Announcing the First Virginia Climate Assessment
Media Contact
Sophia Whitaker
Communications Manager, Virginia Climate Center at George Mason University
October 30, 2025
The Virginia Climate Center at George Mason University announces the upcoming release of the Virginia Climate Assessment, a first of its kind report to provide a comprehensive and reliable overview of Virginia’s weather and climate conditions and the impacts they have on the Commonwealth.
Fairfax, VA — The Virginia Climate Center is set to release the first ever statewide, science-based assessment of Virginia’s past, current, and future climate to evaluate the impacts on the 8.7 million Virginians, vital ecosystems, and major economic sectors within the Commonwealth. The Virginia Climate Assessment (VCA) is the first iteration of a series of reports that will establish a baseline against which future weather and climate changes can be measured, and effectiveness of adaptation efforts can be gauged.
“Unlike many states, Virginia has never had a formal statewide climate assessment,” states Jim Kinter, Director of the Virginia Climate Center and Professor of Climate Dynamics at George Mason University. “This creates a gap in resources for Virginia’s decision makers, local and state officials, and community members that are vital to effectively preparing for disruptive climate events and planning for a more resilient future. The Virginia Climate Assessment is meant to help fill this gap and provide our decision makers and community members with the climate information they need.”
The Virginia Climate Center led the VCA in collaboration with authors and reviewers from several Virginia institutions with expertise specific to topics of concern such as extreme heat risk, sea level rise, flood risk, and economic impacts within the state’s six defined climate regions. The report will contain key findings regarding the Commonwealth’s shifting weather and climate patterns and will highlight areas of exposure, providing Virginians with insights that inform climate resilience and preparedness strategies.
The VCA will be open access and publicly available on the Virginia Climate Center website upon release in mid-November 2025, along with an executive summary for busy readers and highlights of the report’s key messages.
