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

Arlington, Virginia Weather

Honeysuckle sweetens the night. Day 90 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Arlington, VA
Tuesday, June 16 at 8:08 PM
77
°
Clear
Feels like
75°
Humidity
37%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
1:42 AM
Sunset
4:35 PM
Arlington, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastArlington, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 65 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 65°H 89°
Arlington, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jun 16
    Overcast
    79°58°
  2. Wednesday
    Jun 17
    Overcast
    10%
    89°65°+10°
  3. Thursday
    Jun 18
    Overcast
    37%
    95°73°+6°
  4. Friday
    Jun 19
    Overcast
    43%
    87°66°-8°
  5. Saturday
    Jun 20
    Overcast
    82°63°-5°
  6. Sunday
    Jun 21
    Overcast
    13%
    86°60°+4°
  7. Monday
    Jun 22
    Light Drizzle
    55%
    82°65°-4°
Arlington, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
195° · backing 92°
Direction
SSW
195°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
21
avg 5
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
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 · pk 21 @ 2:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 239SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 92° from the ssw.
Arlington, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
999.7
-0.3 mb in 3h · steady · 29.52 inHg
Now
999.7
mb
3h
-0.3
mb
12h
-4.5
mb
24h
-1.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 9991004
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1004.2999.4999.7
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Arlington, VA
Air quality
74
AQI
Moderate
+31 in 6h

AQI 74 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI up 31 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. PM2.5 at 13.1 µg/m³ (AQI 58) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

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

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
13.1μg/m³
PM 10Good
14μg/m³
NO₂Good
17μg/m³
OzoneModerate
89μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.1

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 42 now. With UV 0.1 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 7 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 42
UV peak
0.1 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 7

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 13.1 µg/m³ (AQI 58) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.92
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke
Arlington, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
107.4mi
UNLIMITED
143 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
00:08 UTC · Arlington, 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
00:08 UTC · Arlington, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Arlington, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Arlington, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Arlington, VA
Almanac · Tuesday, June 16
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
Civil dawn
5:11 AM
Sunrise
1:42 AM
Daylight
14h 53m
Sunset
4:35 PM
Civil dusk
9:08 PM
Planting note
Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.
Arlington, VA
The moon
Waxing Crescent
5% illuminated
Moonrise
8:09 AM
Moonset
10:40 PM
In sign
♋︎ Cancer
Arlington, VA
Microseason
Jun 16–20

Honeysuckle sweetens the night

plant
Jan 146% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Arlington at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 77°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: April 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jun 16–20
  • Planting window: Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.

16-Day Forecast — Arlington

  1. Tue79°58°3%
  2. Wed89°65°10%
  3. Thu95°73°37%
  4. Fri87°66°43%
  5. Sat82°63°1%
  6. Sun86°60°13%
  7. Mon82°65°55%
  8. Tue85°61°51%
  9. Wed87°60°11%
  10. Thu84°68°21%
  11. Fri94°66°24%
  12. Sat97°71°27%
  13. Sun94°70°39%
  14. Mon95°68°34%
  15. Tue99°71°35%
  16. Wed95°72°29%

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

Live wind & temperature near Arlington

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of June 17, 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 — Arlington

SPC has placed Arlington in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3SLGTSlight Risk

Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.

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.

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 · June 16–20

Honeysuckle sweetens the night

Japanese honeysuckle perfumes parks after dark.

Day 168 of 365 · Wedge 34 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

The year in Arlington tops out in July (~78°F) and dips lowest in January (~32°F), with August wettest at 4.2 inches and October driest at 2.6 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January32°3.313
February35°2.812
March44°3.415
April55°3.717
May63°3.518
June72°3.917
July78°3.217
August77°4.218
September70°3.414
October59°2.611
November46°3.612
December37°3.914

Regional context

Arlington swings from 32°F in January to 78°F in July (46°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Arlington runs about 41.5 inches on roughly 175 measurable days.

No season owns Arlington's rain: August reaches 4.2 inches across 17.8 days and October keeps 2.6 inches on 11.1, an even spread through Arlington's year. That even rhythm groups Arlington with places like Seven Corners, VA, Bailey's Crossroads, VA and Lake Barcroft, VA.

Arlington reaches its last hard frost near mid-April; that is the cue for peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Arlington's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Arlington's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. Frost returns to Arlington near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. A creek-bottom lot in Arlington can lag Arlington's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Seven Corners, VA, Bailey's Crossroads, VA, Lake Barcroft, VA, Falls Church, VA, Alexandria, VA.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the peak blooming period for tulip trees, their large yellow-green flowers appearing high in the canopy throughout Arlington's parks and neighborhoods.

Wood thrushes return from their winter grounds in early May, their flute-like songs echoing through wooded areas as they establish territories for the breeding season.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Arlington?
Frost typically leaves Arlington by mid-April and returns to Arlington near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Arlington?
August is the wettest month in Arlington, about 4.2 inches on average; the year totals roughly 42 inches.
What is the warmest month in Arlington?
On average July tops the year in Arlington at about 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Arlington?
The coldest stretch in Arlington falls in January, around 32°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Arlington?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in Arlington; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Arlington get?
Arlington records around 175 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Arlington?
Because Arlington bottoms near 32°F in January, that winter low sets Arlington's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Arlington?
Arlington'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 Arlington?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Arlington in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Arlington?
Current conditions for Arlington and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Arlington forecast updated?
The Arlington forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Arlington?
Day length in Arlington peaks around the June solstice — earliest sunrise and latest sunset — and is shortest near the December solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Arlington?
The next few days in Arlington's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Arlington, Virginia, the warm-summer humid continental climate runs from about 32°F in January to 78°F in July, a 46°F seasonal range.

Yearly precipitation in Arlington totals around 42 inches, spread over about 175 days of rain or snow.

Arlington's 46°F range, set by its 38.9°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Arlington.

ZIP codes in Arlington

  • 22209
  • 22203
  • 22202
  • 22201
  • 22207
  • 22206
  • 22205
  • 22204
  • 22214
  • 22211
  • 22213
  • 22210
  • 22212
  • 22215
  • 22216
  • 22217
  • 22219
  • 22225
  • 22226
  • 22227
  • 22230
  • 22240
  • 22241
  • 22242
  • 22243
  • 22244
  • 22245
  • 22246
  • 22350

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.