Climate - Bakersfield (California)

The climate of Bakersfield is arid subtropical, with mild, relatively rainy winters and very hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in the southern part of the Central Valley of California, called San Joaquin Valley. We are in the warmest and driest part of the whole valley. Here too, however, fog can form in winter.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops to 0/-2 °C (28/32 °F) at night, while during the day it reaches about 10 °C (50 °F). But in December 1990, it reached -7 °C (19 °F). Snow is very rare. The last abundant snowfall occurred in January 1999, with 6 inches (15 cm).
On the days with no fog and no rain, the temperature can reach 20 °C (68 °F) even in the middle of winter. On the other hand, when the warm wind blows from the mountains, the temperature can reach or exceed 25 °C (77 °F).
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature can reach 42/43 °C (108/109 °F). It can sometimes be very hot even in late April and early October.
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 9.6 °C (49.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 29.3 °C (84.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 160 millimeters (6.4 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level (although in winter there may be periods of bad weather). It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (from June to September) to 30 mm (1.2 in) in the wettest ones (from December to March). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 3,300 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, the sun shines very often. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best times to visit Bakersfield are spring and autumn, to avoid the night-time cold, the fog and the rain of winter, as well as the summer heat. In particular, you can choose the months of April and October, bearing in mind that it is necessary to dress in layers because there are strong temperature differences between night and day.

Back to California.

Bakersfield - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Bakersfield is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.7 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 27.8 °C (82 °F) in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In February, the weather in Bakersfield is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.1 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in February 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in February 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In March, the weather in Bakersfield is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 8.3 °C (47 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in March 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In April, the weather in Bakersfield is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.4 °C (50.7 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In May, the weather in Bakersfield is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.7 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (58 °F) and a maximum of 28.9 °C (84.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In June, the weather in Bakersfield is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.9 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) and a maximum of 33.5 °C (92.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.8 °C (46 °F) in June 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41 °C (105.5 °F). However, it reached 43.3 °C (109.9 °F) in June 1993.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Bakersfield is usually very hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 29.3 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 21.8 °C (71.3 °F) and a maximum of 36.8 °C (98.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 12.2 °C (54 °F) in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 42 °C (107 °F). However, it reached 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) in July 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 33%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In August, the weather in Bakersfield is usually very hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 28.6 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 21.1 °C (70 °F) and a maximum of 36.1 °C (96.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.1 °C (52 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41.5 °C (107 °F). However, it reached 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In September, the weather in Bakersfield is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.7 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (65 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in September 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 43.9 °C (111 °F) in September 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In October, the weather in Bakersfield is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In November, the weather in Bakersfield is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) in November 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Bakersfield is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) and a maximum of 14.9 °C (58.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.7 °C (19.9 °F) in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).