Hampden-Sydney, VA climate
Hampden-Sydney has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Hampden-Sydney feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Hampden-Sydney 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 27° | 3.5" | 0.6" | 9 | 30° – 45° |
| February | 51° | 29° | 2.8" | 3.1" | 7 | 31° – 49° |
| March | 59° | 35° | 4.0" | 1.0" | 9 | 41° – 57° |
| April | 69° | 44° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 52° – 63° |
| May | 76° | 53° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 59° – 72° |
| June | 84° | 62° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 69° – 77° |
| July | 87° | 67° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 73° – 81° |
| August | 86° | 65° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 72° – 78° |
| September | 79° | 59° | 4.5" | 0 | 8 | 65° – 74° |
| October | 69° | 46° | 3.8" | 0 | 7 | 54° – 63° |
| November | 59° | 36° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 42° – 53° |
| December | 50° | 30° | 3.7" | 1.4" | 8 | 31° – 50° |
| Year | 68° | 46° | 45.7" | 6.1" | 102 |
“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 Hampden-Sydney
Hampden-Sydney gets 46 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 102 days a year.
About 199 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 12 and the first one by October 29. That leaves about 199 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 72% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Hampden-Sydney
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Hampden-Sydney, 76% of that work is heating and 24% is cooling.
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 Hampden-Sydney 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 Hampden-Sydney averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.3°). The shift is smaller than in 60% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Hampden-Sydney’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 31° to 50°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Hampden-Sydney’s climate
What is the coldest month in Hampden-Sydney?
January, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Hampden-Sydney?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 67°. About 38 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Hampden-Sydney get?
About 6 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Hampden-Sydney?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 29, and the last spring frost by April 12.
What is the rainiest month in Hampden-Sydney?
September, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 46 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Hampden-Sydney itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Farmville 2 N, VA (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.