Best time to go to California for a perfect weather and where to go?

Annual weather in California

For information about the climate and the weather city by city in California for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:

Best time to travel to California by cities

Best time to go to Los Angeles

Best time to go to San Francisco

Best time to go to Palm Springs

Best time to go to San Diego

Best time to go to Yosemite National Park

Best time to go to Angeles National Forest

Best time to go to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Best time to go to Big Sur

Best time to go to Cambria

Best time to go to Carmel-by-the-Sea

Best time to go to Channel Islands National Park

Best time to go to Chico

Best time to go to Cleveland National Forest

Best time to go to Crescent City

Best time to go to Death Valley National Park

Best time to go to Encinitas

Climate and Weather in California

If the region is so attractive, it is because of the diversity of its relief and landscapes. From the peaceful coasts to deserts where the altitude can be lower than sea level, passing through the Sierra Nevada with Mount Whitney reaching 4421 m, all of this greatly influences the weather in California.

In general, it is always cooler at higher altitudes than along the coast, and deserts experience very large temperature variations between seasons, as well as between day and night.

Thus, the climate of California varies from one locality to another and from one latitude to another. Here are the main trends:

• A predominantly Mediterranean and temperate summer climate covers 74% of California's territory. It can be found, for example, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Sacramento.
• A Mediterranean and hot summer climate is more prevalent as you move inland. This is the climate that prevails in Palm Springs.
• Elsewhere, the climate is occasionally semi-arid or arid depending on the area. For example, there is a dry and cold steppe climate in San Diego, while it is more dry and hot in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. In Death Valley, there is a cold and dry desert climate, but make no mistake, summers there are scorching!

It is also worth noting that the temperature of the water in the Pacific Ocean varies greatly depending on where you are on the coast. While it can easily reach 22°C (72°F) in Los Angeles and San Diego in the heart of summer, it rarely exceeds 16°C (61°F) on the San Francisco side during the same period.

Climate of the Northern California Coast

The northern coast stretches from Big Sur, just below San Francisco, to the Oregon border.

The climate conditions of this part of California are characterized by mild winter temperatures and spring-like summer highs.

The small temperature difference between seasons makes the climate rather pleasant, especially as one can enjoy good sunshine from April to September. In winter, temperatures range between 15 and 17°C (63°F) , while in summer, it is rare for the thermometer to exceed 24°C (76°F) . Regardless of the season, it is very cool at night. Expect average lows around 10°C (50°F) from November to April and around 15°C (59°F) the rest of the year.

However, some days see the rise of fog, which can persist for a good part of the day, especially during the summer season from June to September. Rain, on the other hand, is frequent in winter, from mid-December to February.

Climate of the Southern California Coast

From Big Sur to Mexico, the climate of the southern Californian coast translates into mild winters, hot summers, and very pleasant shoulder seasons.

From December to March, the average daytime temperature is 20°C (68°F) . In April, May, and November, highs are around 23-24°C. The mercury really rises between June and October, with temperatures ranging between 26 and 30°C (86°F) , with August and September being the hottest months of the year.

In terms of precipitation, it is almost non-existent from April to November, and slightly more pronounced from December to March with about 3 rainy days per month. January is the wettest month, but monthly rainfall rarely exceeds 100 mm.

Climate of the California Inland

As soon as one moves away from the coasts and the impact of the ocean, the climate conditions are strongly influenced by the surrounding relief.

For example, in Palm Springs, the climate is hot, dry, and almost always sunny. It ranges from 30 to 35°C (95°F) from June to September, around 20°C (68°F) in the shoulder seasons, and an average of 17°C (63°F) in winter, from December to March.

From June to September, temperatures can become unbearably hot, with heat peaks in Death Valley like in Furnace Creek113°F) . It is better to explore these areas during the rest of the year, avoiding December and January if possible, as they are quite cool, around 16°C (61°F) . Our favorite months are March and April, when wildflowers are in full bloom and temperatures are idyllic, with averages around 25°C (77°F) .

Climate of the Mountains in California

The climate in the Sierra Nevada is characterized by significant temperature variations between seasons, even during the same day. The seasons are very distinct there:

• In winter, from December to March, it is cold, between 0 and 5°C (41°F) , and snows heavily. It is essential to have chains or snow tires if you plan to go there during this period.
• Spring, from March to June, is often cool. It is not uncommon for snow to linger in Yosemite or Lake Tahoe until late April. Temperatures usually rise above 10°C (50°F) in May and reach around 15°C (59°F) by the end of the season in June.
• In summer, temperatures range between 20 and 25°C (77°F) depending on the regions, but nights remain quite cool.
• Fall is characterized by a rapid drop in temperatures from early October, with averages around 14°C (58°F) and occasionally, the return of snow. This creates a magnificent spectacle of nature when trees are adorned with colorful foliage, reminiscent of the forests in eastern Canada. From November, winter weather conditions are already present: temperatures range between 3 and 10°C (50°F) .

Temperatures and rainfall in California

On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of California and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Los Angeles , San Francisco, Palm Springs, San Diego and Yosemite National Park, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.

Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in California

Find out when California has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.

Tourist seasons in California

The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December. The number of visitors to California is high in: June, July, August and September.

• Very low season in California: January, February and November.
• Low season in California: March, April, May, October and December.
• High season in California: June and September.
• Peak season in California: July and August.

Figure: Visitor index for California month by month

Average price for flights to California

Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to California

Where to go in California?

This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).

Legend:

About California

What can I do in California?

Beaches / swimming

Nature and countryside

Culture and heritage

Sports

Family travel

Crafts / shopping

Gastronomy

Nightlife