Climate - Bishop (California)

The climate of Bishop is arid continental, with cold winters and hot summers, and with strong temperature variations between night and day.
The town is located at 1,250 meters (4,100 ft) above sea level, in Owens Valley, an arid valley east of the Sierra Nevada. The climate is characterized by strong differences in temperature between night and day.
In winter, it's cold at night, but the days are generally mild. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature typically reaches around -13 °C (8.5 °F), but it can sometimes drop below. In December 1990, it even went down to -21.7 °C (-7 °F). Given the aridity of the climate, snowfalls are generally not abundant. On average, 17 cm of snow fall per year.
Even in the middle of winter, however, the temperature can reach 20 °C (68 °F) with foehn-like winds coming down from the mountains.
In the summer, it is very hot during the day, but nights remain generally cool. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature generally reaches 40 °C (104 °F). The highest record is 44 °C (111.2 °F) and was set in July 2021.

The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 3.5 °C (38.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.7 °C (78.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 125 millimeters (4.8 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (August) to 30 mm (1.2 in) in the wettest (January). Here is the average precipitation.

Best Time

To visit Bishop, you can choose the periods from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-September to mid-October.

Back to California.

Bishop - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Bishop is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of -4.7 °C (23.5 °F) and a maximum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C (12 °F). However, it dropped to -17.2 °C (1 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in January 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In February, the weather in Bishop is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.0 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of -3.1 °C (26.4 °F) and a maximum of 15.2 °C (59.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -13.9 °C (7 °F) in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in February 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 44%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In March, the weather in Bishop is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of -0.4 °C (31.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.1 °C (12 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In April, the weather in Bishop is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) and a maximum of 23.2 °C (73.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -7.8 °C (18 °F) in April 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in April 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In May, the weather in Bishop is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.5 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in May 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 27%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In June, the weather in Bishop is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) and a maximum of 34.2 °C (93.5 °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 -3.9 °C (25 °F) in June 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102.5 °F). However, it reached 42.8 °C (109 °F) in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 22%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Bishop 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 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) and a maximum of 37.6 °C (99.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41 °C (105.5 °F). However, it reached 43.3 °C (109.9 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 23%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In August, the weather in Bishop is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.4 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 36.7 °C (98 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103.5 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in August 2020.
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 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 23%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In September, the weather in Bishop is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.2 °F) and a maximum of 32.2 °C (90 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in September 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 25%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In October, the weather in Bishop is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 3 °C (37.4 °F) and a maximum of 25.3 °C (77.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.6 °C (12.9 °F) in October 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In November, the weather in Bishop is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of -2.8 °C (27 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in November 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Bishop is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) and a maximum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17 °C (1.4 °F) in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).