The best times to visit California for ideal weather are

April 30th to July 8th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other California Travel Info

Weather in California

Temperature

Average temperatures in California vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 30th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit California, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 83.9°F (28.8°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 64.9°F (18.3°C) at night.

California Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

California Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

California Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

California Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average California Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 36.1 28.2 21.5
Feb 36.7 28.2 21.3
Mar 52 40.6 32
Apr 64.5 52.8 42.8
May 74.9 63.5 53.3
Jun 80.6 70.2 60.9
Jul 83.3 73.2 64
Aug 82 71.7 62.4
Sep 76.3 65.7 56.5
Oct 64.2 54.1 45.8
Nov 53.3 43.7 35.6
Dec 43.6 35.6 28.9

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 2.3 -2.1 -5.8
Feb 2.6 -2.1 -5.9
Mar 11.1 4.8 0
Apr 18.1 11.6 6
May 23.8 17.5 11.8
Jun 27 21.2 16.1
Jul 28.5 22.9 17.8
Aug 27.8 22.1 16.9
Sep 24.6 18.7 13.6
Oct 17.9 12.3 7.7
Nov 11.8 6.5 2
Dec 6.4 2 -1.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in California are February, September, and then November. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid to late September. For example, on the week of September 17th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late April with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of April 23rd.

When can you find snow in California? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in California.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in California (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 23% 0 2.6
Feb 20% 0 2
Mar 28% 0 3.5
Apr 30% 0 3.3
May 29% 0 3.8
Jun 29% 0 4.5
Jul 28% 0 4.7
Aug 22% 0 3.8
Sep 20% 0 3
Oct 27% 0 3.2
Nov 21% 0 2.7
Dec 28% 0 4.1

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 23 0 6.6
Feb 20 0 5.1
Mar 28 0 8.9
Apr 30 0 8.4
May 29 0 9.7
Jun 29 0 11.4
Jul 28 0 11.9
Aug 22 0 9.7
Sep 20 0 7.6
Oct 27 0 8.1
Nov 21 0 6.9
Dec 28 0 10.4

 

Humidity and Wind

California has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is April (44.5% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (63%).

Wind in California is usually calm. The windiest month is January, followed by April and February. January’s average wind speed of around 7.9 knots (9.1 MPH or 14.6 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 15.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in California.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 7.9 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
Feb 7.5 Gentle breeze 13.9 Significant breeze
Mar 7.2 Gentle breeze 13.3 Significant breeze
Apr 7.5 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
May 5.7 Light breeze 11.6 Significant breeze
Jun 5.6 Light breeze 11.5 Significant breeze
Jul 5.1 Light breeze 10.7 Significant breeze
Aug 4.7 Light breeze 9.5 Gentle breeze
Sep 4.9 Light breeze 9.9 Significant breeze
Oct 6.2 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Nov 6.9 Light breeze 12.3 Significant breeze
Dec 7.4 Gentle breeze 13.3 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 60.7%
Feb 58.7%
Mar 49.6%
Apr 44.5%
May 52.4%
Jun 59.5%
Jul 59.1%
Aug 59.8%
Sep 60.5%
Oct 58.1%
Nov 52.3%
Dec 63%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to California?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in California, PA, US is May, followed by July and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit California in October. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is slightly extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 50.9 in October means 50.9% of the tourists vs. May.

 

 

Overall California Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 80.4°F (26.9°C) and 40.3°F (4.6°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with roughly 9 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 7 to 9 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in California, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 81.4°F (27.4°C) and 47.6°F (8.7°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 6 to 8 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in California to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 44°F (6.7°C) and 32.8°F (0.4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 6 to 9 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › California, PA, US