Descanso, CA climate
Descanso has mild winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 36°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Descanso feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Descanso 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 | 60° | 36° | 4.2" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| February | 59° | 36° | 5.1" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 42° – 55° |
| March | 63° | 37° | 3.4" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 44° – 57° |
| April | 67° | 39° | 1.7" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| May | 74° | 44° | 0.9" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54° – 66° |
| June | 83° | 49° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| July | 90° | 56° | 0.2" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67° – 77° |
| August | 91° | 57° | 0.4" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71° – 77° |
| September | 86° | 53° | 0.4" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| October | 76° | 46° | 0.8" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| November | 67° | 40° | 1.7" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46° – 58° |
| December | 59° | 37° | 3.4" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 45° – 53° |
| Year | 73° | 44° | 22.4" | 0.0" | 38 | 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 Descanso
Descanso gets 22 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 38 days a year.
About 270 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 4 and the first one by December 4. That leaves about 270 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 93% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Descanso
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Descanso, 65% of that work is heating and 35% 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 Descanso 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 Descanso averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.3°). The shift is larger than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Descanso’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 42° to 55°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Descanso’s climate
What is the coldest month in Descanso?
January, with a typical high of 60° and a low of 36°.
What is the hottest month in Descanso?
August, with a typical high of 91° and a low of 57°. About 75 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Descanso get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Descanso?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by December 4, and the last spring frost by March 4.
What is the rainiest month in Descanso?
February, with 5.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 22 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Descanso itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Ramona Fire Dept, CA (19 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.