Washington, CA climate
Washington has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 26 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Washington feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Washington 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 | 49° | 30° | 10.7" | 6.4" | 13 | 6 | 34° – 47° |
| February | 52° | 31° | 10.3" | 7.9" | 12 | 4 | 32° – 50° |
| March | 56° | 33° | 9.4" | 4.2" | 11 | 3 | 35° – 52° |
| April | 61° | 35° | 5.5" | 1.2" | 9 | 0 | 41° – 53° |
| May | 70° | 42° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 8 | 0 | 46° – 64° |
| June | 79° | 48° | 1.0" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 58° – 69° |
| July | 87° | 54° | 0.0" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| August | 87° | 52° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| September | 81° | 47° | 0.6" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| October | 70° | 40° | 3.3" | 0.1" | 5 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| November | 56° | 34° | 6.6" | 1.2" | 9 | 1 | 35° – 51° |
| December | 47° | 29° | 11.5" | 5.1" | 12 | 4 | 34° – 44° |
| Year | 66° | 39° | 62.5" | 26.2" | 83 | 18 |
“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 Washington
Washington gets 63 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 83 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 18 days of the year.
About 178 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 28 and the first one by October 25. That leaves about 178 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 50% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Washington
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Washington, 91% of that work is heating and 9% 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 Washington 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 Washington averaged 0.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in September (+1.7°). The shift is smaller than in 88% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Washington’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 32° to 50°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Washington’s climate
What is the coldest month in Washington?
December, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Washington?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 54°. About 53 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Washington get?
About 26 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Washington?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 25, and the last spring frost by April 28.
What is the rainiest month in Washington?
December, with 11.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 63 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Washington itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Downieville, CA (14 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.