What is the Weather like during the Month of August in Hampton Roads?

The month of August is a very warm and humid month in Hampton Roads, with very few breaks from the humidity. One reason for the high humidity is the temperature of coastal waters. Water temperatures are usually at their highest in August and this causes more evaporation into the atmosphere. A wind off the water isn’t as refreshing in August as it is in June or early July, but it still can give some relief from an intense heat wave. Thunderstorms are quite common during August, especially during the first half of the month. As the length of daylight decreases and the sun’s intensity lessens slowly over the course of the month, the average temperature begins its decline which continues as we head towards winter. However, August can be (and usually is) a brutally uncomfortable month. Hurricane season begins to ramp up in earnest as the Cape Verde storms usually make their appearance this month. These are the long tracked tropical cyclones that develop way out in the central or eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Home grown storms are also possible during August as the water temperature off the Southeast Coast is warm enough for warm core storm development. August is the second wettest month on average for Hampton Roads. (July is the wettest month on average). This is primarily due to the heavy rainfall produced by thunderstorms and is partly due to tropical cyclones and their remnants that move through Hampton Roads in August. August is a great time to hit the beaches as the water temperatures are normally great for swimming. Of course, jelly fish can be prevalent this month due to the warm water temperatures.

What is the Weather like during the Month of July in Hampton Roads?

July is the warmest month of the year and believe it or not, it is on average, the wettest month of the year. Although the summer solstice has passed and the days begin to get shorter in July, the daylight hours are very long and the intensity of the sunlight remains very high throughout the month. Humidity levels are normally moderate to high which leads to those hot and steamy days. On occasion, cooler and less humid air masses make it to Hampton Roads bringing relief from the heat and humidity, but these “polar invasions” are a rarity. Thunderstorms are very common in July due to the heat and humidity, mostly occurring during the late afternoon and evening. This is why July is the wettest month of the year on average. Thunderstorms can dump a lot of rain in a short period of time. As the water temperature warms, sea breezes become less effective in bringing relief. Also, since the water temperature is nearing its warmest point, a breeze off of the water can bring in more humidity. Tropical cyclone season in the Atlantic is slowly on the increase during this month, but most days are quiet with just a few exceptions. In the past, Hampton Roads has been affected by tropical cyclones during July, but most are just heavy rain makers. August is when things ramp up quickly and the potential threat from the tropics builds. July is probably the best month to spend your beach vacation in Virginia Beach since the weather is normally warm enough for swimming and the water temperature is normally warm enough for most of us to enjoy the surf.

What is the Weather Like During the Month of June in Hampton Roads?

June begins the three month period known as “Meteorological Summer” which ends on August 31st. Since the summer solstice occurs in June, the sun is obviously at its strongest point of the year. This combined with the length of daylight can make for some very warm days. June 1st also marks the beginning of hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin. Heat, high humidity levels, and thunderstorms become common in June but every so often we get a break for a few days. Cold fronts sometimes get hung up across the region or just south of here. The reason is that the Bermuda High is normally very strong during June which basically blocks the approach of these cooler and drier air masses. Upper-level winds play a role in the stalling frontal systems. But, as I said earlier, every so often we do get relief from the heat and humidity when these air masses make it down into our part of the world. Although June is the first month of hurricane season, tropical cyclones are quite rare during this month. However, on very rare occasions, a tropical cyclone (or its remnants) does affect Hampton Roads. The normal position of the jet stream is now well to the north so low pressure systems usually pass well to the north. Every so often the jet stream does take an unusual dip down into our region bringing with it some storminess. Overall, June is a great time of year to plan your summer vacation here in Hampton Roads.

What is the Weather Like During the Month of May in Hampton Roads?

The weather in the month of May in Hampton Roads varies from year to year as with any other month. The weather can be very changeable with wide swings in temperatures. The sun is very strong in May and with the lengthening daylight hours; temperatures can be quite warm (or even hot) at times. Back door cold fronts can be a common phenomenon in May bringing a sudden drop in temperatures as the wind shifts to the NE coming off the cooler ocean water. Sometimes low clouds accompany the wind shift along with some coastal fog. Thunderstorms sometimes pop up during this month, especially when frontal systems and low pressure troughs move through the Mid-Atlantic Region. Humidity levels on average slowly climb during May bringing some rather uncomfortable days. However, long term heat waves are still rare and a breeze is usually blowing to counter the heat and humidity. With the ocean water temperature still on the cool side, sea breezes can be very refreshing in May. May can, and usually does, have some of the top ten best weather days of the year for our area. On the other hand, there can be some cloudy, gloomy and even rainy days in May. All day rain events are rare in May but they do occur on occasion. All in all, May is a very good month for many outdoor activities. With some of the flowers and trees reaching full bloom, May is a very scenic month.

What is the Weather Like During the Month of April in Hampton Roads?

The weather during the month of April can be just as changeable as March, but the cold doesn’t last as long, nor is it as intense as it was in March. The cold air masses moderate as they move south and east due to the increasingly strong April sun. Also, the weather patterns change which don’t bring as many arctic or polar air masses into the U.S. The average position of the jet stream is a little farther north in April than it was in March. April can begin quite chilly and winds tend to be strong during this month due to the same reasons that March is windy. (The strong sun destabilizes the atmosphere bringing the strong winds aloft down to the surface and the strong pressure systems that move across the country). With the warmer temperatures and increased humidity levels, thunderstorms make their return in April. However, thunderstorms are not anywhere near as frequent as they are in the summer. Tornado season increases in earnest during April across the Mid-West and South and every so often, severe weather occurs in Hampton Roads. Back door cold fronts become more frequent in April. These are the fronts that come down from the north and northeast turning our winds into the northeast cooling us down big time. Remember, the ocean and bays are still very chilly so when the wind shifts from off of the water, temperatures can drop quite a bit in a very short amount of time. April is usually the first month when you will hear the weathermen say that it will be cooler along the coast on certain days. Coastal fog is also more common in April due to the cool water temperatures. The fire season usually peaks in April as humidity levels can still be quite low at times and if the rainfall has been below normal, the threat of brush/forest fires can increase during windy periods. After a long and dreary winter, April is a welcome month for most folks as they can resume outdoor activities, which includes yard work, of course.

What is the Weather Like During the Month of March in Hampton Roads?

The weather during the month of March is usually very changeable with wide swings in temperature. It is a transitional month as winter slowly loses its grip on the Mid-Atlantic States. Due to the increasing solar radiation, the average high temperature climbs from the low to mid 50’s at the beginning of the month to the low 60’s by the end of the month. Weather systems can be quite strong during March causing intense storm systems to develop. This is due to the extreme differences in air masses during March and the strong upper-level winds. The jet stream is normally quite strong and frequently dips far to the south across the U.S. The increasing temperatures across the south cause a very large temperature gradient since the cold air masses coming down from Canada and the Arctic can still be every bit as cold as they were during the middle of winter. This sometimes results in extreme temperature differences across the strong frontal boundaries that frequently develop. March is a windy month due to primarily two reasons. The first is the strength of the pressure systems that move across the country. The second reason is that the stronger sun destabilizes the atmosphere allowing stronger winds aloft to mix down to the surface. In other words, the sun heats the ground and then the air at the lowest layer becomes warmer than the air above it. This warmer and lighter air rises up and cooler air has to come down to replace it. This, in effect, causes the strong winds aloft to come down to the surface. This is the reason why the afternoon is normally the windiest time of day. The chance of snow rapidly decreases during March. So, all in all, March can be a volatile month, but there can be some really nice days, too.