Are you wondering what the coldest month in California is? If so, keep reading!
If you’re visiting California soon, you might be asking yourself the question, what is the coldest month in California? California is a big place – so the temperatures can vary depending on where you’re visiting. For the sake of this article, we’re using Los Angeles and San Francisco as prime examples.
So, what is the coldest month in California?
Your answer: December is the coldest month in California, closely followed by January and February.
Taking averages across the state, December, January and February are the coldest months in California.
What is the coldest month in California? December is considered the coldest month in California, closely followed by January and February. However, it’s worth bearing in mind, that temperatures in California can vary depending on location, especially as California is a state with both beaches and snowy mountains.
A key takeaway – California doesn’t tend to get that cold in it’s cities- California is actually one of the most pleasant states to visit during the winter months, and offers mild temperatures (even during the winter months). Even in December, the coldest average temperatures tend to be around the 49°F mark – which can feel cold (sure!) but not below freezing, and certainly not unpleasant to be in.
When researching what is the coldest month of the year in California – you might need to know a little more about the monthly averages too. These lists (below) of the average monthly temperatures in Californian locations is really useful as an overview of the different monthly temperatures and as a comparison of the month to month averages.
However, it’s hard to find an average comparison for the state as a whole – because the state is so big, and the climate does vary widely from location to location. For example, from the beaches to the mountains – you’ll see big differences in temperatures.
Because of this (and to provide the most useful information possible), I’ve pulled various data from 2 of the main cities in California. The data below is the average monthly temperatures using a 10-year average from 2010 to 2019 in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. So hopefully this information proves useful!
Here are the averages for San Francisco in California!
High °F
Low °F
Month
High °C
Low °C
59
48
January
15
9
61
48
February
16
9
62
50
March
17
10
64
51
April
18
10
63
51
May
17
11
67
53
June
19
12
66
55
July
19
13
67
56
August
19
13
70
56
September
21
14
70
55
October
21
13
64
51
November
18
11
58
48
December
15
9
64
52
Year
18
11
Does California reach freezing temperatures?
As we’ve mentioned already, California is a big place, and so the temperatures do vary depending on where you within the state. In most of the cities in California, you won’t experience below freezing temperatures. The cities tend to stay mild and managable.
However, if you plan to visit the mountains, you will most likely experience freezing temperatures (and snow). So if you’re looking to experience some of the state’s colder locations and you’re looking for snow, it’s worth looking specifically for places in California where it snows.
So, is December a bad time to visit California?
Now you know that the coldest month of the year in California is December – you may be wondering if December is a bad time to visit the city.
The answer, is no! December is a great time of year to visit California. Sure, it won’t be as warm as you’re used to in the summer time (and you might not necessarily catch a tan!) but you’ll certainly be able to enjoy the city’s attractions in December.
Also, December is a festive time of year in December too – so you can expect to experience lots of lovely Christmas-themed events and occasions during December. This (in our opinion, at least) makes this a wonderful time of year to visit California.
What is the coldest month in California? Hopefully this post has answered all your questions!
So, when it comes to knowing what is the coldest month in California, hopefully this post has given you all the information you need! The most important thing to remember, is that (in general) California is a really mild place to visit during the winter, and even the coldest month in California isn’t too harsh or cold.
Even during the coldest month in California, you’ll find people still enjoying time outdoors, hiking, swimming at the beach, etc. So it’s definitely one of the easiest places to spend time in the winter months, without sacrificing outdoor activities and hobbies!
The coldest month in California is December, followed by January and February – but it’s still a wonderful place to visit during these months because of the mild and manageable temperatures.
Death Valley's Greenland Ranch holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded at 134 in 1913. But On Jan. 20, 1937, Boca—a former reservoir located in Nevada County—recorded a mind-numbingly cold temperature of -45 degrees.
In 45 states, the coldest month of the year is January. December and February are the coldest months in other states. You might recall that February of 2021 was a brutally cold month.
These temperature extremes were measured in downtown Los Angeles and go back to 1921. The lowest temperature recorded there during that period was 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 Celsius) on January 4, 1949.
Your answer: December is the coldest month in California, closely followed by January and February. Taking averages across the state, December, January and February are the coldest months in California.
Since the amount of sunlight is at its minimum at the winter solstice, which occurs around December 22, you might expect that day to be the coldest of the year, on average. But instead, the coldest time of year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs in February, nearly 2 months later.
December through February features the coldest temperatures of the year in most of the United States. See when the coldest average-low temperature of the season occurs in your location.
For the Northern Hemisphere, the months of January and February are typically the coldest. The reason is due to cumulative cooling and a relatively low sun angle.
Florida is the hotter and more humid state when compared to California, you might even want to call it tropical. Although Florida doesn't have as much of a diverse landscape as the Golden State, it has miles of incredible beaches and life is very much focused on the coast.
Death Valley holds the record for the highest air temperature on the planet: On 10 July 1913, temperatures at the aptly named Furnace Creek area in the California desert reached a blistering 56.7°C (134.1°F). Average summer temperatures, meanwhile, often rise above 45°C (113°F).
First place goes to San Francisco, with only two days of extreme heat and a low temperature just below freezing at 27 degrees. Second place goes to San Diego, followed by Los Angeles. Both have an average yearly temperature of 60 degrees with sunny days 70% of the year.
The lowest natural temperature ever directly recorded at ground level on Earth is −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K) at the then-Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica on 21 July 1983 by ground measurements.
Rising temperatures were among the report's starkest findings, with annual average air temperatures in California increasing by about 2.5 degrees since 1895 and warming at a faster rate beginning in the 1980s.
November 2022 to October 2023. Winter will be warmer and wetter than normal, with above-normal mountain snows. The coldest temperatures will occur in mid-November, mid-January, and early February. The stormiest periods will be in mid- to late December, early and late January, early and late February, and late March.
Due to low temperatures and a higher elevation, the rainfall experienced can then freeze into snow with the Sierra Nevada seeing roughly 300-500 inches of snow per year, and parts in Southern California enjoying around 60 inches. The snowiest months in both regions are January and February.
In October, California is cooling down as the winter gets nearer. With average daytime temperatures of 18°C in Los Angeles and 14°C in San Francisco, you'll need summery clothes for the hottest parts of the day and plenty of layers for the cooler evenings.
The average winter temperature in California is between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 15 Celsius), with the climate growing colder the farther north you go.
A wet-bulb temperature of 35 °C, or around 95 °F, is pretty much the absolute limit of human tolerance, says Zach Schlader, a physiologist at Indiana University Bloomington. Above that, your body won't be able to lose heat to the environment efficiently enough to maintain its core temperature.
Summer (June-August) of 2022 was a season of extremes. Summer 2022 was the third hottest on record for the U.S. Over 100 U.S. cities experienced one of their top-ten hottest summers this year.
It is commonly held that the maximum temperature at which humans can survive is 108.14-degree Fahrenheit or 42.3-degree Celsius. A higher temperature may denature proteins and cause irreparable damage to brain. Simply put, the human body can turn into a scrambled egg.
Snow falls in 49 of the 50 states in most winters; Florida being the lone exception. Northern portions of Florida, especially in the panhandle, experience some flurries during most, but not all winters.
Based on the minimum recorded temperature by state, Alaska is the coldest state in the country, with an average temperature of 30.7°F. The second coldest state is North Dakota, with an average temperature of 42.4°F. Minnesota is the third-coldest state, with an average temperature of 42.5°F.
What state has the best weather? Many cities in southern and central California like San Diego and Santa Barbara have year-round temperatures typically between 60 and 85 degrees and see little rainfall, making California the state with the best weather!
From Dr. Stephen Warren, University of Washington (8/22/2007): The world record for low temperature was set at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on 21 July 1983. Cerveny et al. (2007) give this temperature as -89.4°C in their Table 2, quoting Krause and Flood (1997), who gave the same value.
I thought it opportune to look at what the coldest temperatures ever observed in the lower 48 states have been, with special attention to the coldest reading of all—the -69.7°F reported from Rogers Pass, Montana on January 20, 1954.
“July is typically the world's warmest month of the year, but July 2021 outdid itself as the hottest July and month ever recorded. This new record adds to the disturbing and disruptive path that climate change has set for the globe.”
Taxes in Florida are slightly different from in California. The state sales tax is only 6%, rather than California's 7.25%. Additionally, there is no state income tax in Florida. Florida residents will still owe federal income tax, however.
During every season, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are consistently among the top four of the nation's hottest states, based on state-wide average temperatures. Florida ranks overall as the warmest state year round.
Dallol holds the official record for highest average temperature for an inhabited place on Earth. From 1960 to 1966, the annual mean temperature of the locality was 34.4 °C (93.9 °F), while the average daily maximum temperature during the same period was recorded as a scorching 41.1 °C (106.0 °F).
(KTXL) — While tornadoes are not a regular occurrence in California, it is a weather phenomenon that can appear in the state, specifically in Northern California. According to the National Weather Service, California averages around 11 tornadoes a year and they usually occur in the fall or spring.
Overall, Sunnyvale was found to be the happiest city in the U.S. Located just north of Cupertino outside San Jose, Sunnyvale had the highest quality of life score of any city analyzed.
1. Fairbanks, Alaska. With a minimum average temperature of about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks takes the cake as the coldest city in the U.S. The northernmost major city in Alaska, Fairbanks has seen record cold temperatures reaching minus 66 degrees in the past.
The lowest temperature that the human body can survive is 96 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature where the body continues to function normally. Any temperature below 96 degrees Fahrenheit interferes with normal organ functions and can lead to hypothermia, shivering, and pale skin.
California as a whole is projected to be drier and hotter in the decades to come. The U.S. government projects the Sonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin deserts to expand as climate change continues to take hold.
Temperatures will likely average above normal through April. Below normal precipitation expected, especially in January and February • The 2022 – 2023 winter “rainy season” will likely finish below normal again this season. Long term drought will continue into 2023.
It's one of the coolest months for the state but that means you can expect daytime temperatures in Southern California in the mid to high 60's and overnight lows of about 50 degrees. Days are mostly sunny with scattered rain showers. In Northern California, it's just a bit cooler.
Winter temperatures will be much milder than normal, with the coldest periods in mid- to late November, early December, and late January. Precipitation and snowfall will be below normal, on average, with the snowiest periods in early November, mid-December, late January, and early February.
With La Niña persisting, NOAA's winter forecast favors wetter weather in the Pacific Northwest and drier conditions in Southern California for December 2022 to February 2023.
The average winter temperature in California is between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 15 Celsius), with the climate growing colder the farther north you go.
Climate change is making most places warmer, and California is no exception. With more greenhouse gasses insulating the planet, we're going to continue to see higher temperatures year-round.
Bakersfield, in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, experienced its all-time greatest snowfall of 4.0” on Dec.11, 1932. Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera notes that snowfall occurred in Los Angeles in 1882 (when snow was also reported in San Diego), January 1922, and February 1937.
Much of California has a Mediterranean-like climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. On the coast, the average daily high temperature hovers around 70°F and up, but can occasionally spike to 80°F or more on hottest summer days; freezing temperatures are rare, even in winter.
Palm Springs in December. If you're wondering where the warmest place in California is in December, look no further than Palm Springs! Southern California in winter makes for the perfect time to explore the desert since daytime temperatures are pleasant.
Although it doesn't snow in all parts of Southern California, the region still experiences up to 60 inches of snow per year. So, when does it snow in Southern California? You are most likely to see snow if you visit Southern California during January and February.
November 2022 to October 2023. Winter will be warmer and wetter than normal, with above-normal mountain snows. The coldest temperatures will occur in mid-November, mid-January, and early February. The stormiest periods will be in mid- to late December, early and late January, early and late February, and late March.
Yes, it does snow in Africa. There are regions where snow is pretty reliable during the winter, mostly where the altitude is high such as high mountains and some parts of South Africa and Lesotho.
Is there any state where it has never snowed? There is not. Obviously, snowfall is a given in all of the northern states, and the nation's southern states also get snow, at least in mountainous terrains. Snow falls in 49 of the 50 states in most winters, Florida being the lone exception.
Snow falls in 49 of the 50 states in most winters; Florida being the lone exception. Northern portions of Florida, especially in the panhandle, experience some flurries during most, but not all winters.
How dry is California? The drought in California and the American West has been worsened by rising temperatures caused by climate change. Scientists have found that the region as a whole, from Montana to California to northern Mexico, has experienced the driest 22-year period in more than 1,200 years.
Research Highlight: Researchers Uncover New Details About California's Ancient Shoreline. A new analysis of California's ancient shoreline at the peak of the last ice age roughly 20,000 years ago revealed a very different coastline than what exists today.
The hottest month of the year in California is July, with an average high of 86°F and low of 71°F. The cold season lasts for 3.1 months, from December 3 to March 7, with an average daily high temperature below 52°F. The coldest month of the year in California is January, with an average low of 30°F and high of 44°F.
Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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