Does it snow in Virginia? The answer is YES, it does snow in Virginia during the winter months particularly in its mountainous areas.
In a typical winter, Wise County, located southwest of the Appalachian Mountains, receives over 37 inches of snow.
Other regions, like Gloucester Point and Emporia, get as little as three inches of snow.
Virginia is a state that is neither too chilly nor too hot.
Because of the winter frost, it has humid and subtropical weather.
Does it snow in Virginia is a frequently asked question by visitors as well as residents.
Virginia’s climate is influenced by the Chesapeake Bay and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
May, June, and September are the most enjoyable months in Virginia with favorable weather.
Continue reading to learn about other climatic variables and favorable weather conditions if you’re planning to visit Virginia.
Does it Snow in Virginia? Brief Overview of Virginia
As previously noted, the answer is YES. It snows in Virginia during the winter period.
Virginia is a state in the United States of America located between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.
The state spans 110,787 square kilometers and is characterized by geography ranging from the highlands of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the lowlands of Chesapeake Bay.
Virginia is 950 feet (290 meters) above sea level on average.
Mount Rogers is the highest point at 5729 feet (1746 meters), while the Atlantic Ocean is the lowest at 0 feet above sea level.
Does Virginia Get Snow? Climate of Virginia
Virginia has a humid climate with extremely hot summers and mild winters.
Because of the state’s distinct geographic characteristics, including the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains in the west and the Atlantic coastline region in the east, there is significant regional diversity in climate.
These geographical factors have a strong influence on temperature and precipitation patterns, with the west and north being cooler and drier than the eastern coastal region.
Temperatures in southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore average around 40 °F (4 °C) in January and the upper 70s F (approximately 26 °C) in July.
These temperatures allow for up to eight-month growth seasons, which is three months longer than in far western Virginia.
In the Tidewater and Piedmont regions, continental weather prevails over the eastern marine influence, resulting in colder winters.
In the mountains, temperatures as low as 0 °F (18 °C) are possible in the winter, and cold nights in the summer follow daily highs that often stay around 90 °F (32 °C).
Precipitation ranges from 32 to 44 inches on average across the state.
When Does it Snow in Virginia?
Virginia’s winter season lasts from November through February.
Winters in Virginia can be extremely cold, with temperatures as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius), especially when powerful cold waves hit.
Snow remains a typical occurrence in the state during this time of year due to the low temperatures.
November
Temperatures in November are typically mild and pleasant.
Temperatures in places like Virginia Beach range from 49.1 degrees Fahrenheit (9.5 degrees Celsius) to 58.1 degrees Fahrenheit (14.5 degrees Celsius).
Snow falls for approximately 1 day and collects up to 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) across the state.
December
In Virginia, December marks the beginning of winter.
Bluemont has cold weather throughout the month, with average temperatures ranging from 30.9 degrees Fahrenheit (-0.6 degrees Celsius) to 43.7 degrees Fahrenheit (6.5 degrees Celsius).
Bluemont receives snowfall on 3.8 days in December, with accumulations of up to 2.68 inches (68 millimeters).
January
Winter in January sees a further drop in temperatures within the state.
Bluemont’s temperatures range from 24.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius) to 38.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3.7 degrees Celsius).
At the same time, temperatures in Richmond varied from 29.7 degrees Fahrenheit (-1.3 degrees Celsius) to 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).
Citizens of Richmond can expect snowfall for 3.3 days in January, with accumulations of up to 2.05 inches (52 millimeters), while Bluemont gets the greatest snowfall, with 6.8 days and an accumulation of 4.17 inches (106 millimeters).
February
In Virginia, February is the last month of winter.
As the year comes to a conclusion, temperatures in Bluemont range from 27.9 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.3 degrees Celsius) to 43.2 degrees Fahrenheit (6.2 degrees Celsius), while in Richmond, average low temperatures hit 31.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-0.1 degrees Celsius).
Snow accumulations in Richmond can reach 1.42 inches (36 millimeters), while Bluemont can reach 3.62 inches (92 millimeters).
How Often Does It Snow in Virginia?
It is dependent on your location. The diverse geography of the state, combined with the effect of the ocean from the east and cold air masses rolling over the ranges, creates unique micro-climates in the Coastal Plains, Southwest, and Shenandoah Valley.
Snowfall is more likely in mountainous places than in coastal areas such as Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach.
Given the state’s primarily subtropical-oceanic climate, snow in winter is infrequent.
Mountainous areas in Virginia, on the other hand, are guaranteed snow at least once a year.
Snowfall totals in higher elevation places such as Mount Rogers and Wise County range from 36 to 52 inches each year, compared to 13.8 to 15.3 inches in the rest of the state.
Where Does it Snow in Virginia?
Snow mostly falls on Virginia’s western side of the state.
The most snow falls in Virginia near the Appalachian Mountains.
Here is a breakdown of the places that experience most snow in Virginia.
Does it Snow in Richmond, Virginia?
YES, it does snow in Richmond.
Richmond is Virginia’s capital city. It is 166.45 feet (45.7 meters) above sea level and occupies 162.05 square kilometers.
The city has a humid subtropical climate with somewhat chilly snowy winters. The coldest month in Richmond is January, with lows of 27.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.44 degrees Celsius).
Snowfall is usual during the month, and it stays on the ground for roughly two days.
Richmond receives 7.2 inches (183 millimeters) of snow every year, with the majority falling in January.
Does it Snow in Bluemont, Virginia?
YES, Richmond does experience snow Bluemont.
Bluemont is a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains that is at an elevation of 722 feet (220 meters) above sea level.
January is the coldest month, with lows of 24.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius) and highs of 38.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3.7 degrees Celsius).
Bluemont receives snow on an average of 21.9 snowfall days each year, with accumulations of up to 31.1 inches (790 millimeters) possible.
Does it Snow in Norfolk, Virginia?
YES, it does snow in Norfolk
With a population of almost 260,000 inhabitants, Norfolk is Virginia’s third-most populated city.
It is 2.13 meters above sea level and covers an area of 249.68 square kilometers.
The city has a subtropical climate, with moderate and snowy winters.
The yearly snowfall average is 14.88 inches (378 millimeters) throughout the year.
January is the coldest month in Norfolk, with highs of 38.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3.7 degrees Celsius) and lows of 24.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius).
Does it Snow in Virginia Beach?
YES, Virginia Beach does experience snow but only a few inches.
Until January 3, 2018, Virginia Beach received a little more than five inches of snow every January for around three days.
However, because of its closeness to the Atlantic Ocean, it receives less snow each year.
A Farmer’s Almanac long-term weather forecast (from November 2021 to October 2022) stated that the beach’s best chances of snowfall would be between mid-January and early-to-mid February.
Other areas that experience significant snow include: Blacksburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, Christiansburg and Radford.
Does Virginia Experience Snowstorms?
The answer is YES. Here is a look at some of the worst snowstorms to hit the state,
Storm of the Century
This tremendous snowstorm began in the Gulf Coast, generating blizzard conditions across most of the eastern seaboard, thunder snows from Texas to Pennsylvania, and 11 tornadoes.
Drifts reached 12 feet in some areas of northern Virginia, while snowfall totaled 20 to 30 inches across the state.
The weight of the unprecedented snowfall even collapsed Vinton’s Lancerlot Sports Arena.
Finally, the Storm of the Century, which occurred between March 12 and 15, 1993, resulted in 318 deaths and almost $5.5 billion in damages across the country.
The Great Arctic Outbreak
In February 1899, just 11 years after The Great White Blizzard, the United States was devastated by another giant blizzard known as The Great Eastern Blizzard of 1899.
From Virginia to southern New England, this severe blizzard delivered an average of 18 to 30 inches of snow (with sections of Northern Virginia and Warrenton receiving a stunning 54 inches).
This extreme cold wave set (and still holds) temperature and snowfall records from Michigan to Florida, and even caused frost in Cuba.
The Winter Storm of 2009
On December 16, 2009, the Winter Storm of 2009 (or North American Blizzard) emerged over the Gulf of Mexico.
It eventually became a significant snowstorm, impacting the East Coast of the United States and the Atlantic regions of Canada.
From December 18 to 19, 2009, a blizzard dumped several feet of snow across Virginia, triggering a major pothole crisis that prompted Virginia to proclaim a state of emergency.
The 2010 Snowstorm
Because of fluctuations in sea surface temperatures caused by El Nino, Virginia and other northern U.S. states experienced extensive effects of Snowmageddon beginning on February 5, 2010.
Snowfall accumulated at an extremely rapid rate during this severe blizzard, resulting in more than a foot of snow across Virginia.
West Virginia saw 30 inches of snow, while Washington Dulles International Airport in D.C. had 46 inches, making February 2010 the snowiest month since the airport started recording snowfall in 1963.
Ski Resorts in Virginia
Virginia has some of the most memorable winter activities and gorgeous sites in the nation, from uninterrupted landscape views to off-season beaches and frozen waterfalls. Here are a few examples:
Wintergreen Ski Resort
Enjoy a taste of adrenaline-pumping snow sports in one of Virginia’s most popular winter destinations.
Wintergreen, located on Blue Ridge Mountain, offers 10 kilometers of slope for snowboarding and skiing, in addition to ski lifts that transport tourists across a vast area of snow.
If you don’t want to do anything too active out in the cold, the resort has a heated indoor pool and a full-service spa.
Massanutten Ski Resort
This winter paradise is only 120 miles west of Washington, D.C.
It has 14 trails, a 1,110-foot vertical drop, golf courses, an indoor/outdoor water park, and a variety of other great activities for everyone to enjoy!
Massanutten also has a 750-foot zip line dubbed the Mega Zipline, an indoor ice rink, and some of the most difficult terrain parks in the region.
Bryce Ski Resort
The Bryce ski resort is located between 380 and 533 meters above sea level. It offers a 5-kilometer slope for skiing and snowboarding.
The skiing area is supplied by two ski lifts that carry guests, and the ski resort is open all year.
Final Thoughts on the Question: “Does it Snow in Virginia?”
Does it snow in Virginia? The answer as seen from above is YES.
Although winters in Virginia differ from area to area, snow falls in every part of the state.
Higher-elevation areas, such as the Appalachian Mountains, do receive more precipitation than other areas.
Regardless of where you are, there are many winter activities for visitors and even residents to enjoy.
If you want a mildly snowy but unforgettable winter experience, travel to the state with the Goldilocks’ Climate.