Virginia Beach has a humid subtropical climate with all four seasons and abundant rainfall. Summers are hot and winters are chilly but never extreme. The city sits in the southeast corner of Virginia, a state on the east coast of the US, at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay which leads into the Atlantic Ocean. Its location puts it at risk of hurricanes; hurricane season lasts from June till November, though there is a much greater risk in the peak months between August and October.
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The cityâs low-lying, coastal location means its temperatures are moderated throughout the year by the sea and its north-easterly winds, and that weather conditions are changeable from moment to moment.
Summer, from June till September, is baking hot with plenty of sunshine but is also prone to heavy storms. Brilliant summer weather is what Virginia Beach is known for and when most people choose to visit. The average high temperature reaches 28°C in June and climbs to aorund 30°C for July and August before cooling to 26°C in September. The heat can sometimes spike into the mid 30s. Luckily, you can always take a dip in the refreshing Atalantic. Night time can be pretty hot and sticky too with the average low temperature hovering around 20°C for the entire season and humidity climbing high. It rains on around ten days each month, usually in heavy downpours. Rainfall peaks in July. Storms and grey skies rarely linger for long so sunshine levels are fantastic at an average of nine hours per day in June and July, and eight hours per day in August and September. Storms worsen as the season progresses and the peak of hurricane season is approached. The city has been known to be effected by severe flooding.
Autumn, In October and November, is the tail end of the hurricane season but is generally mild and bright. The average high temperature drops to a pleasant 21°C in October and down to 17°C in November. Nights require an extra layer or so with average lows getting down to 12°C in October and 7°C in November. Rainfall lessens and sunshine levels do not diminish dramatically.
Winter, from December till January, is cool in the day and cold at night. Average highs sit around 10°C and average lows close to freezing. Donât get caught without a coat! Precipitation remains steady, between 80mm and 100mm per month, and very infrequently falls as snow. The sun doesnât hide away too much so December sees around five hours per day and January and February see six.
Spring, from March till May, rapidly heats up and sees a return of the summer sun. The average high temperature climbs to 14°C in March, 19°C in April and 24°C in May. If you want to avoid the heat of high summer then late spring is a good time to go â" it still gets hot but is rarely extreme and youâll get in before the start of hurricane season. Night times remain chilly for the start of the season but the average low temperature creeps above 10°C at the end of April and up to 14°C in March. The sea warms up enough for swimming later in the season. Rainfall levels stay the same.