Kirkwood, CA climate
Kirkwood has chilly winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 72°, a January night drops to 23°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Kirkwood feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Kirkwood weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 23° | 8.3" | 25° – 38° |
| February | 40° | 21° | 7.7" | 23° – 39° |
| March | 43° | 23° | 7.2" | 26° – 40° |
| April | 47° | 26° | 4.2" | 31° – 43° |
| May | 54° | 33° | 2.7" | 35° – 52° |
| June | 64° | 41° | 0.9" | 47° – 58° |
| July | 72° | 48° | 0.3" | 55° – 64° |
| August | 71° | 48° | 0.3" | 55° – 63° |
| September | 66° | 43° | 0.8" | 51° – 59° |
| October | 56° | 35° | 2.7" | 41° – 52° |
| November | 46° | 27° | 4.8" | 26° – 43° |
| December | 39° | 22° | 8.4" | 26° – 37° |
| Year | 53° | 32° | 48.3" |
“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 Kirkwood
Kirkwood gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and July the driest.
About 113 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by June 7 and the first one by September 28. That leaves about 113 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 98% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Kirkwood
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Kirkwood, 99% of that work is heating and 1% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.4°). The shift is smaller than in 66% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Kirkwood’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. November swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 26° to 43°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Kirkwood’s climate
What is the coldest month in Kirkwood?
February, with a typical high of 40° and a low of 21°.
What is the hottest month in Kirkwood?
July, with a typical high of 72° and a low of 48°.
When is the first frost in Kirkwood?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 28, and the last spring frost by June 7.
What is the rainiest month in Kirkwood?
December, with 8.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Kirkwood itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Dagget Pass, NV (22 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.