Winter
Dec → Feb19 to 20°
nights 7 to 8°
- 5 rainy days · 90 mm
- 8.5 h of sun
- sea 12°
When is the best time to visit California?
- Jan19°not recommended
- Feb20°not recommended
- Mar19°fair
- Apr23°recommended
- May24°recommended
- Jun27°recommended
- Jul30°fair
- Aug31°fair
- Sep30°recommended
- Oct28°recommended
- Nov23°fair
- Dec19°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in California, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19° | 7° | 8.3 h | 86 mm | 5 d | 12° | |
| February | 20° | 8° | 9.1 h | 90 mm | 4 d | 12° | |
| March | 19° | 9° | 10.2 h | 96 mm | 10 d | 12° | |
| April | 23° | 11° | 11.2 h | 25 mm | 3 d | 13° | ✓ |
| May | 24° | 13° | 11.5 h | 8 mm | 1 d | 13° | ✓ |
| June | 27° | 15° | 12.3 h | 8 mm | 0 d | 14° | ✓ |
| July | 30° | 16° | 13.1 h | 2 mm | 0 d | 15° | |
| August | 31° | 17° | 12.2 h | 17 mm | 1 d | 15° | |
| September | 30° | 17° | 11 h | 13 mm | 2 d | 16° | ✓ |
| October | 28° | 14° | 10.1 h | 6 mm | 1 d | 16° | ✓ |
| November | 23° | 10° | 9.3 h | 13 mm | 2 d | 13° | |
| December | 19° | 8° | 8.2 h | 95 mm | 6 d | 13° |
The four seasons in California, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Los Angeles) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May19 to 24°
nights 9 to 13°
- 5 rainy days · 43 mm
- 11 h of sun
- sea 13°
Summer
Jun → Aug27 to 31°
nights 15 to 17°
- 0 rainy days · 9 mm
- 12.5 h of sun
- sea 15°
Autumn
Sep → Nov23 to 30°
nights 10 to 17°
- 2 rainy days · 11 mm
- 10.1 h of sun
- sea 15°
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in California, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h25 of daylight, in December 9h53, a difference of 4h31.
10h07Jan
10h55Feb
11h53Mar
13hApr
13h55May
14h25Jun
14h13Jul
13h25Aug
12h20Sep
11h16Oct
10h20Nov
9h53Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Los Angeles" (34.09°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in California, month by month
EventsRose Parade in PasadenaJanuaryCoachellaAprilMonarch butterfliesNovember to FebruaryGrey whale migrationDecember to AprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Sightseeing & walks: good conditions all twelve months.
- Long days: June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in California, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JanuaryRose Parade in Pasadena big crowds
On New Year's Day, Pasadena parades floats entirely covered in flowers, followed by marching bands from all over the country.
- AprilCoachella big crowds
Over two weekends in April, the festival takes over a polo ground in Indio, in the desert, and pushes prices up as far as Palm Springs.
- November to FebruaryMonarch butterflies
In winter, monarchs gather in tight clusters on the eucalyptus trees of Pacific Grove and Pismo Beach, by the ocean.
- December to AprilGrey whale migration
From December to April, grey whales travel along the coast between Alaska and Baja California, and can be spotted from Monterey or Big Sur.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended19°7° at night
- 86 mm · 5 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 12°
Busy, without the crush
February
Not recommended20°8° at night
- 90 mm · 4 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair19°9° at night
- 96 mm · 10 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended23°11° at night
- 25 mm · 3 d
- 11.2 h
- sea 13°
High season, book early
May
Recommended24°13° at night
- 8 mm · 1 d
- 11.5 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended27°15° at night
- 8 mm · 0 d
- 12.3 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair30°16° at night
- 2 mm · 0 d
- 13.1 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair31°17° at night
- 17 mm · 1 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended30°17° at night
- 13 mm · 2 d
- 11 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended28°14° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair23°10° at night
- 13 mm · 2 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended19°8° at night
- 95 mm · 6 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 13°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 7 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 86 mm over 5 days. Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
February. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 90 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (96 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (25 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (8 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 27 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (8 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.1 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 31 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (17 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 30 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 95 mm over 6 days. Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit California?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 23 to 30 °C, with 1 day of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Los Angeles).
Which month should you avoid in California?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 95 mm over 6 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Los Angeles).
What is the hottest month in California?
August, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Los Angeles).
What is the coldest month in California?
January, with 19 °C at best during the day and 7 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Los Angeles).
What is the driest month in California?
July: 2 mm over 0 days of rain, against 96 mm in March, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in California?
July, with 13.1 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in California?
The gap between day and night reaches 14 °C in July: 30 °C in the afternoon, 16 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in California?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 16 °C in September, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Golden Gate Bridge): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable California guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
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🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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