Right now, if you step outside in Chesapeake, you’re feeling that biting 38°F air. It’s a damp kind of cold. The humidity is sitting at a heavy 90%, which basically means the air is holding onto every bit of chill it can find. Honestly, that "feels like" temperature of 31°F isn't lying—it’s freezing.
If you’ve lived in Hampton Roads for more than a week, you know the weather forecast Chesapeake VA provides is never just a straight line. It's a jagged mess of coastal influence and unpredictable Atlantic shifts. Tonight, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we’re dealing with light rain and a 63% chance of precipitation. It’s the kind of night where the windshield wipers never quite find the right rhythm.
The Immediate Outlook: Rain, Then a Deep Freeze
Sunday is really the pivot point. We saw heavy rain earlier with a high of 43°F, but as we move into the late hours, things are clearing out. The temperature is set to bottom out at 26°F. That’s a significant drop.
Tomorrow, Monday, January 19—Martin Luther King Jr. Day—will be a bit of a psychological trick. It’ll be sunny with a high of 46°F, which sounds okay, but the wind is coming from the southwest at 12 mph. It’s going to keep that winter bite alive and well. You’ll want the heavy coat for any outdoor parades or service events.
The Mid-Week "Arctic" Dip
Tuesday is when the real winter wall hits. We’re looking at:
- High: 38°F
- Low: 17°F
- Condition: Absolute sun, but zero warmth.
That 17°F low on Tuesday night is the coldest mark on the current seven-day stretch. It’s the kind of temperature that makes you worry about your outdoor pipes and your car battery. If you haven’t disconnected your garden hoses yet, tonight is probably your last "easy" chance before things get brittle.
Why Chesapeake Weather is Such a Headache
People talk about the "Chesapeake Blur." It’s that weird phenomenon where the forecast says sunny, but the moisture from the Elizabeth River or the Great Dismal Swamp creates this localized mist that just... hangs there.
Coastal Virginia is unique because we’re basically a giant sponge. According to data from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), the Bay is warming faster than the open ocean, which creates these bizarre temperature gradients. You might be at 45°F in Great Bridge while someone in Western Branch is seeing flurries.
Rain vs. Snow: The Eternal Chesapeake Struggle
Look at the forecast for Saturday, January 24. We’re expecting snow showers during the day and a 75% chance of actual snow at night. The high is only 30°F.
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In Chesapeake, "snow" usually means one of two things:
- Two inches of slush that shuts down the entire city for three days.
- A "wintry mix" that turns every bridge on I-64 into an ice rink.
This upcoming Saturday looks like a legitimate cold-weather event. The wind is shifting to the north at 14 mph, which is a classic setup for pulling cold air down the coast.
Long-Term Trends You Should Actually Care About
We can't ignore the fact that the weather forecast Chesapeake VA residents see now is wetter than it was twenty years ago. Experts at MARISA (Mid-Atlantic Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments) have noted a 20% increase in rainfall intensity in our region since 2006.
It’s not just your imagination; the puddles in your yard are taking longer to drain. Between the sea-level rise pushing up the water table and the heavier downpours, Chesapeake’s drainage system is working overtime. This is why even a "light rain" forecast can sometimes lead to nuisance flooding in low-lying spots like Deep Creek or south of the bypass.
Practical Steps for the Week Ahead
Don't just look at the numbers; prepare for the shifts. The jump from 56°F on Thursday to 30°F on Saturday is a 26-degree crash in 48 hours. That’s how people get sick and how plants die.
What you should do right now:
- Check your tires. Cold air kills tire pressure. With a 17°F night coming Tuesday, that "low pressure" light is going to be haunting a lot of dashboards.
- Drip the faucets. When we hit those teens on Tuesday night, those older homes in South Norfolk or the rural stretches of Hickory are at risk for frozen lines.
- Salt the walkway early. If the Saturday snow holds true, the transition from Thursday’s rain (10% chance) to Friday’s light snow (20% chance) will create a hidden layer of ice under any accumulation.
- Protect the pets. This isn't "outdoor dog" weather. If it's too cold for you to stand in the yard in a light sweater for 20 minutes, it's too cold for them to stay out overnight.
The rest of the week is a rollercoaster. We hit a peak of 56°F on Thursday—practically "shorts weather" by Virginia standards—before the Saturday snow threat. Keep an eye on the north wind speeds. If that Saturday wind kicks up past 15 mph, the wind chill will make that 24°F low feel like single digits. Stay warm, stay dry, and keep your ice scraper in the car, not the garage.