San Clemente, CA climate
San Clemente has warm winters and cool summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 75°, a January night drops to 48°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in San Clemente feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
San Clemente 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 | 66° | 48° | 3.0" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 53° – 62° |
| February | 65° | 48° | 3.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 51° – 65° |
| March | 66° | 50° | 2.0" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52° – 65° |
| April | 68° | 53° | 0.8" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 57° – 63° |
| May | 69° | 56° | 0.3" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59° – 68° |
| June | 72° | 60° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62° – 70° |
| July | 75° | 64° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| August | 77° | 64° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68° – 74° |
| September | 77° | 63° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| October | 74° | 58° | 0.5" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 62° – 71° |
| November | 70° | 52° | 0.9" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| December | 65° | 47° | 2.2" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 53° – 63° |
| Year | 70° | 55° | 13.2" | 0.0" | 31 | 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 San Clemente
San Clemente gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 31 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in San Clemente
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In San Clemente, 67% of that work is heating and 33% 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.
San Clemente and its neighbors
San Clemente borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.6°. Rancho Mission Viejo has both the coldest January nights (47°) and the hottest July afternoons (82°). San Clemente’s January low is 48° and its July high 75°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How San Clemente 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 San Clemente averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 85% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at San Clemente’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 51° to 65°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about San Clemente’s climate
What is the coldest month in San Clemente?
December, with a typical high of 65° and a low of 47°.
What is the hottest month in San Clemente?
August, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 64°. About 4 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does San Clemente get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in San Clemente?
Frost is uncommon. Only 20% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in San Clemente?
February, with 3.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 13 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for San Clemente itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Laguna Beach, CA (12 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.