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

Norfolk, Virginia Weather

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

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

Norfolk, VA
Sunday, July 5 at 1:29 AM
79
°
Overcast
Feels like
86°
Humidity
76%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
1:51 AM
Sunset
4:27 PM
Norfolk, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastNorfolk, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 75 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 75°H 99°
Norfolk, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    99°75°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Showers
    71%
    0.18″
    96°73°-3°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    72%
    2.8″
    96°74°0°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Drizzle
    56%
    —
    80°74°-16°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Mostly Clear
    25%
    —
    94°70°+14°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    24%
    —
    101°77°+7°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    51%
    —
    88°76°-13°
Norfolk, VA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°70°88°105°12a6a12p6pnow 80°high 99°low 75°
Norfolk, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
ENE
074° · backing 136°
Direction
ENE
074°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
21
avg 7
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 7 · pk 21 @ 6:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 249SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 136° from the ene.
Norfolk, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1014.3
+1.5 mb in 3h · rising · 29.95 inHg
Now
1014.3
mb
3h
+1.5
mb
12h
-0.1
mb
24h
-0.8
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1012–1015
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1015.31012.21014.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure climbing through the change line — drier air pushing in.
Norfolk, VA
Air quality
59
AQI
Moderate
↓-52 in 6h

AQI 59 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 52 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 8.8 µg/m³ (AQI 49) with a 0.86 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

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

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
5μg/m³
OzoneGood
57μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.8 µg/m³ (AQI 49) with a 0.86 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.86
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

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/m³300
Norfolk, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
96%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
38.3mi
UNLIMITED
89 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
05:29 UTC · Norfolk, 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
05:29 UTC · Norfolk, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Norfolk, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Norfolk, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Norfolk, VA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:21 AM
Sunrise
1:51 AM
Daylight
14h 36m
Sunset
4:27 PM
Civil dusk
8:59 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Norfolk, VA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
75% illuminated
Moonrise
11:20 PM
Moonset
11:15 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Norfolk, VA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Norfolk at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 4°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 28 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 23502, 23503, 23504, 23505, 23507, 23508, 23509, 23510 +6 more

15-Day Forecast — Norfolk

  1. Sun99°75°1%
  2. Mon96°73°71%
  3. Tue96°74°72%
  4. Wed80°74°56%
  5. Thu94°70°25%
  6. Fri101°77°24%
  7. Sat88°76°51%
  8. Sun82°72°31%
  9. Mon83°73°21%
  10. Tue86°68°15%
  11. Wed96°69°25%
  12. Thu88°70°24%
  13. Fri91°70°29%
  14. Sat94°72°35%
  15. Sun97°70°49%

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

Live wind & temperature near Norfolk

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 — Norfolk

SPC has placed Norfolk in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

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: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its 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 scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

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

Norfolk's warmest month is July (~80°F mean) and its coldest is January (~41°F). Rainfall peaks in August (6.6 inches) and bottoms out in February (3.1 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January41°3.6″6
February43°3.1″6
March49°4.0″7
April59°3.7″7
May67°4.1″7
June75°4.8″8
July80°5.7″8
August78°6.6″8
September72°6.2″6
October62°4.5″6
November51°3.5″6
December44°3.5″6

Regional context

Norfolk's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 41°F Januarys with 80°F Julys — a 39°F swing. About 53.3 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 80 days a year.

Precipitation in Norfolk runs summer-dominant: August averages 6.6 inches across 7.7 days of warm-season storms, while February drops to 3.1 inches over 6.2 rainy days of drier cool air. That puts Norfolk in a summer-convective cohort with places like Portsmouth, VA, Hampton, VA and Carrollton, VA.

The cool-season window in Norfolk starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. In Norfolk, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Norfolk's frost date. Norfolk's window closes around mid-November as overnight lows return below freezing. Within Norfolk, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Norfolk's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Portsmouth, VA, Hampton, VA, Carrollton, VA, Chesapeake, VA, Virginia Beach, VA.

Naturalist notes

Red maple flowers emerge in March, their crimson clusters appearing weeks before the leaves unfold.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds return to Norfolk gardens in late April, timing their arrival with the blooming of native honeysuckle.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Norfolk?
Frost typically leaves Norfolk by mid-April and returns to Norfolk near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Norfolk?
Norfolk sees its heaviest rain in August (around 6.6 inches), part of roughly 53 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Norfolk?
July is Norfolk's warmest month, averaging about 80°F.
What is the coldest month in Norfolk?
Norfolk bottoms out in January, with a mean near 41°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Norfolk?
Time tomatoes in Norfolk for two weeks after mid-April; peas and greens start at Norfolk's frost line.
How many rainy days does Norfolk get?
Expect roughly 80 wet days a year in Norfolk.
What hardiness zone is Norfolk?
Norfolk's USDA zone comes from its January mean (41°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Norfolk?
Norfolk'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 Norfolk?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Norfolk in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Norfolk?
Current conditions for Norfolk and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Norfolk forecast updated?
The Norfolk forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Norfolk?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Norfolk 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 Norfolk?
The next few days in Norfolk's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Norfolk, Virginia has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 41°F, July about 80°F, 39°F between them.

Norfolk sees close to 53 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 80 wet days.

Latitude 36.9°N gives Norfolk its 39°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Norfolk's growing season.

All cities in Virginia →

Virginia Beach, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Norfolk

  • 23509
  • 23508
  • 23507
  • 23504
  • 23503
  • 23502
  • 23505
  • 23518
  • 23510
  • 23511
  • 23513
  • 23517
  • 23551
  • 23523
  • 23501
  • 23506
  • 23514
  • 23515
  • 23519
  • 23529
  • 23541

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.