California Climate and Average Weather
Climate of California: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in California month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 41° | 3,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 60° | 44° | 6,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 67° | 48° | 2,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 72° | 49° | 2,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 84° | 56° | 0,8 in | ★★★★★ |
| June | 93° | 60° | 0,0 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 97° | 62° | 0,1 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 97° | 63° | 0,2 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 90° | 61° | 0,1 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 79° | 55° | 1,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 64° | 46° | 4,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 56° | 42° | 4,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Mediterranean. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in California
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How California compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against California.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 101 mi | 54°F | 42°F cooler | 15 in |
| Reno | 111 mi | 54°F | 41°F cooler | 15 in |
| Crater Lake National Park | 298 mi | 42°F | 53°F cooler | 61 in |
| Crater Lake | 303 mi | 42°F | 53°F cooler | 57 in |
Climate by city in California
7 cities mapped in this atlas
Climate by national park in California
9 national parks mapped in this atlas
Climate by state park in California
4 state and provincial parks mapped in this atlas
Climate by mountain in California
2 mountains and peaks mapped in this atlas
Climate by lake in California
1 lakes mapped in this atlas
Climate by county in California
6 counties mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit California
Go in May, June, July, August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for California
Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 95°F is in line with the 97°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 63°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- Avoid long hikes after mid-morning; start at dawn or leave it for a cooler day.
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
California is a state in United States. California is a US state with its capital at Sacramento. It has a population of about 39 million. The capital is Sacramento.
Right now it is 88°F (31°C) in California with clear sky. It feels like 85°F. Today runs from 59°F to 95°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.7/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit California is May, June, July, August and September. The climate is Mediterranean. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 97°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 41°F.
The closest major airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 364 mi away. Nearby highlights include Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
In plain terms. Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 95°F is in line with the 97°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 8 AM to 11 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. swimming is the strongest bet in California today at 9.9/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about California
| Type | State |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 38°34′53.8″N 121°29′39.8″W (38.5816, -121.4944) |
| Capital | Sacramento |
| Population | 39.000.000 |
| Area | 163.695 sq mi |
| Abbreviation | CA |
| Time zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Local time | 8:36 PM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Mediterranean |
Weather map for California
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore California
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is California?
California is a state in United States. Its coordinates are 38.5816, -121.4944. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in California right now?
It is currently 88°F (31°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 26% and wind is 7 mph.
When is the best time to visit California?
May, June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in California, which has a Mediterranean climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is California in?
California observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 8:36 PM.
How many people live in California?
California has a population of approximately 39 million.
What is the nearest airport to California?
The closest airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 82 mi away, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 364 mi away and San Diego International Airport (SAN), 471 mi away.
What are the top things to do in California?
Popular options include Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Pinnacles National Park.
What places are in California?
California covers 29 places in this atlas, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Channel Islands National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
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| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (us-states) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 22, 2026 at 8:36 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
