Northern Virginia has seen erratic weather this year, including a late-spring freeze and extreme summer heat. So what’s coming for the rest of the year? The Old Farmer’s Almanac and other weather indicators paint a picture of what could be on the way.
Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Cool, Dry Fall
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac fall 2026 prediction, the Appalachian area – which covers Northern Virginia – will have a cool, dry fall. It predicts September temperatures to average 2 degrees below average, and both September and October should receive below average precipitation.
The Atlantic Corridor region has a similar outlook, with temperatures about 1 degree below normal along with roughly 1 inch less rainfall than usual.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac makes these long-range predictions “by watching the Sun’s activity, studying long term weather patterns, and tracking changes in the atmosphere.”
El Niño Could Complicate Things
However, other predictors could point to a different fall weather outlook. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center has said that El Niño conditions are present off the coast. These conditions could intensify further into the fall.
According to a release from Fairfax County Emergency Information, El Nino often brings more frequent coastal storms and above-average rainfall to the region. This could be good news in terms of drought conditions in the area.
“As El Niño-driven storm tracks become more active later in the summer and fall, the drought situation across the Mid-Atlantic may gradually improve,” the release said.
Summer Heat Isn’t Over Yet
Whatever is in store for the fall, we’re not through with this summer’s extreme heat yet. Just off the tails of a heat wave that impacted Fourth of July celebrations, Capital Weather says another wave of immense heat is coming this week.
“The hottest days will be Wednesday and Thursday, when highs could flirt with 100 degrees before gradually easing into the weekend. There’s even an outside chance Wednesday could challenge the record high of 102, set in 2024,” Capital Weather wrote.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
