Last updated: May 6, 2024
Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification California features a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).Temperatures typically range between 0 °C (33 °F) and 26 °C (80 °F) through the year, but rarely can drop to -24 °C (-10 °F) or can rise to as high as 38 °C (101 °F).The average annual precipitation amounts to about 1137 mm (44.8 inches) and receives 113 rainy days on the 1 mm (0.04 inches) threshold annually.California enjoys an average of 2970 hours of sunshine throughout the year, and daylight varies from 9 hours 29 minutes to 14 hours 48 minutes per day.
The warmest months in California are June, July and August, with daily mean temperatures ranging from 25 to 26 °C (77 - 80 °F) throughout the day. The coldest temperatures usually occur in January, February and December, when daily mean temperatures range from 0 to 4 °C (33 - 39 °F) throughout the day. On average each year, California experiences 118 days above 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 78 days below 0 °C (32.0 °F).
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum | 19°C (67°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 29°C (85°F) | 31°C (89°F) | 34°C (94°F) | 38°C (100°F) | 38°C (101°F) | 37°C (99°F) | 35°C (96°F) | 33°C (92°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 25°C (76°F) |
Mean maximum | 17°C (62°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 30°C (85°F) | 32°C (90°F) | 34°C (94°F) | 36°C (98°F) | 35°C (96°F) | 34°C (93°F) | 32°C (89°F) | 22°C (71°F) | 20°C (69°F) |
Average high | 5°C (41°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 18°C (65°F) | 24°C (76°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 31°C (89°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 28°C (83°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 12°C (55°F) | 9°C (49°F) |
Daily mean | 0°C (33°F) | 1°C (35°F) | 8°C (47°F) | 12°C (55°F) | 19°C (67°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 26°C (80°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 22°C (73°F) | 14°C (58°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 4°C (39°F) |
Average low | -4°C (25°F) | -3°C (26°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 14°C (58°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 22°C (71°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 2°C (36°F) | -1°C (31°F) |
Mean minimum | -15°C (5°F) | -16°C (4°F) | -8°C (17°F) | -2°C (29°F) | 7°C (44°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 9°C (49°F) | -0°C (32°F) | -7°C (19°F) | -10°C (13°F) |
Minimum | -21°C (-6°F) | -24°C (-10°F) | -16°C (3°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 13°C (57°F) | 7°C (44°F) | -4°C (26°F) | -13°C (8°F) | -16°C (3°F) |
Compare temperature, precipitation, sunshine, UV index in California, Missouri, United States with other places around the world.
California usually has the most precipitation in April, May and July, with an average of 11 rainy days and 138 mm (5.4 inches) of precipitation per month.The driest months in California are February, November and December. On average, 51 mm (2.0 inches) of precipitation falls during these months.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 68 (2.7) | 60 (2.4) | 114 (4.5) | 124 (4.9) | 175 (6.9) | 113 (4.4) | 115 (4.5) | 106 (4.2) | 61 (2.4) | 107 (4.2) | 56 (2.2) | 38 (1.5) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 6 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 5 |
The sunniest months in California are June, July and August, when the sun shines an average of 10 hours 47 minutes a day.Least sunny months in California: January, February and December receive an average of 5 hours 40 minutes of sunshine daily.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 133 | 179 | 208 | 244 | 275 | 323 | 348 | 321 | 282 | 237 | 211 | 203 |
Mean daily daylight hours | 9h 48m | 10h 45m | 11h 58m | 13h 14m | 14h 17m | 14h 48m | 14h 31m | 13h 35m | 12h 22m | 11h 8m | 10h 3m | 9h 29m |
California experiences the highest level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in June, July and August, when the maximum UV index can reach values of 10 - 11, which corresponds to the Very High / Extreme category of sun exposure.January, November and December are in the Moderate exposure category. In these months, the maximum values of the UV index do not exceed 4. For more detailed information, check out our hourly California UV Index data.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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UV Index (month maximum) | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 |