths, and outdoor events.
October really shines with prime conditions for fall festivals and leaf-viewing. If you’re looking for the perfect time to enjoy Virginia’s outdoors, this is probably it.