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

Richmond, Virginia Weather

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Richmond, VA
Sunday, August 2 at 10:58 AM
84
°
Partly Cloudy
Feels like
90°
Humidity
73%
Wind
10 mph
Sunrise
2:15 AM
Sunset
4:17 PM
Richmond, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastRichmond, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a 37% chance of precipitation at 7 PM.
L 76°H 90°
Richmond, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Showers
    37%
    0.25″
    90°72°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Drizzle
    38%
    0.04″
    92°76°+2°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Thunderstorm
    52%
    0.17″
    84°74°-8°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Drizzle
    47%
    0.02″
    86°72°+2°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Overcast
    20%
    —
    93°73°+7°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Drizzle
    26%
    0.02″
    99°75°+6°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Heavy Drizzle
    32%
    —
    99°73°0°
Richmond, VA
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°72°83°94°12p6p12a6anow 81°high 90°low 76°PRECIP %
Richmond, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSE
159° · backing 21°
Direction
SSE
159°
Sustained
10
mph
Gust
17
mph
Peak 24h
23
avg 5 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 5 mph · pk 23 mph @ 11:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 278SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 21° from the sse.
Richmond, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1009.3
+0.2 mb in 3h · steady · 29.80 inHg
Now
1009.3
mb
3h
+0.2
mb
12h
-0.6
mb
24h
-2.7
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1009–1012
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1012.31009.21009.6
Damp, unsettled regime — wet weather lingers nearby.
Richmond, VA
Air quality
48
AQI
Good
→-2 in 6h

AQI 48 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.9 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
7.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
9μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneModerate
80μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.3

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 38. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~87%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 38
UV peak
4.7 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 12

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.3 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.9 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.82
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³400
Richmond, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
59%
PARTLY CLOUDY
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
45.1mi
UNLIMITED
63 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
14:58 UTC · Richmond, 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
14:58 UTC · Richmond, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Richmond, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Richmond, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Richmond, VA
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:47 AM
Sunrise
2:15 AM
Daylight
14h 02m
Sunset
4:17 PM
Civil dusk
8:47 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Richmond, VA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:52 PM
Moonset
10:12 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Richmond, VA
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Richmond at a glance

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

ZIP codes: 23173, 23219, 23220, 23221, 23222, 23223, 23224, 23225 +10 more

16-Day Forecast — Richmond

  1. Sun90°72°37%
  2. Mon92°76°38%
  3. Tue84°74°52%
  4. Wed86°72°47%
  5. Thu93°73°20%
  6. Fri99°75°26%
  7. Sat99°73°32%
  8. Sun96°75°32%
  9. Mon95°75°19%
  10. Tue96°75°23%
  11. Wed91°73°17%
  12. Thu98°75°37%
  13. Fri98°73°48%
  14. Sat99°80°40%
  15. Sun100°75°42%
  16. Mon99°74°26%

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

Live wind & temperature near Richmond

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 — Richmond

SPC has placed Richmond 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 Richmond

Richmond sits in Richmond County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 45m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 34m — a swing of +5h 11m 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 96 miles to the SE. The nearest town Richmond tracks is Urbanna, roughly 50 miles to the E.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its 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 coast✨May 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

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

Sunset slides back toward 8 PM; darkness creeps in, signaling summer's decline though heat persists.

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
August—tomatoes, 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

Richmond's warmest month is July (~79°F mean) and its coldest is January (~36°F). Rainfall peaks in August (4.8 inches) and bottoms out in October (2.6 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January36°3.7″13
February40°3.0″12
March48°3.7″14
April58°3.6″15
May66°3.3″16
June74°3.9″17
July79°3.9″19
August78°4.8″20
September72°3.7″15
October61°2.6″11
November49°3.6″12
December40°3.9″13

Regional context

Richmond swings from 36°F in January to 79°F in July (43°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Richmond runs about 43.5 inches on roughly 177 measurable days.

Rainfall in Richmond stays even across the calendar: August tops out at 4.8 inches over 19.8 rainy days, and October still logs 2.6 inches across 10.7 — a narrow range for Richmond. It is a balanced pattern Richmond shares with places like Manchester, VA, Bon Air, VA and Montrose, VA.

Around mid-April, Richmond sheds its freezing nights — peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes go into Richmond's beds. Richmond's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Richmond's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. By mid-November, frost is back in Richmond — protect or harvest anything tender. Richmond's low ground holds frost later into spring than Richmond's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Manchester, VA, Bon Air, VA, Montrose, VA, Lakeside, VA, East Highland Park, VA.

Naturalist notes

Dogwood trees begin their spectacular white bloom across Richmond in late April, marking the transition from spring's uncertain weather to more settled conditions.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds return to local gardens in early May, their arrival coinciding with the opening of native honeysuckle flowers.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Richmond?
In Richmond, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Richmond's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Richmond?
Richmond sees its heaviest rain in August (around 4.8 inches), part of roughly 43 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Richmond?
Richmond peaks in July, when the mean runs near 79°F.
What is the coldest month in Richmond?
January is Richmond's coldest month, averaging about 36°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Richmond?
In Richmond, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Richmond's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Richmond get?
Richmond records around 177 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Richmond?
Since January in Richmond averages 36°F, Richmond's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Richmond?
Richmond'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 Richmond?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Richmond in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Richmond?
Current conditions for Richmond and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Richmond forecast updated?
The Richmond forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Richmond?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Richmond 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 Richmond?
The next few days in Richmond's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of Richmond, Virginia carries typical Januarys near 36°F and Julys around 79°F — 43°F of seasonal travel.

In a typical year Richmond records about 43 inches of precipitation on around 177 days.

Richmond sits at 37.5°N; that 43°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Richmond.

All cities in Virginia →

Virginia Beach, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Richmond

  • 23222
  • 23223
  • 23298
  • 23284
  • 23220
  • 23221
  • 23226
  • 23227
  • 23224
  • 23225
  • 23230
  • 23235
  • 23234
  • 23219
  • 23173
  • 23218
  • 23232
  • 23249
  • 23260
  • 23261
  • 23269
  • 23274
  • 23276
  • 23278
  • 23282
  • 23285
  • 23286
  • 23289
  • 23290
  • 23291
  • 23292
  • 23295

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.