Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Difficult Run, Virginia Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Difficult Run weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Difficult Run, VA
Saturday, July 4 at 11:46 PM
75
°
Overcast
Feels like
81°
Humidity
85%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
1:49 AM
Sunset
4:38 PM
Difficult Run, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastDifficult Run, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 72 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit with a 49% chance of precipitation at 9 PM.
L 72°H 94°
Difficult Run, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Drizzle
    50%
    0.02″
    99°75°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    49%
    —
    94°72°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Showers
    85%
    0.33″
    90°74°-4°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Heavy Drizzle
    85%
    0.01″
    81°70°-9°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    43%
    0.02″
    77°68°-4°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    33%
    —
    95°68°+18°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    52%
    —
    97°74°+2°
Difficult Run, VA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°65°83°100°12a6a12p6pnow 75°high 94°low 72°PRECIP %
Difficult Run, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNW
328° · veering 83°
Direction
NNW
328°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
7
mph
Peak 24h
29
avg 6
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 6 · pk 29 @ 7:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 154SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Difficult Run, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1000.1
-0.9 mb in 3h · falling · 29.53 inHg
Now
1000.1
mb
3h
-0.9
mb
12h
-2.3
mb
24h
-2.3
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 998–1002
9909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1002.2997.9999.7
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Difficult Run, VA
Air quality
53
AQI
Moderate
↓-60 in 6h

AQI 53 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 60 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 15.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 15.8 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
15.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
16μg/m³
NO₂Good
20μg/m³
OzoneModerate
61μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 15.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 15.8 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.97
Wind
light
Recent rain
1h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³400
Difficult Run, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
32.0mi
UNLIMITED
95 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
03:46 UTC · Difficult Run, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
03:46 UTC · Difficult Run, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Difficult Run, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Difficult Run, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Difficult Run, VA
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:18 AM
Sunrise
1:49 AM
Daylight
14h 49m
Sunset
4:38 PM
Civil dusk
9:11 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Difficult Run, VA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
76% illuminated
Moonrise
11:26 PM
Moonset
11:19 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Difficult Run, VA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

fish
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Difficult Run at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 75°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: April 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — Difficult Run

  1. Sat99°75°50%
  2. Sun94°72°49%
  3. Mon90°74°85%
  4. Tue81°70°85%
  5. Wed77°68°43%
  6. Thu95°68°33%
  7. Fri97°74°52%
  8. Sat83°69°34%
  9. Sun80°66°19%
  10. Mon86°61°19%
  11. Tue92°65°11%
  12. Wed90°68°23%
  13. Thu90°66°29%
  14. Fri91°71°27%
  15. Sat91°71°30%
  16. Sun87°69°36%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Difficult Run

SPC has placed Difficult Run in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWSLGTSlight Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Difficult Run's warmest month is July (~75°F mean) and its coldest is January (~33°F). Rainfall peaks in May (4.3 inches) and bottoms out in February (2.6 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January33°3.3″7
February35°2.6″6
March42°3.8″7
April53°3.4″7
May62°4.3″8
June70°4.1″8
July75°4.3″6
August74°3.5″6
September67°4.2″6
October55°3.5″5
November45°3.1″5
December37°3.4″7

Regional context

Difficult Run's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 33°F Januarys with 75°F Julys — a 42°F swing. About 43.6 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 77 days a year.

No season owns Difficult Run's rain: May reaches 4.3 inches across 8.3 days and February keeps 2.6 inches on 5.5, an even spread through Difficult Run's year. It is a balanced pattern Difficult Run shares with places like Navy, VA, Fair Oaks, VA and Oakton, VA.

The cool-season window in Difficult Run starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Warm-soil crops in Difficult Run wait about two weeks past Difficult Run's last frost, once the soil warms. Around mid-November, freezing nights resume in Difficult Run and tender crops must come in. Within Difficult Run, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Difficult Run's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Navy, VA, Fair Oaks, VA, Oakton, VA, Franklin Farm, VA, Reston, VA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Difficult Run?
Difficult Run's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Difficult Run the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Difficult Run?
Rainfall in Difficult Run peaks in May near 4.3 inches, out of about 44 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Difficult Run?
The warmest stretch in Difficult Run comes in July, around 75°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Difficult Run?
On average January is the chilliest month in Difficult Run, about 33°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Difficult Run?
Difficult Run's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Difficult Run, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Difficult Run get?
Difficult Run averages about 77 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Difficult Run?
Difficult Run sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 33°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Difficult Run?
Difficult Run's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Difficult Run?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Difficult Run in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Difficult Run?
Current conditions for Difficult Run and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Difficult Run forecast updated?
The Difficult Run forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Difficult Run?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Difficult Run are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Difficult Run?
The next few days in Difficult Run's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Difficult Run, Virginia occupies a warm-summer humid continental zone, with January means near 33°F and July around 75°F — a 42°F swing.

Yearly precipitation in Difficult Run totals around 44 inches, spread over about 77 days of rain or snow.

Latitude 38.9°N gives Difficult Run its 42°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Difficult Run's growing season.

All cities in Virginia →

Reston, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Difficult Run

  • 20171
  • 22124
  • 22181

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.