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Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit California for your holiday.
Climate Overview
5 °C to 25 °C
11 °C to 21 °C
0 – 4.37 in Average Annual Temperature is between 14 °C (San Francisco) and 17.9 °C (San Diego)
Show temperatures in degree
Geography and General
Table of Contents
California – the so-called Golden State – in the west of the United States of America is the state with the highest population.
According to current estimates, about 40 million people live in an area of over 249000 square miles between the Pacific Ocean and the neighbouring states of Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. In the south, California on the peninsula of the same name borders Baja California in Mexico.
The area of California is larger than that of the Federal Republic of Germany. The capital is Sacramento, but the largest cities in California are Los Angeles, San Diego, San José and San Francisco.
The state of California has a very high Asian population (over 5 million), but one third of the total population is of Mexican descent. In southern California in particular, Hispanics are already the absolute majority of the population.
California has always been a very popular destination due to its climate and numerous attractions. Guided tours in groups or individually with a rental car are often combined with detours to Las Vegas and the surrounding national parks.
Climate in California
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California has an extraordinary geographical diversity, ranging from alpine mountains to extremely hot desert regions. Accordingly, the climate in California also differs from region to region. Generally, three climate zones can be distinguished:
California’s coastal areas are somewhat cooled by the Pacific Ocean and are therefore significantly lower than inland. While the south coast has a subtropical climate, the Mojawe desert is called an arid climate zone. In the interior, however, the climate is continental.
In practice, this means warm day temperatures all year round on the coast, but the winters are very rainy, especially in the north. In the desert areas, very hot summer months with peak temperatures above 45 °C are common, but at night it cools down considerably.
The large cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego are of interest to most travellers as landmarks. Most of the rain falls here between November and March at comparatively low temperatures. Summer, on the other hand, is usually warm and dry.
Best Time to Visit California: Overview
JanuaryJan TemperaturesTemp. up to 19 °C Water max. 15 °C | FebruaryFeb TemperaturesTemp. up to 19 °C Water max. 15 °C | MarchMar TemperaturesTemp. up to 19 °C Water max. 16 °C | AprilApr Good time to traveltime mostly PerfectPerf. climate in California | MayMay Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in California | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in California |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime Main Season | AugustAug Best time to traveltime Main Season | SeptemberSep Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in California | OctoberOct Good time to traveltime mostly PerfectPerf. climate in California | NovemberNov TemperaturesTemp. up to 21 °C | DecemberDec TemperaturesTemp. up to 19 °C Water max. 16 °C |
When is the best time to travel in California?
In general, the pleasant travel season in California usually begins around Easter, when temperatures rise and rainfall decreases significantly. While the weather on the west coast and southwest of the USA is still quite unstable, the best travel time for California is from May to the end of September.
With similar cuts as in April, October is still well suited for a round trip. The absolute peak season in California is between mid-June and the end of August. During this time, accommodation prices are high and many attractions are also very popular with local visitors.
We therefore prefer the fringe months of late April to early June and September to mid-October as absolute favourites. Especially Yosemite and Sequoia show their best side in May. The fringe months are also ideal for combinations with hot areas such as Death Valley or Nevada.
Best Time to Visit the Regions
Find the best time to visit the regions (California) in the following overview.| Location | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | May, June, July, August, September, and October |
| San Francisco | May, June, July, August, and September |
| San Diego | April, May, June, July, August, September, and October |
Climate Charts California
In the following, you will find climate charts for the regions.
Furthermore, there are some charts you can use for quick comparison of climate between the regions.
Show Climate Chart for
Los Angeles
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Tables California
In the following, you will find some climate tables for California, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Show climate table for
Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Los Angeles (California)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 19° | 19° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 21° | 19° |
| Night Temperature | 9° | 10° | 10° | 12° | 14° | 15° | 17° | 18° | 17° | 15° | 12° | 9° |
| Water Temperature | 14° | 14° | 15° | 15° | 16° | 18° | 19° | 20° | 19° | 18° | 17° | 15° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 2.4 | 2.52 | 1.97 | 0.71 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0 | 0.16 | 0.31 | 0.35 | 1.77 | 1.65 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Los Angeles is 17.2 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: August (21.4 °C)
Coldest month: January (13.8 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Los Angeles is 20 °C. Comfortable bathing is possible at water temperatures of about 21 °C.
Months with water temperature of at least 17 °C (Limited bathing is possible):
June, July, August, September, October, and November
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 12.05 inchFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in Los Angeles.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 11.7 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in San Francisco (California)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 13° | 15° | 16° | 18° | 19° | 21° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 21° | 17° | 13° |
| Night Temperature | 5° | 7° | 8° | 8° | 10° | 11° | 12° | 13° | 13° | 11° | 8° | 6° |
| Water Temperature | 11° | 11° | 12° | 12° | 13° | 14° | 15° | 15° | 16° | 15° | 13° | 11° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 4.37 | 3.19 | 3.07 | 1.38 | 0.2 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.2 | 1.22 | 2.87 | 3.11 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in San Francisco is 14 °C.Warmest month: September (18.1 °C)
Coldest month: January (9.3 °C)
The maximum water temperature in San Francisco is 16 °C. Bathing would be very uncomfortable.
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 19.8 inchThere is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in San Francisco.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 10.8 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 8.4 hours of sunshine per day on average.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in San Diego (California)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 19° | 19° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 21° | 19° |
| Night Temperature | 9° | 10° | 12° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 19° | 20° | 19° | 16° | 12° | 9° |
| Water Temperature | 15° | 15° | 16° | 17° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 21° | 20° | 19° | 18° | 16° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 1.81 | 1.54 | 1.77 | 0.79 | 0.2 | 0.08 | 0.04 | 0.12 | 0.24 | 0.35 | 1.46 | 1.57 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in San Diego is 17.9 °C.Warmest month: August (22.6 °C)
Coldest month: January (14.1 °C)
The maximum water temperature in San Diego is 21 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 17 °C (Limited bathing is possible):
all except January, February, March, and December
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
July, and August
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 9.96 inchThere is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in San Diego.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 9.8 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 8.4 hours of sunshine per day on average.Sights & Highlights
Among the most important sights in California are undoubtedly the two cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. San Francisco attracts with highlights such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the cloudy Fishermans Wharf with Pier 39 and the legendary Lombard Street.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles scores with its Westside with Beverly Hills and the coastal city of Santa Monica as well as the glittering world of Hollywood. A visit to Universal Studios Hollywood is also a must on a trip to California. San Diego is home to Balboa Park and the USS Midway Museum.
There is also a lot to discover in the countryside: Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, a view from Glacier Point remains unforgettable until the end of your life. The sequoia trees in Sequoia National Park (Giant Forest) are also a must – the list could go on forever!
More information about the best things to do: California
Popular Activities
Universal Studios Hollywood: Ticket with Easy Cancellation
Safaris & wildlife activities
from 106 $ »
Experience either 1 or 2 days of action-packed entertainment with your Universal Studios Hollywood ticket. Enjoy thrilling theme park rides and shows, tour a real working movie studio, and visit LA’s best shops, restaurants, and cinemas at CityWalk.
Universal Studios Hollywood: Ticket with Easy Cancellation
Activities
from 107 $ »
Experience either 1 or 2 days of action-packed entertainment with your Universal Studios Hollywood ticket. Enjoy thrilling theme park rides and shows, tour a real working movie studio, and visit LA’s best shops, restaurants, and cinemas at CityWalk.
San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise
Culture & history
from 38 $ »
Sail along San Francisco’s breathtaking waterfront, under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and around notorious Alcatraz Island. Discover San Francisco’s history via an award-winning audio commentary, available in 16 languages.
More attractions
San Diego: USS Midway Museum Entry Ticket | Los Angeles: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood | San Francisco: Escape from The Rock Bay Cruise | San Francisco: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour | San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise by Luxury Catamaran | San Diego: Harbor Cruise | San Francisco: Yosemite National Park & Giant Sequoias Hike |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in San Francisco (Station San Francisco County)
broken clouds, 13.6 °CClouds: 75 % Wind: 7 mph WNW
Air Pressure: 1029 hPa Humidity: 66 %
Air Pressure: 1029 hPa Humidity: 66 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 08:52 pm
The next days …
| 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 | 13th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 °C to 14 °C |  10 °C to 14 °C |  9 °C to 11 °C | 7 °C to 13 °C | 8 °C to 13 °C | 10 °C to 14 °C |
| 8 °C to 14 °C | 10 °C to 14 °C | 9 °C to 11 °C | 7 °C to 13 °C | 8 °C to 13 °C | 10 °C to 14 °C |
| Clouds: 54 % | Clouds: 3 % | Clouds: 48 % | Clouds: 0 % | Clouds: 7 % | Clouds: 0 % |
| No Precipitation | No Precipitation | 0.02 in of rain | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
USA: Regions
California is part of the holiday destination USA. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:USA | Las Vegas | Florida | Southern United States | New York | Grand Canyon | Chicago | Alaska | Hawaii | Miami | Key West | Los Angeles | San Francisco | Washington D.C. | Seattle | Boston | San Diego | Orlando | New Orleans | Fort Myers |
Hottest Month
August: 25 °C
Day Temperature in San Diego
August: 25 °CDay Temperature in San Diego
Coldest Month
January: 5 °C
Night Temperature in San Francisco
January: 5 °CNight Temperature in San Francisco
Rainiest Month
January: 4.37 in
Rain in San Francisco
January: 4.37 inRain in San Francisco
Driest Month
July: 0 in
Rain in Los Angeles
July: 0 inRain in Los Angeles
Maximum Water Temperature
July: 21 °C
Water Temperature in San Diego
July: 21 °CWater Temperature in San Diego
Sunniest Month
July: 11.7 hours/day
Sunshine in Los Angeles
July: 11.7 hours/daySunshine in Los Angeles
Activities and Attractions
San Francisco: Muir Woods Redwoods and Wine Country Tour
Tours
from 169 $ »
SF: Alcatraz Ticket w/ 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Night Tour
Bus & Minivan Tours
from 112 $ »
San Francisco: Bridge to Bridge Cruise
Tours
from 48 $ »
Distances to California
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 5440 mi | 2450 mi | 10 mi |
| San Francisco | 5360 mi | 2570 mi | 340 mi |
| San Diego | 5490 mi | 2430 mi | 120 mi |
Where’s California?
Show Los Angeles on MapShow San Francisco on Map
Show San Diego on Map
Continent: North America
All Holiday Destinations in North AmericaShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your California holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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California: Experiences of our Visitors
23 days of great weather, only Los Angeles had 2 days of clouds. Temperature at the coast 23-25°C with pleasant breeze. Grand Canyon 30°C, but 0°C at night. Bryce Canyon, Valley of Fire and Las Vegas unpleasant 46°C, at night 30°C. Tioga-Pass to Yosemite was still closed at the end of June, next pass in the north Fales Hot Springs only with SUVs recommended (no RVs!) right and left 1 meter snow at 20°C, but cleared road, Yosemite up to 30°C, breathtaking waterfalls
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
7 days very pleasant weather in Los Angeles: Temperatures actually always between 20 and 25 °C, never extremely hot and even in the evening one can easily go outside with short clothes. And no rain.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent