Portsmouth weather by month
Average highs run from 50°F in January to 89°F in July, and January nights average 34°F. It gets 46 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 3 inches of snow. Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are April to May and October.
Best time to visit Portsmouth
For comfortable weather, go in April to May and October. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F | 34°F | 2.9 in | 2.3 in | 6 | 0 | 13 | cool |
| February | 53°F | 35°F | 2.6 in | 0.7 in | 5 | 0 | 9 | cool |
| March | 59°F | 41°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 0 | 3 | cool |
| April | 70°F | 50°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 1 | 0 | mild |
| May | 77°F | 60°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 2 | 0 | warm |
| June | 84°F | 68°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 9 | 0 | warm |
| July | 89°F | 73°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 16 | 0 | hot |
| August | 86°F | 72°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 10 | 0 | warm |
| September | 81°F | 67°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 4 | 0 | warm |
| October | 72°F | 56°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 0 | 0 | mild |
| November | 61°F | 45°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 0 | 1 | cool |
| December | 54°F | 38°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 0 | 7 | cool |
| Year | 70°F avg | 53°F avg | 45.7 in | 3.0 in | 73 | 42 | 32 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Norfolk NAS, VA (USW00013750), 8.5 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Portsmouth
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 38m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 14h 41m. The earliest sunset comes around December 1 (4:48 pm) and the latest around June 23 (8:28 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 96 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 am | 5:12 pm | 9h 55m |
| February | 6:53 am | 5:45 pm | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:16 am | 7:12 pm | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:31 am | 7:39 pm | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:57 am | 8:06 pm | 14h 08m |
| June | 5:45 am | 8:25 pm | 14h 40m |
| July | 5:58 am | 8:24 pm | 14h 26m |
| August | 6:22 am | 7:56 pm | 13h 34m |
| September | 6:47 am | 7:12 pm | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:13 am | 6:28 pm | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:43 am | 4:55 pm | 10h 12m |
| December | 7:11 am | 4:49 pm | 9h 39m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Portsmouth with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Eastern Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Portsmouth getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.5°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Portsmouth.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Portsmouth?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 89°F and an average low of 73°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Portsmouth?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 34°F and highs of 50°F.
What is the rainiest month in Portsmouth?
August gets the most precipitation, 5.3 inches on average. February is the driest at 2.6 inches.
Does it snow in Portsmouth?
Yes. Portsmouth averages 3 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Portsmouth?
For comfortable weather, April to May and October. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Portsmouth?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Portsmouth profile.
Compare the weather: Portsmouth vs Norfolk, Portsmouth vs Chesapeake, Portsmouth vs Suffolk, Portsmouth vs Hampton.