State in United States

California Weather Forecast

California weather: 63°F, clear. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.

🌙 63°F now🕔 9:24 AM local📅 Best: May, June, July, August and September👥 39 million

California weather in May

84°
average high · low 56°F
★★★★★
ranked #5 of 12 months

One of the best months to visit California.

Average high84°F
Average low56°F
Mean69°F
Rainfall0,8 in

May runs 38°F warmer than the annual average in California.

Compare with April or June.

Weather map for California

Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.

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Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.

Climate in California month by month

Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLine: average high · Bars: rainfall
MonthAvg highAvg lowRainfallRating
January57°41°3,6 in★★★☆☆
February60°44°6,7 in★★★☆☆
March67°48°2,4 in★★★★
April72°49°2,6 in★★★★
May84°56°0,8 in★★★★★
June93°60°0,0 in★★★★★
July97°62°0,1 in★★★★★
August97°63°0,2 in★★★★★
September90°61°0,1 in★★★★★
October79°55°1,5 in★★★★
November64°46°4,3 in★★★☆☆
December56°42°4,9 in★★★☆☆

Climate type: Mediterranean. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).

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.

January★★★☆☆
February★★★☆☆
March★★★★
April★★★★
May★★★★★
June★★★★★
July★★★★★
August★★★★★
September★★★★★
October★★★★
November★★★☆☆
December★★★☆☆

What to pack, what to skip

Pack for the next 7 days
  • Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
  • Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
Worth avoiding
  • 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.

How California compares with nearby places

Annual averages, and the difference against California.

PlaceDistanceAvg tempvs hereAnnual rain
Nevada101 mi54°F42°F cooler15 in
Reno111 mi54°F41°F cooler15 in
Crater Lake National Park298 mi42°F53°F cooler61 in
Crater Lake303 mi42°F53°F cooler57 in

See the California forecast by time range

California weather - more answers

Explore California

Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.

Weather 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 63°F (17°C) with clear. Humidity is 66% and wind is 8 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 9:24 AM.

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.

Related articles

Data sources and methodology

Place dataUSPOTUS Atlas dataset (us-states) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts.
Forecast and observationsOpen-Meteo (ECMWF and national models).
Air quality and pollenCopernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale.
Climate averagesERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years.
Official alertsUS National Weather Service.
MethodScores, 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 9:24 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.

Davil Hofile
Written byWriter at USPOTUS

Davil Hofile is a writer at USPOTUS covering breaking news, NFL updates, viral stories, entertainment, pets, and lifestyle. He specializes in transforming complex news into clear, trustworthy, and engaging articles that help readers quickly understand what's happening across the United States. His reporting follows Google's E-E-A-T guidelines, emphasizing accuracy, credible sources, and practical value for readers.

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