California, IN climate
California has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 29 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in California feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
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 | 32° | 17° | 2.6" | 10.0" | 12 | 15 | 14° – 37° |
| February | 36° | 20° | 2.2" | 9.1" | 9 | 10 | 16° – 38° |
| March | 48° | 28° | 2.6" | 3.5" | 9 | 3 | 28° – 53° |
| April | 61° | 38° | 3.8" | 0.5" | 11 | 0 | 42° – 55° |
| May | 72° | 49° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 54° – 67° |
| June | 81° | 59° | 4.7" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| July | 84° | 62° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 68° – 79° |
| August | 82° | 60° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 66° – 78° |
| September | 76° | 52° | 3.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 59° – 69° |
| October | 64° | 42° | 3.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| November | 49° | 32° | 2.9" | 1.3" | 9 | 1 | 33° – 48° |
| December | 37° | 23° | 2.5" | 4.6" | 11 | 8 | 15° – 40° |
| Year | 60° | 40° | 40.8" | 29.0" | 117 | 37 |
“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 California
California gets 41 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 117 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 37 days of the year.
About 174 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 26 and the first one by October 19. That leaves about 174 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 56% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in California
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In California, 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.
California and its neighbors
California borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.2°. North Bend has the coldest January nights (17°) and Rich Grove the hottest July afternoons (84°). California’s January low is 17° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How 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 California averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.6°). The shift is larger than in 53% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at California’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 28° to 53°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about California’s climate
What is the coldest month in California?
January, with a typical high of 32° and a low of 17°.
What is the hottest month in California?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 62°. About 7 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does California get?
About 29 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in California?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 19, and the last spring frost by April 26.
What is the rainiest month in California?
June, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 41 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for California itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at North Judson 3 S, IN (7 mi, snow) and Knox WWTP, IN (6 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.