Imperial, CA climate
Imperial has warm winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 108°, a January night drops to 43°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Imperial feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Imperial 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 | 71° | 43° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52° – 63° |
| February | 74° | 47° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54° – 67° |
| March | 81° | 51° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60° – 72° |
| April | 87° | 56° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66° – 76° |
| May | 95° | 63° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74° – 85° |
| June | 104° | 70° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83° – 91° |
| July | 108° | 78° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 89° – 96° |
| August | 108° | 79° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 91° – 97° |
| September | 103° | 73° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 85° – 91° |
| October | 92° | 62° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| November | 79° | 50° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57° – 70° |
| December | 69° | 43° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51° – 60° |
| Year | 89° | 60° | 2.3" | 0.0" | 13 | 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 Imperial
Imperial gets 2 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 13 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Imperial
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Imperial, 16% of that work is heating and 84% is cooling, so air conditioning is the bigger bill.
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 Imperial 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 Imperial averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Imperial’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 54° to 67°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Imperial’s climate
What is the coldest month in Imperial?
December, with a typical high of 69° and a low of 43°.
What is the hottest month in Imperial?
July, with a typical high of 108° and a low of 78°. About 180 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Imperial get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Imperial?
Frost is uncommon. Only 54% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Imperial?
January, with 0.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 2 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Imperial itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at El Centro 2 Ssw, CA (5 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.