Climate - Needles (California)

The climate of Needles is sub-tropical desert, with mild winters and very hot summers, and sun that shines all year round.
The town is located in southeastern California, in San Bernardino County, on the border with Nevada and Arizona. We are in Mohave Valley, crossed by the Colorado River, which is one of the hottest areas of North America (probably the hottest after Death Valley), since it is located at low altitude and at a considerable distance from the sea.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature generally reaches 48/49 °C (118/120 °F). Fortunately, the humidity in these periods is very low. Sometimes, the temperature can exceed 50 °C (122 °F): in June 2013, it reached 50.6 °C (123 °F), and in June 2016 and 2017, as high as 51.7 °C (125 °F). Even at night, it continues to be hot: the minimum can remain above 30 °C (86 °F). In July 2006, there was a day with a minimum temperature of 37.8 °C (100 °F).
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). But in December 1990, it went down to -6.7 °C (20 °F).
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 12.6 °C (54.8 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 37 °C (98.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 110 millimeters (4.3 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (May, June) to 20 mm (0.8 in) in the wettest ones (January, February). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 3,900 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, the sun shines very often. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Needles is from November to March. Winter, from December to February, is generally a mild and sunny season, although it can sometimes rain, or it can get a bit cold (especially in December and January). You can therefore choose the months of March and November.

Back to California.

Needles - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

---

In January, the weather in Needles is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.4 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

---

In February, the weather in Needles is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 9.3 °C (48.8 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 32.2 °C (90 °F) in February 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 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 14 kph (9 mph).

---

In March, the weather in Needles 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 12.3 °C (54.1 °F) and a maximum of 26.2 °C (79.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 27%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

In April, the weather in Needles is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.2 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 16 °C (60.8 °F) and a maximum of 30.3 °C (86.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in April 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 92% of the time.
The average humidity is 19%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

---

In May, the weather in Needles is usually very hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 28.4 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 21.1 °C (70 °F) and a maximum of 35.7 °C (96.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in May 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 42 °C (107.5 °F). However, it reached 46 °C (114.8 °F) in May 2008.
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 0 minutes.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 93% of the time.
The average humidity is 16%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

---

In June, the weather in Needles is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 33.9 °C (93 °F), with a minimum of 26.4 °C (79.6 °F) and a maximum of 41.3 °C (106.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.2 °C (54 °F) in June 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 46.5 °C (115.5 °F). However, it reached 51.7 °C (125.1 °F) in June 2016.
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 14 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 97% of the time.
The average humidity is 12%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

---

In July, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Needles is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 37.0 °C (99 °F), with a minimum of 30.3 °C (86.6 °F) and a maximum of 43.6 °C (110.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it dropped to 21.6 °C (70.9 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 47.5 °C (118 °F). However, it reached 51.1 °C (124 °F) in July 2005.
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.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 92% of the time.
The average humidity is 20%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

In August, the weather in Needles is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 36.3 °C (97 °F), with a minimum of 29.7 °C (85.4 °F) and a maximum of 42.9 °C (109.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 24.5 °C (75.5 °F). However, it dropped to 21.1 °C (70 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 47 °C (117 °F). However, it reached 50.6 °C (123.1 °F) in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 89% of the time.
The average humidity is 23%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

In September, the weather in Needles is usually scorchingly hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 32.2 °C (90 °F), with a minimum of 25.2 °C (77.3 °F) and a maximum of 39.2 °C (102.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in September 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 44 °C (111.5 °F). However, it reached 48.9 °C (120 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 89% of the time.
The average humidity is 22%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

In October, the weather in Needles 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 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.9 °C (89.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100.5 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 88% of the time.
The average humidity is 24%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

In November, the weather in Needles is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) and a maximum of 23.9 °C (75.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in November 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 27%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Needles is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.6 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.2 °C (45 °F) and a maximum of 18.1 °C (64.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in December 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 27.8 °C (82 °F) in December 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 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 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).