Pismo Beach, CA climate
Pismo Beach has warm winters and cool summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 68°, a January night drops to 46°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Pismo Beach feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Pismo Beach 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 | 62° | 46° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 51° – 59° |
| February | 62° | 47° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| March | 63° | 48° | 2.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| April | 64° | 49° | 1.2" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| May | 64° | 51° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53° – 63° |
| June | 66° | 53° | 0.1" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55° – 64° |
| July | 68° | 56° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59° – 66° |
| August | 69° | 57° | 0.0" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60° – 66° |
| September | 70° | 56° | 0.1" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| October | 70° | 54° | 0.7" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| November | 66° | 50° | 1.5" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 52° – 62° |
| December | 62° | 46° | 2.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 59° |
| Year | 65° | 51° | 17.2" | 0.0" | 57 | 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 Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach gets 17 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 57 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Pismo Beach
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Pismo Beach, 95% of that work is heating and 5% 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.
Pismo Beach and its neighbors
Pismo Beach borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.1°. Avila Beach has both the coldest January nights (47°) and the hottest July afternoons (67°). Pismo Beach’s January low is 46° and its July high 68°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Pismo Beach 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 Pismo Beach averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.8°). The shift is larger than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Pismo Beach’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 49° to 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Pismo Beach’s climate
What is the coldest month in Pismo Beach?
December, with a typical high of 62° and a low of 46°.
What is the hottest month in Pismo Beach?
September, with a typical high of 70° and a low of 56°. About 4 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Pismo Beach get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Pismo Beach?
Frost is uncommon. Only 54% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Pismo Beach?
January, with 3.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 17 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Pismo Beach itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Pismo Beach, CA (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.