Norfolk, VA Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Norfolk
Norfolk is a humid subtropical city - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. July is the warmest month at 87°F (31°C) and January the coolest at 50°F (10°C), over 49.3 inches (1253 mm) of precipitation a year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 87°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 50°F (10°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (37°C) high · 3°F (-16°C) low
- Wettest month: September (11 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.0 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 21°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 3 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 74%
Temperatures through the year
July is the brightest month at 12.0 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.2. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 87°F (31°C) by day and 73°F (23°C) overnight. January sits at the other end of the year: 50°F (10°C) by day, 35°F (2°C) at night. Snow falls on roughly 3 days a year, mostly January through February.
Rain, sun and snow
Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is September through October. September is the wettest month at 5.7 inches (144 mm) over 11 days; November is the driest. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 98°F (37°C) and bottoms at 3°F (-16°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Norfolk compares
- Norfolk sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 61°F (16°C) as an annual average, 49.3 inches (1253 mm) of precipitation and 9.2 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 35° | 11 | 4.1 in | 6.7 h/day | 9.9 h | 35% | 71% |
| February | 54° | 38° | 11 | 3.6 in | 7.2 h/day | 10.8 h | 38% | 71% |
| March | 60° | 43° | 10 | 3.8 in | 8.5 h/day | 11.9 h | 32% | 68% |
| April | 68° | 51° | 9 | 3.5 in | 10.1 h/day | 13.1 h | 31% | 68% |
| May | 75° | 60° | 12 | 4.2 in | 10.6 h/day | 14.1 h | 39% | 74% |
| June | 83° | 68° | 12 | 4.2 in | 11.9 h/day | 14.7 h | 40% | 74% |
| July | 87° | 73° | 16 | 5.3 in | 12.0 h/day | 14.4 h | 51% | 76% |
| August | 85° | 72° | 14 | 4.6 in | 10.9 h/day | 13.6 h | 44% | 78% |
| September | 80° | 68° | 11 | 5.7 in | 9.5 h/day | 12.4 h | 37% | 78% |
| October | 71° | 58° | 8 | 3.5 in | 8.6 h/day | 11.2 h | 25% | 76% |
| November | 61° | 47° | 8 | 3.1 in | 7.7 h/day | 10.1 h | 27% | 73% |
| December | 54° | 41° | 9 | 3.8 in | 6.7 h/day | 9.6 h | 30% | 75% |
Norfolk month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Norfolk's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 6.7 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
- Snow
- 2 days
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 7.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
March
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 10.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
June
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.7 h
July
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 12.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 13.6 h
September
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.1 h
December
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.7 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Norfolk
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Norfolk stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 68°F (20°C) and nights around 51°F (11°C); rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Norfolk brings hot afternoons: 85°F (30°C) by day, 71°F (22°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 41 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.6 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is pleasantly warm here - highs near 71°F (22°C), nights near 58°F (14°C), and expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter runs cold here - highs near 53°F (12°C), nights near 38°F (3°C), and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days, plus about 3 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
What should I pack for Norfolk?
Is Norfolk humid?
How many rainy days does Norfolk get in a year?
How much sun does Norfolk get?
Best time to visit Norfolk
September to November and March to April is the sweet spot for Norfolk - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 70°F (21°C) in the afternoon and around 10 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in September.
Pack for Norfolk with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 73°F (23°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Norfolk temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.