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Portsmouth, VA

Full City Profile · Virginia · Portsmouth city County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
97,299 Population 2,922/sq mi density
$58,972 Median Income $32,915 per capita
$229,400 Home Value $256,531 Zillow
$1,266 Median Rent 34.5% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
946 Violent Crime/100K 5,861 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$58,972 median income, 3.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$229,400 home value, $1,266/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
946 violent crimes/100K (149% above avg)
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Portsmouth enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 53.3 inches. The area receives 0.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Temperature

48°F Jan (9°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average61.8°F
14% above US avg
January Average48°F (9°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation13 ft (4 m)
Area46.7 sq mi (120.9 km²)
Population Density2,922/sq mi
Coordinates36.8593°N, 76.3570°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyPortsmouth city County
Nearest AirportNorfolk International (ORF)
9 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 53.3"
40% above US avg
Snowfall 0.1"
Wettest Month (Jul) 5.24"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median35.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score54.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability37.4 / 100
Community Resilience76.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.9. Most recent: M2.8 on Jan 14, 2025.

Aug 3, 1995 13 km N of Williamsburg, Virginia M2.9 66 km
Jan 14, 2025 1 km NNE of Wyndham, Virginia M2.8 145 km
Sep 23, 2019 3 km WNW of Wyndham, Virginia M2.5 148 km
Apr 29, 2000 3 km N of Glen Allen, Virginia M2.5 138 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

17 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Dorian (2019, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
2019 Dorian Category 2 184 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 238 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 141 km
2011 Irene Category 1 61 km
2010 Earl Category 2 278 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 245 km
2004 Alex Category 2 202 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 121 km
1999 Irene Category 2 239 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 24 km
1998 Bonnie Category 2 123 km
1996 Fran Category 2 280 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 235 km
1993 Emily Category 3 171 km
1991 Bob Category 3 170 km
1986 Charley Category 1 64 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 122 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

300 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 11 fatalities, 368 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 30, 2023 EF3 24 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 45 km 2
Apr 28, 2008 EF3 34 km 0
Aug 6, 1993 EF3 83 km 0
Oct 14, 1986 EF3 72 km 0
May 8, 1984 EF3 97 km 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 62 km 2
Sep 5, 1979 EF3 15 km 0
Jul 4, 1967 EF3 40 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 61 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 85 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 83 km 0
Mar 31, 2017 EF2 17 km 0
Apr 25, 2014 EF2 94 km 0
Apr 25, 2014 EF2 96 km 1
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 82 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 75 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 45 km 0
May 9, 2008 EF2 84 km 0
Oct 17, 1999 EF2 73 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: LATERAL WEST (6,188 ac, 2011).

Year Name Acres Distance
2011 LATERAL WEST 6,188 34 km
2008 SOUTH 1 5,940 34 km
1999 NORTH RIVER 3,055 66 km
2008 MCPHERSON ROAD 2,087 37 km
2014 NCMCR-FY14-RX-MIDDLE MARSH 1,876 52 km
2010 1 1 2 NORTH MARSH FY 10 1,506 50 km
2005 1.1.2 NORTH MARSH 1,418 50 km
2005 1.2.1 WEST MIDDLE MARSH 1,338 51 km
1998 SE BLOCKS 1,278 34 km
1994 UNIT 5 1,148 51 km
1985 UNNAMED 1,091 59 km
2009 1 3 7 INDIAN CREEK MARSH FY 09 1,087 54 km
1999 CHURCHES ISLAND 2 1,013 65 km
2005 LONG ISLAND/RAGGED ISLAND RXB 982 46 km
1991 UNNAMED 908 53 km
2011 1.3.1 GREAT MARSH FY11 829 51 km
2003 1 3 2 INDIAN CREEK 782 52 km
2007 1-3-7 INDIAN MARSH 676 54 km
2017 VAGDR FY17 RX DGIF SUPPORT 674 65 km
2006 1.3.1 GREAT MARSH 669 53 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 48°F (9°C) 4.0 in
February 42°F (6°C) 3.6 in Coldest
March 49°F (10°C) 4.1 in
April 58°F (14°C) 3.2 in
May 67°F (19°C) 4.1 in
June 75°F (24°C) 4.0 in
July 80°F (27°C) 5.2 in Warmest, Wettest
August 78°F (25°C) 5.0 in
September 72°F (22°C) 4.3 in
October 61°F (16°C) 3.5 in
November 52°F (11°C) 3.0 in Driest
December 44°F (7°C) 3.4 in

Portsmouth has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 42°F in February to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.2") and November the driest (3.0").

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