Climate snapshot for alpacas
65/100Alpaca climate comfort score
88°FAverage high, Jul
33°FAverage low, Jan
~27Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~36Frost nights per year
48 inAnnual precipitation
7Barber pole worm months
10Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May, 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
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (10 months of grass growth)
Overall rating: 65/100 — 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 | 50°F | 33°F | 3.5 in | 117 · ok | — |
| Feb | 52°F | 34°F | 2.9 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Mar | 59°F | 41°F | 3.9 in | 122 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 69°F | 50°F | 3.4 in | 132 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 76°F | 59°F | 3.8 in | 150 · high | worms, grass |
| Jun | 84°F | 67°F | 4.4 in | 147 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jul | 88°F | 72°F | 5.5 in | 162 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 86°F | 71°F | 5.2 in | 160 · high | worms, grass |
| Sep | 81°F | 66°F | 5.1 in | 161 · high | worms, grass |
| Oct | 71°F | 55°F | 4.0 in | 141 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 61°F | 44°F | 3.2 in | 130 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 54°F | 37°F | 3.3 in | 122 · ok | grass |
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 Norfolk city, Virginia
January 50° / 33°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 52° / 34°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 59° / 41°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 69° / 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).
May 76° / 59°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.
June 84° / 67°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.
July 88° / 72°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.
August 86° / 71°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 81° / 66°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 71° / 55°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.
November 61° / 44°F
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 54° / 37°F
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Secure winter hay: about 10 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Apr (breed in Apr–May).
- Heat precautions: May, Jul–Sep.
- Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Mar–Dec (about 10 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
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 80 km (50 miles). Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Wire Farm Alpacas · Toano | farm | 44 mi | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Norfolk city, Virginia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Norfolk city, Virginia scores 65/100 (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 Norfolk city, Virginia?
Plan shearing for March, 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 Norfolk city, Virginia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Apr. For births then, breed females in Apr–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Norfolk city, Virginia?
With roughly 2 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 499 lb (226 kg) — around 10 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Norfolk city, Virginia?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May, Jul–Sep. We estimate about 27 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 36.923, -76.245 · land area 53 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Virginia.