Malibu, CA climate
Malibu has warm winters and cool summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 73°, a January night drops to 49°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Malibu feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Malibu 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 | 64° | 49° | 2.2" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 53° – 64° |
| February | 63° | 49° | 2.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 51° – 64° |
| March | 65° | 51° | 1.8" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 51° – 66° |
| April | 66° | 52° | 0.5" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55° – 63° |
| May | 67° | 55° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| June | 70° | 59° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| July | 73° | 62° | 0.0" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| August | 74° | 62° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| September | 74° | 61° | 0.1" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| October | 72° | 58° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 61° – 72° |
| November | 69° | 53° | 0.6" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55° – 65° |
| December | 64° | 49° | 1.9" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 54° – 62° |
| Year | 68° | 55° | 10.5" | 0.0" | 34 | 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 Malibu
Malibu gets 10 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 34 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Malibu
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Malibu, 90% of that work is heating and 10% 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.
Malibu and its neighbors
Malibu borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.6°. Topanga has both the coldest January nights (48°) and the hottest July afternoons (84°). Malibu’s January low is 49° and its July high 73°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Malibu 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 Malibu averaged 2.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.3°). The shift is larger than in 100% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Malibu’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 51° to 66°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Malibu’s climate
What is the coldest month in Malibu?
February, with a typical high of 63° and a low of 49°.
What is the hottest month in Malibu?
August, with a typical high of 74° and a low of 62°.
How much snow does Malibu get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Malibu?
Frost is uncommon. Only 0% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Malibu?
February, with 2.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Malibu itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Santa Monica Pier, CA (17 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.