Climate snapshot for alpacas
69/100Alpaca climate comfort score
86°FAverage high, Jul
24°FAverage low, Jan
~16Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~108Frost nights per year
41 inAnnual precipitation
7Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Sep
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Apr–Oct)
- Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
- Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
Overall rating: 69/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 24°F | 2.8 in | 111 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 47°F | 26°F | 2.4 in | 113 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 55°F | 32°F | 3.4 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 66°F | 41°F | 3.4 in | 130 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.2 in | 148 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 4.5 in | 145 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jul | 86°F | 62°F | 4.3 in | 160 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.8 in | 158 · high | worms, grass |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 4.1 in | 158 · high | worms, grass |
| Oct | 68°F | 42°F | 2.8 in | 137 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 56°F | 33°F | 2.7 in | 126 · ok | — |
| Dec | 47°F | 27°F | 2.9 in | 116 · ok | frost |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Harrisonburg city, Virginia
January 43° / 24°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 47° / 26°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 55° / 32°F
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 66° / 41°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
May 74° / 50°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 82° / 59°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
July 86° / 62°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 84° / 61°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
September 78° / 54°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 68° / 42°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
November 56° / 33°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 47° / 27°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Sep.
- Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Mar — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (carried by white-tailed deer) is established in this region and is a leading cause of neurological disease in alpacas. Talk to your vet about a prevention plan for the snail season.
- Selenium: Soils and hay in this state are often selenium-deficient. Use a camelid mineral formulated for low-selenium areas and blood-test a few animals each year.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Harrisonburg city, Virginia are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Harrisonburg city, Virginia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Harrisonburg city, Virginia scores 69/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in Harrisonburg city, Virginia?
Plan shearing for April, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Harrisonburg city, Virginia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jun. For births then, breed females in May–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Harrisonburg city, Virginia?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Harrisonburg city, Virginia?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Sep. We estimate about 16 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 38.436, -78.873 · land area 17 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Virginia.