Climate in Los Angeles (California)

Index

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• Introduction
• The city
• The coast
• Best Time

Introduction

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The climate of Los Angeles is subtropical, characterized by very mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in Southern California, at 34 degrees north latitude. The center is located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the coast, although the metropolitan area is very large.
The climate is similar to the Mediterranean one but it's even milder. In fact, the city is located at a lower latitude than the Mediterranean coasts, so it has milder winters. On the other hand, it is located on the Pacific coast, along which a cool current flows (ie the California Current); therefore, summer is a bit cooler than in the Mediterranean Sea. The city has therefore a really pleasant climate, also because it is kissed by the sun most of the year.

There are, however, different microclimates depending on area, since the city covers a wide surface, it is situated on the coast, but it's also surrounded by hills and mountains.

The city is quite polluted, and pollutants can accumulate in the air especially in the dry season, from May to October.

In addition to the possible waves of bad weather, which occur mainly from December to March, a nuisance in the climate of Los Angeles is represented by the Santa Ana, a hot, dry wind from the northeast, which blows for a few days from the deserts of California and Arizona, after passing over the mountains, from which it descends.
This wind is more likely to occur in autumn and winter, but it can blow all year round. When it blows, the temperature can go above 25 °C (77 °F), and sometimes up to 30 °C (86 °F), in the middle of winter, while it can go above 35 °C (95 °F), and sometimes up to 40 °C (104 °F), from from April to October. Heat waves due to this wind occur more often in September, followed by August, July and October.
The highest recorded temperature was measured on September 27, 2010, with 44.5 °C (112 °F) in the city center and 40.5 °C (104.5 °F) at the airport, which is located on the coast. San Fernando Valley (see San Fernando, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale), north-west of the city, being closed between the hills, is even hotter, so much so that the highest records are about 46/47 °C (115/117 °F). Sometimes, the Santa Ana winds can spread fires.



Winter, from December to March, is a very mild and spring-like season. There are many pleasant and sunny days, with daytime temperatures around 20 °C (68 °F).
However, after the rare cold air outbreaks, the night temperature can approach freezing (0 °C or 32 °F).
The rains occur in short periods of bad weather, and are generally not abundant, although, as mentioned, there can sometimes be waves of bad weather more intense than usual.
However, to the north of the city, the San Gabriel Mountains, whose highest peak is Mount San Antonio, 3,067 meters (10,062 feet) high, are quite often covered with snow, and offer a nice view on the horizon.
As mentioned, the Santa Ana can sometimes blow also in winter, and it's able to the temperature to about 25 °C (77 °F) or above.

Spring, from April to June, is pleasantly warm and sunny.
In June, and sometimes in May, the phenomenon called "June gloom" can occur in the morning: this is a kind of cloudy and damp weather, sometimes foggy, accompanied by a sort of drizzle, which is formed on the sea and later can invade the mainland and therefore the area of Los Angeles. The phenomenon is due to the contrast between the sea, which is still cold, and the mainland, which is getting increasingly warmer.

Summer, from July to September, is hot and sunny.
In summer, the ocean acts like a kind of natural air conditioner: on the coast, for example in Santa Monica, at the Los Angeles International Airport or in Long Beach, daytime temperatures are quite cool, and remain around 24/25 °C (75/77 °F); they are higher, but they don't reach 30 °C (86 °F), in the central districts of the city (see the table below), although they slightly exceed this value in the areas located further from the sea (see Pasadena), not to mention the eastern areas, which are closer to the desert.
On the hills overlooking the city, there is often scorching heat, even though the temperature at sea level is lower, and on the coast, as mentioned, it remains around 25 °C (77 °F).
On the other hand, if you decide to take a trip to the desert, remember that the temperature gradually increases, and already in San Bernardino and Riverside, highs are normally around 35/36 °C (95/97 °F), while in Palm Springs, far away from Los Angeles, it's scorchingly hot, with highs normally around 40/42 °C (104/108 °F).
However, in the city proper of Los Angeles, the temperature in summer is acceptable, except when the Santa Ana wind blows: in these cases, all these differences are reduced, and it's hot everywhere.
Sometimes, the June gloom can also occur in July and August, especially in La Niña years, when the sea is colder than usual.

Autumn, in October and November, is very mild or pleasantly warm; in November, daytime temperatures are still around 23 °C (73 °F). In this season, mild and sunny days alternate with hot days, when the annoying Santa Ana blows, but there can also be the first periods of bad weather.

The city

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In the city center, daytime temperatures are around 20/21 °C (68/70 °F) from December to February and 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) from July to September.

Rainfall in Los Angeles is quite scarce, amounting to about 360 millimeters (14.2 inches) per year, and follows a pattern similar to that of the Mediterranean climate, but with a drier autumn, since most of the rain falls from December to March, while in summer, it almost never rains.
For the brevity of the rainy season, the climate is actually semi-arid. Sometimes, however, some waves of bad weather can be more intense than usual, and there may be heavy rains, from December to April.

The amount of sunshine in Los Angeles is really great, since there are 3,250 hours of sunshine per year. The sky is often clear in all seasons, but even more so in summer.

South-east of downtown Los Angeles, in Anaheim (where Disneyland is located), Santa Ana and Irvine, the climate is practically the same as in the city center.

The coast

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Along the coast (see Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Long Beach), the summer temperatures are particularly mild and, as mentioned, highs from July to September are around 24/25 °C (75/77 °F).

The temperature of the sea near Los Angeles is very cool to swim in, if not cold, even in summer, since it reaches at most 18.5 °C (65.5 °F) in August and September. In June, it is still around 16 °C (61 °F). However, given the nice weather, you can sunbathe for a long period, from June to September, but often also in April, May and October.

Best Time

The best time to visit Los Angeles is spring, from April to June, in fact, it is a mild or pleasantly warm and sunny period, and with a very low risk of hot days.
The summer, from July to September, is usually a good period as well, in fact, it is hot but not too much (at least if you stay in the city and don't move towards the desert) and sunny; occasionally, however, there can be hot days, when the Santa Ana blows.
Autumn, in October and November, is generally a good season as well, although the Santa Ana is quite common, and the first rains can fall, especially in November.

The following data was recorded at the University of Southern California (USC) campus, in downtown LA.

Los Angeles - Climate data

In Los Angeles, the average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 14.6 °C (58.4 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 360 millimeters (14.2 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (August) to 90 mm (3.5 in) in the wettest one (February). Here is the average precipitation.
The sea temperature ranges from 14.5 °C (58 °F) in January, February, March, April to 18.5 °C (65 °F) in August, September. Here are the average sea temperatures.
There are on average around 3255 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Los Angeles - Weather by month

Based on the period 2001-2020

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January is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.3 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 9.2 °C (48.5 °F) and a maximum of 21.4 °C (70.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.1 °C (34 °F) in January 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 32.8 °C (91 °F) in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 2 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.4 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 21 °C (69.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in February 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 32.8 °C (91 °F) in February 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.7 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) and a maximum of 22.2 °C (71.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in March 2006.
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 March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.8 °F) and a maximum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in April 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 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 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.2 °F) and a maximum of 24 °C (75.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in May 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only 8.1 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.4 °C (61.4 °F) and a maximum of 25.5 °C (77.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.2 °C (54 °F) in June 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 2.3 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 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 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (65 °F) and a maximum of 28.5 °C (83.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it dropped to 13.9 °C (57 °F) in July 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only 0.5 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.8 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) and a maximum of 29.1 °C (84.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it dropped to 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) in August 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °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 20 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F) and a maximum of 29 °C (84.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it dropped to 12.8 °C (55 °F) in September 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 3.3 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.2 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.6 °C (60 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.4 °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 10 °C (50 °F) in October 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in October 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in November 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 2 kph (1 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 8.9 °C (48 °F) and a maximum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.2 °C (36 °F) in December 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in December 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 2 kph (2 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.