Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Alexandria, Virginia Weather

Night falls a minute earlier. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Alexandria weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Alexandria, VA
Sunday, August 2 at 10:59 AM
83
°
Overcast
Feels like
87°
Humidity
67%
Wind
11 mph
Sunrise
2:10 AM
Sunset
4:18 PM
Alexandria, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastAlexandria, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 75 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit with a 49% chance of precipitation at 9 PM.
L 75°H 88°
Alexandria, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Light Showers
    49%
    0.23″
    88°75°
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Heavy Showers
    31%
    0.68″
    91°75°+3°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    26%
    86°73°-5°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Drizzle
    30%
    87°73°+1°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Overcast
    28%
    94°72°+7°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Light Showers
    47%
    0.25″
    98°74°+4°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Drizzle
    50%
    95°72°-3°
Alexandria, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSE
162° · backing 16°
Direction
SSE
162°
Sustained
11
mph
Gust
18
mph
Peak 24h
28
avg 7 mph
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 mph · pk 28 mph @ 1:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 307SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 16° from the sse.
Alexandria, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1005.0
+0.1 mb in 3h · steady · 29.68 inHg
Now
1005.0
mb
3h
+0.1
mb
12h
-0.1
mb
24h
-2.6
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 10051008
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1007.51004.51004.9
Damp, unsettled regime — wet weather lingers nearby.
Alexandria, VA
Air quality
49
AQI
Good
-2 in 6h

AQI 49 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 11.7 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
9.0μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
4μg/m³
OzoneModerate
88μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
2.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 42. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~82%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 42
UV peak
4.0 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 11

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 11.7 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.77
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
1h in last 6h
Pattern
background
Alexandria, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
97%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
48.1mi
UNLIMITED
93 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
14:59 UTC · Alexandria, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
14:59 UTC · Alexandria, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Alexandria, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Alexandria, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Alexandria, VA
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:41 AM
Sunrise
2:10 AM
Daylight
14h 08m
Sunset
4:18 PM
Civil dusk
8:49 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Alexandria, VA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:51 PM
Moonset
10:10 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Alexandria, VA
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Alexandria at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 19°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 22301, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22305, 22306, 22307, 22308 +6 more

16-Day Forecast — Alexandria

  1. Sun88°75°49%
  2. Mon91°75°31%
  3. Tue86°73°26%
  4. Wed87°73°30%
  5. Thu94°72°28%
  6. Fri98°74°47%
  7. Sat95°72°50%
  8. Sun99°71°39%
  9. Mon98°73°25%
  10. Tue91°72°25%
  11. Wed89°73°16%
  12. Thu96°72°35%
  13. Fri97°74°42%
  14. Sat101°78°39%
  15. Sun100°74°27%
  16. Mon97°74°19%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Alexandria

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Alexandria

SPC has placed Alexandria in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Alexandria

Alexandria sits in Alexandria County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 53m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 27m — a swing of +5h 27m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Virginia Beach, the state’s largest city, lies about 155 miles to the SSE. The nearest town Alexandria tracks is Arlington, roughly 4 miles to the N.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coastMay 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

Sunset retreats perceptibly — daylight shortening speeds up.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January
February
March
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November
December

A year in weather

July is Alexandria's warmest stretch (~79°F) and January its coldest (~34°F); precipitation crests in August at 4.2 inches and ebbs in October to 2.6 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January34°3.413
February37°2.812
March45°3.414
April56°3.616
May64°3.417
June73°3.817
July79°3.217
August78°4.218
September71°3.213
October60°2.611
November47°3.512
December38°3.813

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Alexandria sees 34°F Januarys and 79°F Julys, a 45°F range, plus around 41 inches of precipitation across 174 days.

No season owns Alexandria's rain: August reaches 4.2 inches across 18.0 days and October keeps 2.6 inches on 11.4, an even spread through Alexandria's year. That even rhythm groups Alexandria with places like Huntington, VA, Rose Hill, VA and Bailey's Crossroads, VA.

Alexandria's growing window opens around mid-April, once Alexandria's overnight lows stop freezing — sow peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Warm-soil crops in Alexandria wait about two weeks past Alexandria's last frost, once the soil warms. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Alexandria and tender plants need cover. In Alexandria, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Alexandria's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Huntington, VA, Rose Hill, VA, Bailey's Crossroads, VA, Belle Haven, VA, Lincolnia, VA.

Naturalist notes

Cherry trees along the Potomac begin their bloom cycle in late March to early April, marking spring's arrival.

American robins return from their southern wintering grounds in mid-March, their songs filling Alexandria's neighborhoods.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Alexandria?
Alexandria's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Alexandria the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Alexandria?
August is the wettest month in Alexandria, about 4.2 inches on average; the year totals roughly 41 inches.
What is the warmest month in Alexandria?
July is Alexandria's warmest month, averaging about 79°F.
What is the coldest month in Alexandria?
Alexandria bottoms out in January, with a mean near 34°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Alexandria?
Time tomatoes in Alexandria for two weeks after mid-April; peas and greens start at Alexandria's frost line.
How many rainy days does Alexandria get?
Expect roughly 174 wet days a year in Alexandria.
What hardiness zone is Alexandria?
Alexandria's USDA zone comes from its January mean (34°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Alexandria?
Alexandria's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Alexandria?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Alexandria in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Alexandria?
Current conditions for Alexandria and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Alexandria forecast updated?
The Alexandria forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Alexandria?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Alexandria are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Alexandria?
The next few days in Alexandria's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Alexandria's warm-summer humid continental climate in Virginia pairs 34°F Januarys with 79°F Julys, 45°F apart across the seasons.

Alexandria sees close to 41 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 174 wet days.

At 38.8°N, Alexandria's 45°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Alexandria's gardens wake and when frost returns.

ZIP codes in Alexandria

  • 22302
  • 22301
  • 22304
  • 22305
  • 22311
  • 22314
  • 20598
  • 22320
  • 22331
  • 22332
  • 22333
  • 22334

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.