Virginia Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of southeastern Virginia, features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are long, hot, and humid, while winters are mild and brief with little snow. The city enjoys abundant sunshine, moderate rainfall year-round, and refreshing ocean breezes, making it a popular destination for beachgoers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Virginia Beach’s climate is defined by its coastal location and humid subtropical (Cfa) classification. Summers (late May to late September) are long, hot, and humid, with average highs of 29–32°C (85–90°F) in July and August. Humidity can make the heat feel more intense, but ocean breezes and frequent, brief afternoon thunderstorms provide relief. Water temperatures peak at 23–24°C (73–76°F), perfect for swimming and water sports. The wettest period is summer, especially July and August, each averaging over 130 mm of rain, with August being the single wettest month. Despite the rain, sunshine is abundant, and the city averages over 2,200 hours of sun annually.
Winters (December–February) are mild and short, with average highs of 9–12°C (48–54°F) and lows of 1–4°C (32–39°F). Snowfall is light, averaging 5–8 inches (130–150 mm) per year, and typically melts quickly. Rain is more consistent than snow, with monthly precipitation between 60–80 mm. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, featuring comfortable temperatures (16–26°C), moderate humidity, and fewer crowds. These seasons offer vibrant foliage, blooming gardens, and a lively calendar of festivals. Winds are generally moderate (15–20 km/h), with stronger breezes during coastal storms or nor’easters. Daylight ranges from about 9 hours in winter to over 15 hours in midsummer.
Virginia Beach’s climate supports a long beach season, lush parks, and a vibrant outdoor lifestyle. While hurricanes and tropical storms are possible from June to November, direct impacts are rare. The city’s weather is reliably warm and sunny from late spring through early autumn, with only brief interruptions from rain or storms.
| Average climate data for Virginia Beach, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 8 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 40 | 44 | 39 | 31 | 19 | 30 | 362 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 7 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 135 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 75 | 77 | 76 | 78 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 77 | 75 | 74 | 78 | 76 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 11 | 16 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 40 | 42 | 45 | 37 | 35 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 33 | 32 | 37 | 42 | 35 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Virginia Beach is from late May to mid-June and late August to early October, when temperatures are warm, humidity is moderate, and rainfall is lower. These periods offer ideal conditions for beach outings, festivals, and outdoor activities, with fewer crowds and comfortable weather.
The least favourable time to visit is during the peak of summer (July–August), when heat, humidity, and frequent thunderstorms can make outdoor activities less comfortable. Hurricane season (June–November) also brings the risk of storms, though direct impacts are rare. Winter is mild but less suitable for beach activities.
Virginia Beach has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers, mild winters, and moderate rainfall all year. The city enjoys over 2,200 hours of sunshine annually and a long beach season from late spring to early autumn.
The best beach weather is from late May to mid-June and late August to early October, when temperatures are warm, crowds are smaller, and rainfall is moderate. Water temperatures are ideal for swimming during these periods.
Snow is rare and light in Virginia Beach, averaging 5–8 inches (130–150 mm) per year. Most winter precipitation is rain, and any snow that falls usually melts quickly due to mild temperatures.
Summer highs average 29–32°C (85–90°F), with high humidity making it feel hotter. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent, but ocean breezes help moderate the heat, especially along the shoreline.
Virginia Beach receives about 1,200–1,300 mm (47–51 inches) of rain annually, with the wettest months being July and August. Rainfall is well-distributed through the year, but summer storms can be brief and intense.
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer, and layers for spring or autumn. Bring a rain jacket for summer storms and a jumper or jacket for cool evenings, especially in winter.
Virginia Beach is in the Atlantic hurricane zone, with hurricane season from June to November. Direct hits are rare, but travellers should check forecasts and consider travel insurance if visiting during late summer or autumn.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (28.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (7.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (23.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (2.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 13.4 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (26.8 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (5.5 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 15.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (43.6 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is November (19.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 361.7 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (15.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (7.4 days). Over the whole year there are 135 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (7 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 12 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (1.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, September, October and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 4.2 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is May (78.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is November (73.6 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 76 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (19.3 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (13.7 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 17.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is March (44.7 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (25.1 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 35.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 10.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 4.9 h). Over the whole year there are 7.5 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 7). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.6.
