Virginia, NV climate
Virginia has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 46 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Virginia feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Virginia weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 25° | 2.4" | 13.0" | 6 | 14 | 27° – 41° |
| February | 44° | 26° | 1.8" | 8.7" | 6 | 10 | 29° – 43° |
| March | 50° | 30° | 1.5" | 9.3" | 4 | 6 | 32° – 46° |
| April | 55° | 33° | 0.7" | 2.3" | 3 | 1 | 39° – 50° |
| May | 65° | 41° | 0.9" | 0.7" | 3 | 0 | 45° – 60° |
| June | 75° | 49° | 0.6" | 0.2" | 2 | 0 | 56° – 67° |
| July | 84° | 57° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 64° – 74° |
| August | 82° | 55° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| September | 75° | 49° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| October | 62° | 39° | 0.7" | 0.3" | 2 | 0 | 46° – 57° |
| November | 49° | 30° | 1.2" | 2.4" | 3 | 3 | 30° – 47° |
| December | 41° | 24° | 1.9" | 9.5" | 5 | 11 | 27° – 37° |
| Year | 60° | 38° | 12.6" | 46.4" | 37 | 46 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Virginia
Virginia gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and September the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 37 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 46 days of the year.
About 155 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 12 and the first one by October 17. That leaves about 155 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 76% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Virginia
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Virginia, 90% of that work is heating and 10% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Virginia compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Virginia averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.4°). The shift is larger than in 64% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Virginia’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. November swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 30° to 47°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Virginia’s climate
What is the coldest month in Virginia?
December, with a typical high of 41° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Virginia?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 57°. About 10 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Virginia get?
About 46 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Virginia?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 17, and the last spring frost by May 12.
What is the rainiest month in Virginia?
January, with 2.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 13 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Virginia itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Virginia City, NV (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.