Climate of Virginia#Temperatures

{{further|Climate of the United States}}

The USDA Hardiness Zones for Virginia range from Zone 5A (-20°F to -15°F) in the mountains, to Zone 8B (15°F to 20°F) in areas of the Hampton Roads region. [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/]

A lot of variations occur because of the state's significant relief. Elevations in Virginia vary from sea level to Mount Rogers at 5,729 ft (1,746 m) above sea level, with major gradations occurring at the edges of the Atlantic Ocean, the end of the Piedmont, and the Blue Ridge and Allegheny chains of the Appalachian Mountains. The moderating influence of the ocean from the east, powered by the Gulf Stream, also creates the potential for hurricanes near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Cold air masses arrive over the mountains, especially in winter, which can lead to significant snowfalls when coastal storms known as noreasters move up the Atlantic coast.

The interaction of these elements with the state's topography create micro-climates in the Shenandoah Valley, the mountainous southwest, and the coastal plains that are slightly but noticeably distinct from each other.{{cite web| title = Climate of Virginia| publisher = Charles A. Grymes| url = http://www.virginiaplaces.org/classschedule/4climate.html| access-date = 2007-07-30| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071006123642/http://www.virginiaplaces.org/classschedule/4climate.html| archive-date = 2007-10-06}}

The highest recorded temperature is {{convert|110|°F|0}} at Balcony Falls on July 15, 1954, and the lowest recorded temperature is {{convert|−30|°F|0}} at Mountain Lake on January 22, 1985.{{Cite web|url=http://climate.virginia.edu/va_extremes.htm|title=Virginia Extremes|website=climate.virginia.edu|access-date=2017-02-04}}

{{#lst:Lynchburg, Virginia|weather box}}

{{Norfolk, Virginia weatherbox}}

{{#lst:Richmond, Virginia|weather box}}

{{Washington, D.C. weatherbox}}

{{Dulles Airport weatherbox}}

{{Weather box

|collapsed= Y

|single line= Y

|location= Big Meadows, Virginia (station elevation 3,540ft)

|Jan high F= 36.1

|Feb high F= 38.3

|Mar high F= 45.9

|Apr high F= 56.9

|May high F= 65.5

|Jun high F= 72.3

|Jul high F= 75.4

|Aug high F= 74.1

|Sep high F= 68.1

|Oct high F= 58.7

|Nov high F= 48.0

|Dec high F= 38.9

|year high F=56.5

|Jan low F= 18.4

|Feb low F= 19.7

|Mar low F= 26.3

|Apr low F= 35.7

|May low F= 45.5

|Jun low F= 53.4

|Jul low F= 57.2

|Aug low F= 55.9

|Sep low F= 49.8

|Oct low F= 39.8

|Nov low F= 30.4

|Dec low F= 21.4

|year low F=37.8

| Jan avg record high F = 54.5

| Feb avg record high F = 57.6

| Mar avg record high F = 66.4

| Apr avg record high F = 75.8

| May avg record high F = 79.2

| Jun avg record high F = 83

| Jul avg record high F = 84.3

| Aug avg record high F = 83.4

| Sep avg record high F = 80.9

| Oct avg record high F = 73.6

| Nov avg record high F = 64.9

| Dec avg record high F = 57.8

| year avg record high F = 84.7

| Jan avg record low F = -2.2

| Feb avg record low F = -0.8

| Mar avg record low F = 6.9

| Apr avg record low F = 17.8

| May avg record low F = 29.4

| Jun avg record low F = 39.7

| Jul avg record low F = 46.2

| Aug avg record low F = 44

| Sep avg record low F = 34.2

| Oct avg record low F = 23.1

| Nov avg record low F = 12.1

| Dec avg record low F = 2

| year avg record low F = -6.4

|Jan record high F= 68

|Feb record high F= 66

|Mar record high F= 78

|Apr record high F= 87

|May record high F= 89

|Jun record high F= 88

|Jul record high F= 95

|Aug record high F= 92

|Sep record high F= 90

|Oct record high F= 84

|Nov record high F= 75

|Dec record high F= 68

|year record high F= 95

|Jan record low F = −29

|Feb record low F = -14

|Mar record low F = -6

|Apr record low F = 7

|May record low F = 18

|Jun record low F = 31

|Jul record low F = 34

|Aug record low F = 31

|Sep record low F = 25

|Oct record low F = 12

|Nov record low F = -1

|Dec record low F = -15

|year record low F= −29

|precipitation colour= green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.56

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.06

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.06

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.03

|May precipitation inch = 4.73

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.71

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.54

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.88

|Sep precipitation inch = 5.12

|Oct precipitation inch = 4.86

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.35

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.61

|year precipitation inch=51.51

|Jan snow inch= 10.5

|Feb snow inch= 9.5

|Mar snow inch= 8.4

|Apr snow inch= 1.7

|May snow inch= 0

|Jun snow inch= 0

|Jul snow inch= 0

|Aug snow inch= 0

|Sep snow inch= 0

|Oct snow inch= 0.7

|Nov snow inch= 3.6

|Dec snow inch= 6.6

|year snow inch= 41.0

|Jan precipitation days = 9

|Feb precipitation days = 8

|Mar precipitation days = 10

|Apr precipitation days = 10

|May precipitation days = 12

|Jun precipitation days = 11

|Jul precipitation days = 12

|Aug precipitation days = 11

|Sep precipitation days = 10

|Oct precipitation days = 9

|Nov precipitation days = 8

|Dec precipitation days = 8

|year precipitation days=118

|Jan snow days = 7

|Feb snow days = 6

|Mar snow days = 4

|Apr snow days = 1

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 3

|Dec snow days = 5

|year snow days= 28

|source 1= http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?va0720

|date=March 2014

}}

Image:Lightning over Short Hill Mountain.jpg

Severe weather is a concern in Virginia. Hurricanes make the coastal area of Virginia vulnerable. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 brought much destruction from wind and rain, killing 10 directly and doing nearly two billion dollars in damage. Hurricane Gaston in 2004 inundated Richmond after moving ashore South Carolina.David M. Roth. [http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/gaston2004filledrainblk.gif Hurricane Gaston Rainfall Graphic.] Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. Virginia is often struck with the remnants of systems which hit along the Gulf of Mexico coastline, which also bring torrential rain to the state. Hurricane Camille was an extreme example, bringing {{convert|27|in|mm}} of rainfall to portions of Nelson County in a matter of hours.David M. Roth. [http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/camille1969.html Hurricane Camille Rainfall Page.] Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. Thunderstorms are an occasional concern with the state averaging anywhere from 35 to 45 days of thunderstorm activity annually.{{cite web|title=History: Thunderstorms & Lightning|url=http://www.vaemergency.gov/news-local/history-thunderstorms-lightning/|website=Virginia Department of Emergency Management|access-date=4 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305114242/http://www.vaemergency.gov/news-local/history-thunderstorms-lightning/|archive-date=5 March 2017|url-status=dead}}

Rainfall in Virginia is frequent, but does not normally get severe enough for floods. Virginia averages seven tornadoes annually, though most are F2 and lower on the Fujita scale.{{cite news|url=http://www.tv3winchester.com/blogs/laurynrickettsblog/15421801.html |title=Tornadoes DO happen in Virginia! |work=TV3 Winchester |first=Lauryn |last=Ricketts |date=February 7, 2008 |access-date=2009-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314161337/http://www.tv3winchester.com/blogs/laurynrickettsblog/15421801.html |archive-date=March 14, 2010 }} However, Virginia had eighty-five in 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.vdem.state.va.us/business/hazthreats/natural/tornadoes/index.cfm |title=Natural Hazards : Tornadoes |work=Virginia Business Emergency Survival Toolkit |year=2007 |access-date=2007-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705234055/http://www.vdem.state.va.us/business/hazthreats/natural/tornadoes/index.cfm |archive-date=2007-07-05 }} Western Virginia has a lower rate of tornadoes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/Virginia/map|title=Tornado History Project: Virginia|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-03}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Excerpt|Climate change in Virginia}}

Winter in Virginia is characterized by large swings in temperature throughout and between days. This does not happen every day of the month, however. It may be 50°F and windy one morning, and 70°F and calm the next afternoon. Winters are cool; temperatures usually range from the 40s to the 60s Fahrenheit in December; while in January, it typically is at or below freezing, especially in the mountains and the north, but can still be mild in the eastern and southern parts of the state, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s not uncommon. Snowfall is highly variable, occurring more heavily in some years, while in others it can be almost nonexistent. The most snow-prone region of the state is the Blue Ridge. Significant snowfall is most likely in Northern Virginia.

In the summer, temperatures are hot and humid. Precipitation is slightly greater. Temperatures are not extreme, ranging between the high 70s and mid 90s; but humidity can make it feel hotter.

As for sunlight, Virginia is about average in state rankings.{{cite web |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/sunniest-states|title=Sunniest States 2021}} Areas on the Chesapeake Coast and Eastern Shore are brightest, while the west and north of the state is more cloudy. On the Winter Solstice, Virginia gets between 9 and 10 hours of sunlight. On the summer solstice, it gets between 14.5 and 15 hours.

• Environment of Virginia
• List of wettest known tropical cyclones in Virginia
• United States tropical cyclone rainfall climatology

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/vahur.htm Virginia Hurricane History - NWS]

{{ClimateUS}}

{{Virginia}}

Category:Natural history of Virginia

Virginia