Portsmouth in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), Portsmouth sees average daytime highs around 67°F and overnight lows near 48°F, with 9.6 in of precipitation over about 26 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 83°F in early September to 50°F by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Portsmouth's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Portsmouth's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 67°F
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 48°F
- Precipitation
- 9.6 in
- 26 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 mph
- Travel score
- 5.6
- best season of the year
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in Portsmouth in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 83°F in early September to 50°F by late November.
A typical fall day in Portsmouth reaches about 67°F and drops to 48°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
How fall really feels in Portsmouth
Once humidity and wind are folded in, fall brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 14 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in fall is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Portsmouth weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41° / 27° | 3.4 | 10.2 | 3.6 | 9.6 | 0.1 |
| Feb | 45° / 29° | 3.4 | 10.1 | 3.7 | 10.5 | 0.8 |
| Mar | 54° / 36° | 4.2 | 12 | 1.7 | 11.7 | 3.1 |
| Apr | 66° / 47° | 4.4 | 12.4 | 0.3 | 13 | 5.6 |
| May | 74° / 56° | 4.6 | 12.9 | 0 | 14.1 | 6.2 |
| Jun | 82° / 64° | 4.3 | 13.1 | 0 | 14.7 | 5.6 |
| Jul | 85° / 68° | 3.9 | 12.5 | 0 | 14.4 | 4.9 |
| Aug | 85° / 66° | 3.0 | 11.2 | 0 | 13.5 | 5.3 |
| Sep | 79° / 59° | 3.3 | 8.1 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.0 |
| Oct | 67° / 48° | 3.1 | 9 | 0.1 | 11 | 6.3 |
| Nov | 54° / 38° | 3.2 | 8.7 | 0.6 | 9.9 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 45° / 31° | 3.6 | 10 | 2.3 | 9.3 | 0.9 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Portsmouth gets around 9.6 in of rain and snow over 26 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 6 mph across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min in early September to 9 h 30 min by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 3.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Portsmouth
In fall, Portsmouth overlaps its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Portsmouth sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is fall a good time to visit Portsmouth?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a reasonable time to visit Portsmouth for sightseeing.
What to pack for Portsmouth in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Portsmouth sees daytime highs around 67°F and nights near 48°F. Worth packing: light clothes, a warm layer and rain gear. About 26 days see rain.
UV index in Portsmouth in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Portsmouth peaks around June 18 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Portsmouth in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Portsmouth is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 10 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 14 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Portsmouth?
Portsmouth sits at 38.7°N, 83.0°W, 531 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Ashland, 26 mi away.
Topography around Portsmouth
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Portsmouth.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Portsmouth has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 640 ft around an average of 620 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 817 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 925 ft.
The land around Portsmouth is covered by trees (42%) within 2 miles, trees (77%) within 10 miles, and trees (77%) within 50 miles.
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
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 Portsmouth (38.7317°, -82.9977°, elevation 531 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.