 The climate of Virginia becomes increasingly warmer and more humid farther south and east . Seasonal extremes vary from average lows of 26 ° F ( − 3 ° C ) in January to average highs of 86 ° F ( 30 ° C ) in July . The Atlantic ocean has a strong effect on eastern and southeastern coastal areas of the state . Influenced by the Gulf Stream , coastal weather is subject to hurricanes , most pronouncedly near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay . In spite of its position adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean , even the coastal areas have a significant continental influence with quite large temperature differences between summer and winter , particularly given the state climate 's subtropical classification . 
