Virginia Summer Forecast: Heating Up

FAIRFAX, VA — There's still a few more days of "May showers" in the forecast, but the story this summer is going to be temperatures that are above average in Virginia.

The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests the summer will be cooler than average, with warmer temperatures holding out for September and October. But, most forecasts disagree.

The average summer highs in Northern Virginia are 86-87 degrees.

This summer will start off with cooler temps in the low to mid 80s in June, but forecasters are predicting that we'll have a warmer summer in July and August.

A typical summer in the region would send us over 90 degrees on 31 days in a season. This year, we should see 46 days, according to Accuweather.

"July is a tricky month where there may be a few cooldowns from thunderstorms and back door fronts, but other than that I think June, July and August, you'll see your series of heat waves," he said.

Elsewhere, southern states will have temperatures at about average, but there should be a warmup across the north.

"Model guidance shows a rather dramatic reversal of the background tropical Pacific forcing signal that would favor a hot summer again, especially across the northern U.S. and especially late," said Dr. Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist.

June temperatures aren't going to impress, Crawford says, but July and August will be hot months.

"We expect a strongly 'back-loaded' summer with the heat continuing into September," he said.

Rainfall should be about average in Virginia, according to the National Weather Service.