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

Salem, Virginia Weather

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

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

Salem, VA
Sunday, July 5 at 1:22 AM
71
°
Clear
Feels like
75°
Humidity
75%
Wind
1 mph
Sunrise
2:05 AM
Sunset
4:44 PM
Salem, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastSalem, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 67 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit with a 29% chance of precipitation at 5 PM.
L 67°H 96°
Salem, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Light Drizzle
    29%
    0.01″
    96°67°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Showers
    69%
    —
    96°71°0°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Heavy Drizzle
    67%
    0.01″
    86°70°-10°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Heavy Drizzle
    44%
    —
    89°67°+3°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    25%
    —
    97°66°+8°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    25%
    —
    96°71°-1°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Light Drizzle
    28%
    —
    80°70°-16°
Salem, VA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°60°83°105°12a6a12p6pnow 71°high 96°low 67°PRECIP %
Salem, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
248° · backing 67°
Direction
WSW
248°
Sustained
1
mph
Gust
1
mph
Peak 24h
27
avg 4
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
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 4 · pk 27 @ 5:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 286SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Salem, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
979.0
+0.1 mb in 3h · steady · 28.91 inHg
Now
979.0
mb
3h
+0.1
mb
12h
-2.5
mb
24h
-1.6
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 979–982
970975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW981.9978.5979.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Salem, VA
Air quality
44
AQI
Good
↓-17 in 6h

AQI 44 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 17 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 11.8 µg/m³ (AQI 56) with a 0.96 fine-to-coarse ratio and 1 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
11.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
12μg/m³
OzoneGood
38μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 11.8 µg/m³ (AQI 56) with a 0.96 fine-to-coarse ratio and 1 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.96
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
Salem, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
14%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
42.0mi
UNLIMITED
90 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
05:22 UTC · Salem, 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
05:22 UTC · Salem, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Salem, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Salem, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Salem, VA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:35 AM
Sunrise
2:05 AM
Daylight
14h 39m
Sunset
4:44 PM
Civil dusk
9:16 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Salem, VA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
75% illuminated
Moonrise
11:36 PM
Moonset
11:31 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Salem, VA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Salem at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 3°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 31 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 24153

15-Day Forecast — Salem

  1. Sun96°67°29%
  2. Mon96°71°69%
  3. Tue86°70°67%
  4. Wed89°67°44%
  5. Thu97°66°25%
  6. Fri96°71°25%
  7. Sat80°70°28%
  8. Sun84°67°23%
  9. Mon88°63°13%
  10. Tue93°62°12%
  11. Wed91°66°23%
  12. Thu95°68°32%
  13. Fri90°67°35%
  14. Sat96°68°35%
  15. Sun97°70°49%

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 — Salem

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

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

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

The year in Salem tops out in July (~78°F) and dips lowest in January (~38°F), with June wettest at 4.7 inches and February driest at 2.9 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January38°3.2″6
February41°2.9″5
March48°3.5″7
April58°3.5″6
May66°4.3″8
June74°4.7″7
July78°4.3″7
August76°3.4″6
September70°4.1″6
October59°3.0″5
November48°3.0″5
December41°3.1″6

Regional context

In Salem, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 38°F and July near 78°F — a 40°F seasonal arc — with about 42.8 inches of precipitation over 74 rainy or snowy days.

Salem's precipitation spreads evenly: June peaks at 4.7 inches on 7.3 wet days, while February holds 2.9 inches over 5.4 — no month dominates Salem's rain calendar. That even rhythm groups Salem with places like Glenvar, VA, Cave Spring, VA and Roanoke, VA.

Once Salem passes mid-April, overnight freezes fade and peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be sown. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Salem, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. Frost returns to Salem near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. Salem's low ground holds frost later into spring than Salem's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Glenvar, VA, Cave Spring, VA, Roanoke, VA, Hollins, VA, Lafayette, VA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Salem?
Frost typically leaves Salem by mid-April and returns to Salem near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Salem?
June is the wettest month in Salem, about 4.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 43 inches.
What is the warmest month in Salem?
Salem peaks in July, when the mean runs near 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Salem?
January is Salem's coldest month, averaging about 38°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Salem?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in Salem; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Salem get?
Expect roughly 74 wet days a year in Salem.
What hardiness zone is Salem?
With January around 38°F, Salem's zone reflects that minimum — the USDA ZIP map confirms Salem's band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Salem?
Salem'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 Salem?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Salem in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Salem?
Current conditions for Salem and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Salem forecast updated?
The Salem forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Salem?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Salem 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 Salem?
The next few days in Salem's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of Salem, Virginia carries typical Januarys near 38°F and Julys around 78°F — 40°F of seasonal travel.

In a typical year Salem records about 43 inches of precipitation on around 74 days.

Salem sits at 37.3°N; that 40°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Salem.

All cities in Virginia →

Roanoke, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Salem

  • 24153
  • 24155
  • 24157

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.