, with relatively cold winters and hot, muggy summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in the eastern United States, along the Elizabeth River, and overlooks the canal called Hampton Roads, beyond which lies the Virginia peninsula, while to the north-east we find the Chesapeake Bay, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. North of the city and overlooking the bay is a small peninsula called Willoughby Spit, where a long sandy shoreline begins, which continues into the coastal area called Ocean View.
of the coldest month (January) is of 5.7 °C (42 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 27.3 °C (81 °F).
amounts to 1,250 millimeters (49.2 inches) per year.
, from December to February, is quite cold, however, different situations arise. There are mild periods, in which subtropical air masses prevail, and the temperature can even exceed 20 °C (68 °F).
occurs every year, even though it snows less than in inland areas, and it takes several years to see a heavy snowfall. On average, 16 centimeters (6.2 inches) of snow fall per year.
, from June to August, is hot and muggy, with an often unpleasant combination of temperature and humidity, although fortunately the breeze blows from the sea. The sun often shines, although cloud coverings can form, which can produce thunderstorms.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). The record of the last decades is 40.5 °C (105 °F), recorded in July 2010.
or their remnants. Hurricane season runs from June to November, although the period in which they are most likely is from August to October.
Although the city is located near the coast, and therefore is in theory at risk, it is rarely hit directly because hurricanes typically pass further south. However, in September 2003, Hurricane Isabel hit Virginia directly, bringing torrential rains and storm surges that damaged the coast.
, from March to May and from September to November, the weather is variable. Spring is more unstable and rainier, while autumn is calmer.
At the end of May it can already be very hot, and in the first half of September there is often still summer-like heat.
temperature ranges between 9.5 °C (49 °F) and 26 °C (79 °F). The sea is warm enough for swimming from July to September, and it is all in all acceptable in June.
to visit Norfolk are spring and autumn, to avoid both the winter cold and the summer heat, and in particular, from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-September to mid-October. In April, it can sometimes get cold and the weather can be unstable, especially at the beginning of the month, while the second half of the month is generally mild.
In autumn (usually, around late October), you can admire the beautiful colors of the trees losing their leaves (the phenomenon called
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.6 °C, with a minimum of
0.9 °C and a maximum of
10.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15 °C in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
15.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.8 °C, with a minimum of
1.7 °C and a maximum of
11.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.8 °C in February 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
27.8 °C in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
15.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.4 °C, with a minimum of
5.2 °C and a maximum of
15.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8 °C in March 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
31.1 °C in March 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
16.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.6 °C, with a minimum of
10.1 °C and a maximum of
21.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in April 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
34 °C in April 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
17.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.1 °C, with a minimum of
15.1 °C and a maximum of
25.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
3.9 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
37.2 °C in May 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
15.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.8 °C, with a minimum of
20.1 °C and a maximum of
29.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.6 °C in June 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in June 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.3 °C, with a minimum of
22.7 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
13.9 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
40.6 °C in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
155 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.2 °C, with a minimum of
22 °C and a maximum of
30.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13.9 °C in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.9 °C in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
150 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.3 °C, with a minimum of
19.2 °C and a maximum of
27.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
9.4 °C in September 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
37.2 °C in September 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
135 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
12.8 °C and a maximum of
22.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in October 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
36.1 °C in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.9 °C and a maximum of
16.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in November 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
14.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.9 °C, with a minimum of
3.1 °C and a maximum of
12.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.4 °C in December 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
27.8 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
14.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.