South Boston, VA climate
South Boston has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, 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 South Boston feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South Boston 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 | 48° | 27° | 3.5" | 3.0" | 10 | 1 | 32° – 44° |
| February | 52° | 29° | 2.8" | 1.1" | 9 | 1 | 32° – 49° |
| March | 60° | 35° | 4.0" | 0.4" | 10 | 0 | 41° – 56° |
| April | 70° | 45° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 52° – 63° |
| May | 77° | 54° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 60° – 72° |
| June | 84° | 63° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| July | 88° | 67° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| August | 86° | 66° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| September | 80° | 59° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| October | 71° | 46° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 55° – 63° |
| November | 60° | 35° | 3.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| December | 51° | 30° | 3.6" | 1.0" | 10 | 1 | 32° – 51° |
| Year | 69° | 46° | 45.6" | 5.5" | 117 | 3 |
“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 South Boston
South Boston 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 117 days a year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 10 and the first one by October 30. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in South Boston
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South Boston, 72% of that work is heating and 28% 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 South Boston 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 South Boston averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South Boston’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 32° to 51°. July is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about South Boston’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Boston?
January, with a typical high of 48° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in South Boston?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 67°. About 40 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South Boston get?
About 6 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in South Boston?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 30, and the last spring frost by April 10.
What is the rainiest month in South Boston?
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 South Boston itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at South Boston, VA (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.