Portsmouth, Virginia Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Portsmouth weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Clear——80°53°—
- ThursdayJun 4Overcast——84°57°+4°
- FridayJun 5Overcast——93°60°+9°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——92°67°-1°
- SundayJun 7Drizzle45%0.04″96°71°+4°
- MondayJun 8Drizzle41%0.04″74°62°-22°
- TuesdayJun 9Partly Cloudy11%—79°59°+5°
PM2.5 at 8.0 µg/m³ (AQI 44) with a 0.82 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 40 now. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 10 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 40
- UV peak
- 0.0 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 10
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 8.0 µg/m³ (AQI 44) with a 0.82 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.82
- Wind
- calm
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:23 AM
- Moonset
- 1:14 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Portsmouth at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 15°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 28 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, 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.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Portsmouth's warmest month is July, averaging about 83°F, and its coldest is January at about 44°F. Rainfall peaks in August at 5.8 inches and reaches its lowest point in February at 2.7 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 3.4″ | 11 |
| February | 46° | 2.7″ | 9 |
| March | 52° | 3.8″ | 13 |
| April | 62° | 3.5″ | 12 |
| May | 70° | 4.2″ | 14 |
| June | 78° | 4.6″ | 15 |
| July | 83° | 5.5″ | 18 |
| August | 80° | 5.8″ | 19 |
| September | 75° | 4.5″ | 15 |
| October | 65° | 4.1″ | 14 |
| November | 55° | 3.4″ | 11 |
| December | 47° | 3.3″ | 11 |
Regional context
Portsmouth sits within a humid subtropical climate region — a group of cities sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Virginia Beach, VA, Richmond, VA, Chesapeake, VA, Norfolk, VA, Roanoke, VA.
Naturalist notes
Eastern redbuds open their pink blooms along Portsmouth streets by mid-April, timed closely with the last spring frost.
Ospreys return to nest platforms near the Elizabeth River in late March, a reliable marker of the shift toward warmer water.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Portsmouth?
- Portsmouth's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Portsmouth?
- August is the wettest month with about 5.8 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 49 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Portsmouth?
- July is typically the warmest month, averaging about 83°F.
- What is the coldest month in Portsmouth?
- January is typically the coldest month, averaging about 44°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Portsmouth?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be sown around the last spring frost in mid-April; warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Portsmouth get?
- Portsmouth averages about 162 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Portsmouth?
- Portsmouth's USDA hardiness zone is set by its lowest average winter temperature. Check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Portsmouth, Virginia has a humid subtropical climate. January temperatures hover near 44°F while July averages 83°F — a 39°F swing between seasons.
The city receives about 49 inches of precipitation annually, falling across roughly 162 rainy days.
Latitude (36.8°N), nearby water, and low elevation set the rhythm of the year. These factors determine what can grow, when frost is likely, and the shape of daily weather.