Virginia Weather

Virginia climate

Virginia's climate transitions from humid subtropical in the east to continental in the western mountains, with the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley creating distinct climate zones. Richmond, in the central Piedmont, has hot, humid summers and cool winters with occasional snow. The Tidewater region along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast is moderated by water, with milder winters and slightly cooler summers.

Virginia is vulnerable to a wide range of weather hazards, including tropical systems that move up the coast, severe thunderstorms in the Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley, and winter storms that can produce heavy snow in the mountains and ice in the valleys. Hurricane Camille in 1969 caused catastrophic flooding in Nelson County after dropping 27 inches of rain in just 8 hours on the Blue Ridge, killing 153 people.

The western mountains receive heavy snowfall, with some areas averaging 60 to 80 inches per season, while coastal Virginia Beach sees less than 10 inches. Spring and fall are generally pleasant and are considered the most agreeable seasons across most of the state. The Shenandoah Valley is known for temperature inversions that can trap cold air during winter nights, producing frost even when surrounding areas stay above freezing.