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

Southern Gateway, Virginia Weather

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

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

Southern Gateway, VA
Sunday, July 5 at 7:30 AM
74
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
82°
Humidity
88%
Wind
1 mph
Sunrise
1:52 AM
Sunset
4:36 PM
Southern Gateway, VA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastSouthern Gateway, VA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 73 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit with a 61% chance of precipitation at 10 PM.
L 73°H 97°
Southern Gateway, VA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    61%
    —
    97°72°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Heavy Rain
    76%
    0.40″
    90°73°-7°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Drizzle
    69%
    0.01″
    79°70°-11°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Heavy Drizzle
    61%
    0.04″
    72°68°-7°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    33%
    —
    89°68°+17°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    38%
    —
    89°71°0°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    30%
    —
    87°69°-2°
Southern Gateway, VA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°65°85°105°6a12p6p12anow 73°high 97°low 73°PRECIP %
Southern Gateway, VA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NW
321° · steady
Direction
NW
321°
Sustained
1
mph
Gust
3
mph
Peak 24h
34
avg 5
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 5 · pk 34 @ 6:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 272SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Southern Gateway, VA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1004.3
+1.1 mb in 3h · rising · 29.66 inHg
Now
1004.3
mb
3h
+1.1
mb
12h
+1.3
mb
24h
-1.1
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1002–1006
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1005.71002.41004.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure climbing out of the rain band — clearing edging in.
Southern Gateway, VA
Air quality
48
AQI
Good
→-2 in 6h

AQI 48 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 10.3 µg/m³ (AQI 53) with a 0.97 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
10.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
11μg/m³
NO₂Good
6μg/m³
OzoneGood
51μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.3

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 10.3 µg/m³ (AQI 53) with a 0.97 fine-to-coarse ratio and 1 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.97
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
Southern Gateway, VA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
37%
MOSTLY CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
27.1mi
UNLIMITED
122 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
11:30 UTC · Southern Gateway, 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
11:30 UTC · Southern Gateway, VA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Southern Gateway, VA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Southern Gateway, VA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Southern Gateway, 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
1:52 AM
Daylight
14h 44m
Sunset
4:36 PM
Civil dusk
9:09 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Southern Gateway, VA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
73% illuminated
Moonrise
11:26 PM
Moonset
11:20 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Southern Gateway, VA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

fish
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Southern Gateway at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 74°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: April 6 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

15-Day Forecast — Southern Gateway

  1. Sun96°71°61%
  2. Mon90°73°76%
  3. Tue79°70°69%
  4. Wed72°68°61%
  5. Thu89°68°33%
  6. Fri89°71°38%
  7. Sat87°69°30%
  8. Sun84°69°24%
  9. Mon87°69°22%
  10. Tue81°65°13%
  11. Wed88°66°16%
  12. Thu96°68°25%
  13. Fri90°70°23%
  14. Sat89°69°29%
  15. Sun91°68°32%

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 — Southern Gateway

SPC has placed Southern Gateway in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYSLGTSlight Risk
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal 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

Southern Gateway peaks at about 78°F in July and bottoms near 36°F in January; July brings the heaviest rain (4.8 inches) and February the least (2.5 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January36°2.7″6
February38°2.5″5
March45°4.0″6
April56°3.4″6
May65°4.2″9
June74°3.9″8
July78°4.8″7
August76°3.0″7
September70°4.5″6
October58°3.7″6
November47°3.5″5
December39°3.2″6

Regional context

Southern Gateway swings from 36°F in January to 78°F in July (43°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Southern Gateway runs about 43.4 inches on roughly 76 measurable days.

Southern Gateway's precipitation spreads evenly: July peaks at 4.8 inches on 6.5 wet days, while February holds 2.5 inches over 4.9 — no month dominates Southern Gateway's rain calendar. It is a balanced pattern Southern Gateway shares with places like Falmouth, VA, Fredericksburg, VA and Stafford Courthouse, VA.

Once Southern Gateway 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 Southern Gateway, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. By mid-November, frost is back in Southern Gateway — protect or harvest anything tender. Southern Gateway's low ground holds frost later into spring than Southern Gateway's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Falmouth, VA, Fredericksburg, VA, Stafford Courthouse, VA, Aquia Harbour, VA, Passapatanzy, VA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Southern Gateway?
Southern Gateway's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Southern Gateway the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Southern Gateway?
Rainfall in Southern Gateway peaks in July near 4.8 inches, out of about 43 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Southern Gateway?
On average July tops the year in Southern Gateway at about 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Southern Gateway?
The coldest stretch in Southern Gateway falls in January, around 36°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Southern Gateway?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in Southern Gateway; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Southern Gateway get?
Southern Gateway averages about 76 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Southern Gateway?
Because Southern Gateway bottoms near 36°F in January, that winter low sets Southern Gateway's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Southern Gateway?
Southern Gateway'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 Southern Gateway?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Southern Gateway in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Southern Gateway?
Current conditions for Southern Gateway and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Southern Gateway forecast updated?
The Southern Gateway forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Southern Gateway?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Southern Gateway 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 Southern Gateway?
The next few days in Southern Gateway's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a warm-summer humid continental zone, Southern Gateway, Virginia swings from 36°F in the heart of winter to 78°F at midsummer — a 42°F arc.

In a typical year Southern Gateway records about 43 inches of precipitation on around 76 days.

Southern Gateway sits at 38.3°N; that 42°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Southern Gateway.

All cities in Virginia →

Fredericksburg, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Southern Gateway

  • 22406

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.