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Climate in Richmond, Virginia: Monthly Weather Averages

By the AverageClimate Editorial Team · Last updated: October 2026

Richmond sits at 164 feet above sea level, and its climate, as recorded at the Richmond International Airport, VA station, runs to a yearly mean of 58.9°F. The warmest month is July, averaging 79.4°F with typical highs of 89.5°F; the coldest is January, averaging 38.3°F with lows around 28.8°F. Across a normal year the city receives 45.5 in of precipitation and 8.8 in of snow. The full month-by-month picture below comes from the official 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals — the 30-year averages the National Weather Service itself uses — so it describes the Richmond climate you should actually plan around, whether you are timing a visit, weighing a move, or just settling an argument about which month is best.

Richmond climate month by month

The table below is the complete 1991–2020 normals profile for Richmond: average high, average low and mean temperature, rainfall, and snowfall for every month. Read down the Mean column to feel the year's rhythm — Richmond's temperature range runs from 38.3°F in January to 79.4°F in July.

How to read the colors:below freezingcoldcoolmildwarmhot. Bands are colored by each cell's own temperature, so a whole year reads at a glance.

Richmond through the seasons

Winter in Richmond averages highs of 47.8–51.6°F and lows of 28.8–32.1°F, a seasonal mean of 40.4°F. The three months together bring 9.3 in of precipitation — about 21% of the city's yearly total — with December the wettest of the three at 3.51 in. Snowfall averages 7.7 in over the season, most of it in January (3.7 in). It is a genuinely cold season — heavy coats, freezing nights, and the year's most changeable weather — without being locked below freezing around the clock.

Spring in Richmond averages highs of 59.6–77.8°F and lows of 37.2–55.7°F, a seasonal mean of 57.8°F. The three months together bring 11.2 in of precipitation — about 25% of the city's yearly total — with March the wettest of the three at 4.00 in. Snowfall averages 1.1 in over the season, most of it in March (1.1 in). The season is a transition: the average temperature climbs 18.3°F from March to May, and by late spring Richmond is firmly into warm territory, with May rainfall of 4.00 in to plan around.

Summer in Richmond averages highs of 85.6–89.5°F and lows of 64.5–69.2°F, a seasonal mean of 77.3°F. The three months together bring 13.9 in of precipitation — about 31% of the city's yearly total — with August the wettest of the three at 4.90 in. It is a warm, usable summer: afternoons are hot enough for swimming and lake or coast time, while evenings usually cool off comfortably.

Fall in Richmond averages highs of 60.4–81.2°F and lows of 38.8–61.1°F, a seasonal mean of 60.3°F. The three months together bring 11.1 in of precipitation — about 24% of the city's yearly total — with September the wettest of the three at 4.61 in. Temperatures ease off through the season — the monthly mean drops 21.6°F from September to November — and fall is when Richmond's weather turns crisp and dry, while nights stay mostly frost-free into December.

Best and worst months to visit Richmond

Ranking every month by its normals — mild mean temperatures score best, heavy rain and snow count against — the most comfortable months to visit Richmond are:

MayJuneSeptember

May leads the list: average highs of 77.8°F, lows of 55.7°F, and 4.00 in of rain, with snow a non-factor at 0.0 in. The other picks, June and September, offer the same balance in Richmond's shoulder seasons. At the other end, January is usually the month to avoid — the least comfortable mix of temperature and rainfall, with a mean temperature of 38.3°F and 3.23 in of precipitation plus 3.7 in of snow.

How Richmond compares

Across the 114 cities in our dataset, the typical city averages 57.8°F for the year and 35.7 in of precipitation. Richmond runs 1.2°F warmer than that typical city and wetter by 9.8 in a year, ranking #48 of 114 for annual warmth and #32 of 114 for precipitation (wettest first). Its year-round temperature swing — warmest month minus coldest — is 41.1°F, which puts it in the moderate, clearly seasonal camp.

Planning notes for Richmond

For anyone relocating: average overnight lows drop below freezing in 2 months (January, February), so heating, winter tires, and pipe protection are real seasonal concerns; highs reach the 80s on average in 4 months, but 90°F average highs never arrive; days and nights differ by 21.1°F on average — a big desert-style swing that rewards dressing in layers year-round; 7 months of the year average between 55°F and 80°F, the band most people find comfortable without heating or cooling. Those four facts, all straight from the normals table above, shape everything from a Richmond wardrobe to its utility bills.

Richmond climate FAQ

Source: 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) — ncei.noaa.gov. Station: Richmond International Airport, VA (USW00013740), elevation 164 ft. Figures checked October 2026.