Richmond, Virginia Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 76 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Richmond weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Mostly Clear——82°50°—
- ThursdayJun 4Overcast——89°58°+7°
- FridayJun 5Overcast——93°60°+4°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——93°68°0°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers28%0.06″91°71°-2°
- MondayJun 8Light Drizzle28%—80°60°-11°
- TuesdayJun 9Mostly Clear15%—83°54°+3°
Ozone at AQI 70 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. AQI up 16 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Levels should ease through evening.
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 70 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 70
- UV peak
- 5.8 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 70
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 5.9 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.1 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.73
- 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).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 2:51 AM
- Moonset
- 12:15 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Richmond at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 4°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 1 (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 3, 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
July brings Richmond's warmest temperatures at roughly 79°F mean, while January delivers the coldest at around 38°F. Precipitation follows its own pattern, with August receiving the most rainfall at 4.9 inches and February seeing the least at 2.6 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 3.2″ | 6 |
| February | 41° | 2.6″ | 6 |
| March | 48° | 4.0″ | 7 |
| April | 58° | 3.2″ | 7 |
| May | 67° | 4.0″ | 7 |
| June | 75° | 4.6″ | 7 |
| July | 79° | 4.4″ | 8 |
| August | 78° | 4.9″ | 7 |
| September | 71° | 4.6″ | 6 |
| October | 60° | 3.4″ | 5 |
| November | 50° | 3.1″ | 5 |
| December | 42° | 3.5″ | 6 |
Regional context
Richmond falls within the humid subtropical climate region, sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other cities in this climatic zone.
Similar climates: Virginia Beach, VA, Chesapeake, VA, Norfolk, VA, Roanoke, VA, Newport News, 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?
- The last spring frost in Richmond typically occurs around mid-April, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Richmond?
- August records the highest rainfall with about 4.9 inches on average, contributing to Richmond's annual total of roughly 46 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Richmond?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, with temperatures averaging about 79°F.
- What is the coldest month in Richmond?
- January marks the coldest period, with temperatures averaging about 38°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Richmond?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Richmond get?
- Richmond experiences about 75 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Richmond?
- Richmond's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature. Check the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code for the current zone designation.
Climate
Richmond, Virginia experiences a humid subtropical climate. January temperatures typically hover near 38°F, while July averages reach 79°F, creating a 41°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 46 inches, distributed across roughly 75 rainy days throughout the year.
Weather patterns here depend on the city's latitude of 37.5°N, its proximity to large water bodies, and local elevation. These factors determine growing seasons, frost timing, and daily weather conditions.