Lake California, CA climate
Lake California has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 98°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lake California feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lake 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 | 57° | 39° | 5.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 44° – 54° |
| February | 61° | 41° | 4.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 45° – 57° |
| March | 66° | 44° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 47° – 61° |
| April | 72° | 47° | 1.9" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 53° – 65° |
| May | 82° | 55° | 1.4" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 58° – 76° |
| June | 91° | 62° | 0.6" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 70° – 83° |
| July | 98° | 67° | 0.1" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78° – 86° |
| August | 96° | 65° | 0.1" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78° – 85° |
| September | 92° | 60° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| October | 80° | 52° | 1.4" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 62° – 72° |
| November | 64° | 44° | 2.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 47° – 59° |
| December | 56° | 38° | 4.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 43° – 51° |
| Year | 76° | 51° | 26.7" | 0.0" | 68 | 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 Lake California
Lake California gets 27 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 68 days a year.
About 281 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 22 and the first one by November 29. That leaves about 281 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 94% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lake California
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lake California, 57% of that work is heating and 43% 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 Lake 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 Lake California averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.0°). The shift is smaller than in 71% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lake 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 58° to 76°. December is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Lake California’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lake California?
December, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 38°.
What is the hottest month in Lake California?
July, with a typical high of 98° and a low of 67°. About 104 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lake California get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Lake California?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 29, and the last spring frost by February 22.
What is the rainiest month in Lake California?
January, with 5.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 27 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lake California itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Coleman Fisheries Stn, CA (4 mi, snow) and Red Bluff Municipal Airport, CA (14 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.