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Best time to visit California
Find the best time to visit California and plan your perfect trip in 2024/2025. Get holiday inspiration, weather guides, travel advice and find great deals.
- Best time to visit
- Weather by month
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California by month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Recommended for California
Top California destinations
Below are the temperatures expected today at popular countries, regions and places in California. Select a destination to compare today's forecast with average weather conditions.
- Death Valley
- Palm Springs
- Los Angeles
- Santa Barbara
- Beverly Hills
- Napa
- San Diego
- Santa Monica
- Big Sur
- San Francisco
- Lake Tahoe
- Yosemite
All California destinations
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Beverly Hills
- Big Sur
- Crescent City
- Death Valley
- Fresno
- Huntington Beach
- Kings Canyon
- Laguna Beach
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Mammoth Lakes
- Napa
- Needles
- Newport Beach
- Northstar
- Palm Springs
- Redding
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Monica
- South Lake Tahoe
- Tahoe City
- Yosemite
When is the best time to visit California?
Max Day Temperature (°C)
- 20Jan
- 20Feb
- 21Mar
- 22Apr
- 23May
- 26Jun
- 29Jul
- 30Aug
- 28Sep
- 26Oct
- 22Nov
- 20Dec
Which is the hottest month in California?
The hottest time of year in Los Angeles, California is normally August. Expect maximum daytime temperatures to reach 30°C with moderate heat and humidity.
Which month has the most rain in California?
In terms of rainfall, January is usually the wettest month in Los Angeles, California with 80mm on average. There are normally 5 days in January with some rain.
When is it sunniest in California?
The sunniest time of year in Los Angeles, California is normally August with bright sunshine on average for 83% of daylight hours; that's 11 hours of sunshine per day.
Best time to visit
The weather guide for California (Los Angeles) shows long term weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia) & today's weather forecast provided by meteoblue. Find out more about our data sources.
Metric (°C / mm) | Imperial (°F / inches)
California overview
California has an unusual Mediterranean climate which gets warmer and drier the further south you go.
The state's extreme southeast witnesses hardly any rainfall and conditions are semi-desert with temperatures soaring in the summer months: the aptly named Death Valley records some of the highest temperatures in the world!
The coast, where San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles are situated, has coolish summers with frequent fog and mild, rainy winters.
Rain also falls heavily in the Sierra Nevada range and the mountains which back the coast; this turns to snow on the higher peaks and gives California its reputation as a place where you can ski in the morning and sunbathe in the afternoon.
You should, however, take care in the mountains as sudden, heavy snowstorms can occur.
Another climatic hazard is urban smog around Los Angeles which is a mixture of fog and pollution trapped by a blanket of coastal warm air. However, overall, California is a delightful place to visit and deserves its nickname 'the sunshine state'.
What to pack for California weather
Take light clothes for visiting southern California in the summer, add a few wraps if you are going to the coast and much warmer clothes for trips to the mountains.
Take fairly warm clothing in the winter when you should be prepared for the occasional cold snap, and rain.
Be aware that different parts of California often register America's hottest and coldest temperatures within a single day - over 55°C (120°F) in Death Valley, close to freezing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains - so pack appropriately for where you are going.
California travel features
Do you want to learn more about California? Read our latest features covering travel tips and insider destination guides on where to go and what to do in California.
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