Weather in Hampton Roads: Four distinct seasons make their presence known

As temperatures rise in Hampton Roads, the region gets its “Bermuda” on in more than one way. Bermuda shorts, the national dress for men on the British colony, are hip in our area, too. Bermuda grass, a perennial ground cover that grows in tropical, sub-tropical and transition zones, greens up around Southeast Virginia when the mercury soars.

And then there’s the Bermuda High, the high pressure system that weakens cold fronts in our region and gives us those hot, humid summer days.

Summer

Above-normal temperatures are predicted this summer for Hampton Roads, according to Meteorologist Brian Cullen at the National Weather Service in Wakefield.

The average temperature for June, July and August, measured at Norfolk International Airport, is 77 degrees. There is a 40 percent chance that the average temperature over the summer will be 77.5 degrees.

Cullen said the prediction is for a 35 percent chance for near normal temperatures between 76.5 to 77.5 degrees.

Some typical weather patterns during the summers in our area are stagnant, hot, and humid air masses.

“Typically during summer, the western extension of the Atlantic Subtropical Ridge becomes dominant over the region,” said Cullen. “This large scale high pressure system, sometimes referred to as the Bermuda High, keeps cold fronts that typically affect the area during other times of the year from being more of a weather factor during the summer months. These cold fronts have a tendency to fall apart before reaching the area, or if they do penetrate the region, become weak and have little affect on temperature and humidity.”

Fall

The transition from summer to fall typically is characterized by more frequent and stronger cold front passages. The average temperature during the climatological fall months – September, October, and November – decreases from 77 degrees in summer to 61.8 degrees.

Tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin increases during the transition from summer to fall. This time period is when the warmest sea surface temperatures are present in the Atlantic Ocean, which is key element to tropical cyclone development.

According to the Virginia department of emergency management, the eyes of 69 tropical cyclones have tracked directly across Virginia. Eleven have made landfall within 60 miles of the Virginia coast.

Though Virginia averages one storm a year, recent history has demonstrated that some years go by without a storm and other years multiple storm threaten the Commonwealth just days or weeks apart.

Winter

Climatologically, winter 2006-2007 will be known as an unusually warm and dry season, said Cullen. The average temperature for the winter was 44.1 degrees, which is 2 degrees warmer than the normal reading of 42.1 degrees.

Precipitation totaled 7.51 inches for the winter season, whereas typically 10.37 inches of precipitation is measured. Snowfall during the winter season was also well below normal with only a trace of snow measured at the Norfolk International Airport. The average yearly snowfall at the airport is 7.1 inches.

Spring

 Spring typically brings warmer and more humid conditions to the Hampton Roads area.

The average temperature rises to 57.5 degrees during the climatological spring months of March, April, and May.

Thunderstorms also begin to become more revalent, particularly during the late afternoon and evening hours.

Spring is also the height of the severe weather season in Hampton Roads. Thunderstorms that produce gusty winds, hail, and occasionally, tornadoes are most common during the spring season.

Get the latest forecast and current conditions on the Weather channel.