Barstow, CA climate
Barstow has mild winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 101°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Barstow feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Barstow weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 37° | 0.8" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43° – 54° |
| February | 63° | 39° | 1.0" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| March | 69° | 44° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50° – 62° |
| April | 76° | 49° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| May | 85° | 56° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62° – 78° |
| June | 95° | 64° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73° – 85° |
| July | 101° | 71° | 0.2" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 81° – 90° |
| August | 100° | 70° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 81° – 89° |
| September | 93° | 64° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 74° – 82° |
| October | 80° | 53° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| November | 68° | 43° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47° – 62° |
| December | 58° | 36° | 0.8" | 0.3" | 3 | 0 | 44° – 51° |
| Year | 79° | 52° | 4.9" | 0.3" | 22 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Barstow
Barstow gets 5 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 22 days a year.
About 271 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 22 and the first one by November 23. That leaves about 271 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 93% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Barstow
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Barstow, 47% of that work is heating and 53% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Barstow compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Barstow averaged 2.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in September (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Barstow’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. May swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 62° to 78°. December is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Barstow’s climate
What is the coldest month in Barstow?
December, with a typical high of 58° and a low of 36°.
What is the hottest month in Barstow?
July, with a typical high of 101° and a low of 71°. About 133 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Barstow get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.3 inches.
When is the first frost in Barstow?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 23, and the last spring frost by February 22.
What is the rainiest month in Barstow?
February, with 1.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 5 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Barstow itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Barstow, CA (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.