California, CA climate
California has mild winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 100°, a January night drops to 35°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in California feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
California 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° | 35° | 1.5" | 0.4" | 4 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| February | 62° | 38° | 1.7" | 0.3" | 5 | 0 | 42° – 58° |
| March | 68° | 42° | 1.0" | 0.6" | 4 | 0 | 48° – 62° |
| April | 74° | 47° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54° – 65° |
| May | 83° | 55° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59° – 77° |
| June | 94° | 64° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72° – 85° |
| July | 100° | 70° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 81° – 89° |
| August | 99° | 68° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 81° – 87° |
| September | 92° | 62° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72° – 81° |
| October | 80° | 51° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62° – 72° |
| November | 67° | 41° | 0.4" | 0.1" | 2 | 0 | 45° – 61° |
| December | 57° | 33° | 1.0" | 0.8" | 3 | 0 | 41° – 50° |
| Year | 78° | 51° | 6.6" | 2.2" | 24 | 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 California
California gets 7 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 24 days a year.
About 251 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 19 and the first one by November 25. That leaves about 251 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 90% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in California
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In California, 53% of that work is heating and 47% 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 California 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 California averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 86% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at California’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 59° to 77°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about California’s climate
What is the coldest month in California?
December, with a typical high of 57° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in California?
July, with a typical high of 100° and a low of 70°. About 106 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does California get?
About 2 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in California?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 25, and the last spring frost by March 19.
What is the rainiest month in California?
February, with 1.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 7 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for California itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Randsburg, CA (20 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.