Climate - Fresno (California)

The climate of Fresno is arid subtropical, with mild, relatively rainy winters and very hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in the Central Valley of California, near the San Joaquin River.
In winter, fog can form. On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops to 0/-3 °C (27/32 °F) at night, while during the day it reaches about 10 °C (50 °F). But in December 1990, it reached -8 °C (17.5 °F). Snow is very rare. On the days when there is no fog and no rain, the temperature can reach 18/19 °C (64/66 °F) even in the middle of winter.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature can reach 42/43 °C (108/109 °F). In July 2021, the temperature reached 45.6 °C (114 °F). It can sometimes get very hot even in late April and early October.

The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 8.6 °C (47.5 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 280 millimeters (11 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce (although there may be periods of bad weather in winter). It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (July, August, September) to 55 mm (2.2 in) in the wettest (January). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 3,565 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 Fresno 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 differences in temperature between night and day.

Back to California.

Fresno - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Fresno is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) and a maximum of 13 °C (55.4 °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 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Fresno is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.3 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) and a maximum of 16.3 °C (61.3 °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 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 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 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In March, the weather in Fresno is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.1 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in March 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 32.8 °C (91 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 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 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In April, the weather in Fresno is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.8 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °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 4.5 °C (40.5 °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 32.5 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In May, the weather in Fresno is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.2 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in May 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 41.1 °C (106 °F) in May 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 91% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Fresno is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.4 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91.4 °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 1995.
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 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 13.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 94% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In July, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Fresno 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 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) and a maximum of 36.5 °C (97.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 12.8 °C (55 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 42 °C (107.5 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °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 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 14 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 96% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In August, the weather in Fresno is usually very hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 27.9 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 19.9 °C (67.9 °F) and a maximum of 35.8 °C (96.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) in August 1992.
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 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.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 95% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In September, the weather in Fresno is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 17.4 °C (63.4 °F) and a maximum of 32.6 °C (90.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in September 2004.
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 42.8 °C (109 °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 25 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 93% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In October, the weather in Fresno is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.6 °F) and a maximum of 25.9 °C (78.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 87% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In November, the weather in Fresno is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.4 °F) and a maximum of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 32.2 °C (90 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Fresno is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.3 °C (39.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.9 °C (55.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).