Norfolk weather in September

In September, Norfolk sees average daytime highs of 80°F and overnight lows near 66°F, with 4.7 in of rain across 11.1 wet days and about 12.3 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 83°F in the first days to 76°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in September, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 48 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Norfolk's 6th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Norfolk's year-round climate.

Daytime high
80°
4th warmest
Overnight low
66°
9th coldest
Rainfall
4.7 in
11.1 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:53 AM – 6:06 PM
Cloud cover
58%
6th clearest
Wind
7 mph
9th windiest
Solar energy
4.47 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.4
out of 10

Norfolk is independent city in Virginia, United States.

Density
954/km²
people per km²
Founded
1682

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 83°F in the first days to 76°F by the end.

A typical September day in Norfolk reaches about 80°F in the afternoon and slips back to 66°F overnight — a 14°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 73°F and 87°F. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 5°F cooler than August and about 9°F warmer than October.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18370
28369
38369
48269
58269
68269
78268
88268
98168
108167
118167
128067
138067
148066
158066
167966
177966
187965
197965
207865
217865
227864
237864
247764
257763
267763
277663
287662
297662
307662

How September really feels in Norfolk

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

September sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Norfolk weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan49° / 34°3.49.11.39.82.2
Feb52° / 35°3.091.110.62.8
Mar59° / 42°3.910.40.511.74.5
Apr68° / 51°3.39.7012.96.4
May75° / 59°3.710.9013.96.7
Jun83° / 68°4.111.7014.55.6
Jul87° / 73°5.215.1014.34.3
Aug85° / 71°4.712.9013.45.0
Sep80° / 66°4.711.1012.36.4
Oct71° / 55°3.77.90117.0
Nov61° / 45°3.48.50.1105.3
Dec53° / 38°3.59.30.59.53.2

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 50%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15149
25149
35149
45149
55149
65149
75149
85149
95149
105149
115149
125149
135149
145050
155050
165050
175050
184951
194852
204852
214852
224852
234852
244951
255050
265149
275149
285248
295248
305347

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Norfolk gets around 4.7 in of rain over 11.1 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 35% and peaks near 41% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
141
241
340
440
540
639
738
838
937
1036
1136
1235
1335
1434
1534
1634
1734
1834
1934
2034
2134
2234
2334
2434
2533
2633
2732
2831
2931
3030

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of September feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, September lands in the muggy band about 27% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 51% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1252228412
2252227412
3362327402
4362327392
5472426382
6482426362
7582426351
8692426331
96102527321
107112527301
118112428281
128122428261
139132429251
1410132429231
1510142429221
1611152330201
1712152330191
1812162330181
1913162330170
2014172329170
2115172429160
2216172428150
2317172427150
2418182426140
2520182425140
2621182424130
2722182422130
2824192421120
2925192420120
3026192419120

Wind in September

Winds average 7 mph in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207light breeze
217light breeze
227light breeze
237light breeze
247light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 48 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 66 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:40 AM to 6:04 AM, and sunset from 6:30 PM to 5:44 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.85:406:30
212.85:416:28
312.75:426:27
412.75:436:25
512.75:436:24
612.65:446:22
712.65:456:21
812.65:466:19
912.55:476:17
1012.55:486:16
1112.45:486:14
1212.45:496:13
1312.45:506:11
1412.35:516:10
1512.35:526:08
1612.25:536:06
1712.25:536:05
1812.25:546:03
1912.15:556:02
2012.15:566:00
2112.05:575:59
2212.05:585:57
2311.95:585:55
2411.95:595:54
2511.96:005:52
2611.86:015:51
2711.86:025:49
2811.76:035:48
2911.76:045:46
3011.76:045:44

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.47 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.17 kWh/m² to a high of 6.42 kWh/m² in June across the year — September's 4.47 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
44.9Bright
54.9Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.8Bright
104.7Bright
114.7Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.5Bright
154.5Bright
164.5Bright
174.4Bright
184.4Bright
194.3Bright
204.3Bright
214.3Bright
224.2Bright
234.2Bright
244.2Bright
254.1Bright
264.1Bright
274.1Bright
284.1Bright
294.0Bright
304.0Bright
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Norfolk

In seasonPeak

In September, Norfolk sits inside its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Norfolk sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is September a good time to visit Norfolk?

Our two travel scores rate September for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

6.4
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Norfolk for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Norfolk in September

From September's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In September, Norfolk sees daytime highs around 80°F and nights near 66°F. Worth packing: light clothes and rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Norfolk in September

The nearest coast averages about 76°F in September — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 21 mi away) is warmest in August at about 79°F and coldest in February near 41°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 3 to Oct 14 — about 4.4 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan44Bracing
Feb41Bracing
Mar45Bracing
Apr54Bracing
May63Cool
Jun72Refreshing
Jul78Warm
Aug79Warm
Sep76Warm
Oct68Cool
Nov57Bracing
Dec49Bracing

UV index in Norfolk in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Norfolk peaks around July 12 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 12UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Norfolk in September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where September falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Norfolk is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1216 µg/m³Nov 237 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Norfolk?

Norfolk sits at 36.8°N, 76.3°W, 7 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Portsmouth, 1.2 mi away.

Topography around Norfolk

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Norfolk.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Norfolk has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 72 ft around an average of 13 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 194 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 259 ft.

The land around Norfolk is covered by artificial surfaces (51%) and trees (21%) within 2 miles, trees (41%), water (24%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 10 miles, and trees (41%) and water (39%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
72 ft
10 miles
194 ft
50 miles
259 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
September weather nearby: Portsmouth 1.2 mi · Chesapeake 1.9 mi · Portsmouth Heights 5.0 mi · Newport News 12 mi · Hampton 13 mi · East Hampton 14 mi · Virginia Beach 17 mi · Suffolk 19 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Norfolk (36.8468°, -76.2852°, elevation 7 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).