Charlottesville, VA Climate

Climate Insight: Charlottesville, VA

An annual average temperature of 56°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 65°F to a mean daily low of 48°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Charlottesville, Virginia. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from 3 weather stations and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.

Anyone planning to live, garden, or travel in Charlottesville should weigh precipitation alongside temperature: the annual average runs 48.2 inches, with seasonal snowfall possible. The frost-free season averages 220 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 2 and the first fall freeze near November 8. And on the energy front, 4,239 heating degree days and 1,110 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Charlottesville scores 78/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. The monthly tables above turn that into a planning tool: expect the mildest highs and lows in the shoulder seasons, July-driven heat at the peak of summer, and January-driven cold at the depth of winter. Every number here is a thirty-year average, not a forecast, so any given year can and does run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.