Norfolk, Virginia Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Norfolk weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——81°56°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——94°60°+13°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——93°68°-1°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers47%0.04″95°71°+2°
- MondayJun 8Light Drizzle41%0.01″80°63°-15°
- TuesdayJun 9Mostly Clear11%—84°61°+4°
- WednesdayJun 10Mostly Clear21%—89°63°+5°
PM2.5 at 10.4 µg/m³ (AQI 53) with a 0.81 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 22 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.
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 30 now. With UV 3.3 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 13 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 30
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 13
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 10.4 µg/m³ (AQI 53) with a 0.81 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.81
- Wind
- light
- 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
- 1:13 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Norfolk at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 20°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
July brings Norfolk's peak heat with mean temperatures around 80°F, while January delivers the year's coldest conditions at roughly 41°F. Precipitation follows its own seasonal pattern, with August receiving the most rainfall at 6.6 inches and February recording the least at 3.1 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 3.6″ | 6 |
| February | 43° | 3.1″ | 6 |
| March | 49° | 4.0″ | 7 |
| April | 59° | 3.7″ | 7 |
| May | 67° | 4.1″ | 7 |
| June | 75° | 4.8″ | 8 |
| July | 80° | 5.7″ | 8 |
| August | 78° | 6.6″ | 8 |
| September | 72° | 6.2″ | 6 |
| October | 62° | 4.5″ | 6 |
| November | 51° | 3.5″ | 6 |
| December | 44° | 3.5″ | 6 |
Regional context
Norfolk belongs to the humid subtropical climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal weather patterns, and growing conditions with other nearby cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Virginia Beach, VA, Richmond, VA, Chesapeake, VA, Roanoke, VA, Newport News, VA.
Naturalist notes
Red maple flowers emerge in March, their crimson clusters appearing weeks before the leaves unfold.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds return to Norfolk gardens in late April, timing their arrival with the blooming of native honeysuckle.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Norfolk?
- Spring's final frost typically occurs around mid-April in Norfolk, while the season's first frost returns in mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Norfolk?
- August stands as the wettest month, delivering approximately 6.6 inches of rain on average, contributing to Norfolk's annual total of roughly 53 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Norfolk?
- July typically records the year's highest temperatures, with averages around 80°F.
- What is the coldest month in Norfolk?
- January brings Norfolk's coldest weather, with average temperatures near 41°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Norfolk?
- Cool-season vegetables like peas and lettuce can be planted around the time of the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait another 1–2 weeks after that date.
- How many rainy days does Norfolk get?
- Norfolk experiences approximately 80 rainy days each year.
- What hardiness zone is Norfolk?
- Norfolk's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperatures; the USDA's online lookup tool can provide the current zone designation using the city's ZIP code.
Climate
Norfolk, Virginia experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. Winter temperatures in January hover near 41°F, while July brings averages of 80°F — creating a 39°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals approximately 53 inches, distributed across roughly 80 rainy days throughout the year.
Geographic factors determine Norfolk's weather patterns: its latitude of 36.9°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation combine to influence plant growth cycles, frost timing, and daily weather conditions.