Virginia Beach in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Virginia Beach sees average daytime highs around 49°F and overnight lows near 39°F, with 10.9 in of precipitation over about 29 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 55°F in early December to 51°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Virginia Beach's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Virginia Beach's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 49°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 39°F
- Precipitation
- 10.9 in
- 29 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 mph
- Travel score
- 2.1
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Virginia Beach in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 55°F in early December to 51°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Virginia Beach reaches about 49°F and drops to 39°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Virginia Beach
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 48 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Virginia Beach weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) 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 | 47° / 37° | 3.8 | 9.7 | 1.3 | 9.8 | 1.7 |
| Feb | 49° / 38° | 3.3 | 9.7 | 1 | 10.6 | 1.9 |
| Mar | 54° / 44° | 4.0 | 10.6 | 0.5 | 11.7 | 3.4 |
| Apr | 63° / 53° | 3.3 | 9.3 | 0 | 12.9 | 5.7 |
| May | 71° / 62° | 3.5 | 10.2 | 0 | 13.9 | 6.6 |
| Jun | 79° / 70° | 3.5 | 10.4 | 0 | 14.5 | 6.6 |
| Jul | 83° / 75° | 4.6 | 13.5 | 0 | 14.3 | 5.5 |
| Aug | 82° / 74° | 4.3 | 12.4 | 0 | 13.4 | 6.1 |
| Sep | 77° / 69° | 4.5 | 10.8 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 68° / 60° | 3.8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 6.7 |
| Nov | 59° / 49° | 3.7 | 8.5 | 0 | 10 | 4.7 |
| Dec | 52° / 42° | 3.8 | 9.6 | 0.4 | 9.5 | 2.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Virginia Beach gets around 10.9 in of rain and snow over 29 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 11 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 42 min in early December to 11 h 06 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Virginia Beach
None of Virginia Beach's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Virginia Beach sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is winter a good time to visit Virginia Beach?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Virginia Beach.
What to pack for Virginia Beach in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Virginia Beach sees daytime highs around 49°F and nights near 39°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 29 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Virginia Beach in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 47°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 78°F and coldest in February near 43°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 3 to Oct 16 — about 4.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 46 | 43 | 46 | 53 | 63 | 72 | 77 | 78 | 75 | 68 | 59 | 52 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | Bracing |
| Feb | 43 | Bracing |
| Mar | 46 | Bracing |
| Apr | 53 | Bracing |
| May | 63 | Cool |
| Jun | 72 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 77 | Warm |
| Aug | 78 | Warm |
| Sep | 75 | Warm |
| Oct | 68 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 59 | Cool |
| Dec | 52 | Bracing |
UV index in Virginia Beach in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Virginia Beach 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 7 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Virginia Beach in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Virginia Beach is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (November, 5 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) | 6 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 10 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 12 | Good |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 15 | Moderate |
| Aug | 12 | Moderate |
| Sep | 9 | Good |
| Oct | 6 | Good |
| Nov | 5 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach sits at 36.9°N, 76.0°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Chesapeake, 17 mi away.
Topography around Virginia Beach
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Virginia Beach.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Virginia Beach has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 102 ft around an average of 10 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 144 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 210 ft.
The land around Virginia Beach is covered by water (51%) and trees (23%) within 2 miles, water (61%) and trees (22%) within 10 miles, and water (52%) and trees (30%) 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 Virginia Beach (36.8529°, -75.978°, elevation 10 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.