Climate - Sacramento (California)
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
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Climate chart - Sacramento (California)
The climate of Sacramento can be defined as Mediterranean, given that winters are mild and rainy and summers are hot and sunny. However, there are some differences in comparison with the typical Mediterranean climate: in winter, fog can form at night and in the early morning; in summer, there are strong diurnal temperature variations, so it is quite cool at night and hot during the day; the rainy period is shorter, so in autumn, in September and October, it still rarely rains.
The city is located on the 38th parallel, about 130 km (80 mi) away from the sea, in the valley that takes its name from the city itself and is closed between the coastal chains (California Coast Ranges) to the west and the Sierra Nevada to the east.
The average temperature ranges from around 8.5 °C (47 °F) in December and January to 24.5 °C (76 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.
Sacramento - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | 4 | 13.3 | 8.6 | 39 | 56 | 47.6 |
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| February | 5.3 | 16.3 | 10.8 | 42 | 61 | 51.4 |
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| March | 6.9 | 19.1 | 13 | 44 | 66 | 55.4 |
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| April | 8.3 | 22.3 | 15.3 | 47 | 72 | 59.5 |
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| May | 11.1 | 26.8 | 19 | 52 | 80 | 66.1 |
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| June | 13.6 | 31.1 | 22.4 | 56 | 88 | 72.2 |
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| July | 15.1 | 33.7 | 24.4 | 59 | 93 | 75.9 |
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| August | 14.9 | 33.3 | 24.1 | 59 | 92 | 75.4 |
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| September | 13.6 | 31.4 | 22.5 | 56 | 89 | 72.5 |
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| October | 10.2 | 26 | 18.1 | 50 | 79 | 64.6 |
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| November | 5.9 | 18.3 | 12.1 | 43 | 65 | 53.8 |
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| December | 3.6 | 13.3 | 8.5 | 38 | 56 | 47.2 |
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| Year | 9.4 | 23.8 | 16.55 | 48.9 | 74.8 | 62 |
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Precipitation is not abundant: it amounts to 460 mm (18 in) per year, and most of it falls from November to March. Here is the average rainfall.
Sacramento - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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| January | 95 | 3.7 | 10 |
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| February | 90 | 3.5 | 9 |
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| March | 70 | 2.8 | 9 |
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| April | 30 | 1.2 | 5 |
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| May | 20 | 0.8 | 4 |
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| June | 6 | 0.2 | 1 |
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| July | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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| August | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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| September | 2 | 0.1 | 1 |
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| October | 20 | 0.8 | 3 |
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| November | 40 | 1.6 | 6 |
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| December | 85 | 3.3 | 10 |
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| Year | 460 | 18.1 | 58 |
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In winter, in periods of good weather, the night temperature can drop to around freezing or slightly below. At night, fog can form, sometimes even dense, which dissolves during the warmest hours, though the weather remains cool and humid. When there is no fog, the temperature range is high, so that during the day the temperature can reach 18/20 °C (64/68 °F) even in winter.
There may also be periods of bad weather, with clouds and rains.
Cold spells are rare. The temperature drops very rarely below -4 °C (25 °F). The coldest record is -7.8 °C (18 °F) and was set in December 1990.
Snow in Sacramento is very rare: the last time, it snowed in February 1976, when 5 cm (2 in) of snow fell; more recently, there was a slight snowfall in December 2009.
In summer, from June to mid-September, it is hot and sunny. There are several very hot days, with highs around 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). Sometimes, they can exceed 40 °C (104 °F). The highest record is 45 °C (113 °F) and was set in July 1972.
Fortunately, in the afternoon there is usually a bit of breeze from the ocean, called "delta breeze" because it comes from the San Joaquin river delta, in San Francisco bay, where the coastal chains are interrupted.
Furthermore, the temperature range is considerable, so that the temperature almost always drops below 20 °C (68 °F) at night. Actually, sometimes at night, it can get cool even in the height of summer.
The sunshine amount in Sacramento is exceptional in summer, when in practice, the sky is always clear (in July, the sun shines as high as 98% of the time), while in winter, despite the aforementioned fog and bad weather periods, there is an acceptable number of sunshine hours. In one year, there are 3,600 hours of sunshine. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Sacramento - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
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January | 4.5 | 145 | February | 7 | 205 | March | 9 | 280 | April | 11 | 330 | May | 13 | 405 | June | 14 | 420 | July | 14 | 440 | August | 13 | 405 | September | 11.5 | 350 | October | 9.5 | 295 | November | 6.5 | 195 | December | 4.5 | 140 | Year | 9.9 | 3610 |
Best Time
The best times to visit Sacramento 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.
Sacramento - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.2 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.1 °C (21 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) and a maximum of 16.3 °C (61.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in February 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.3 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 95% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °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 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in May 2010.
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 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 117% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
June is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.4 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) and a maximum of 31.1 °C (88 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.8 °C (46 °F) in June 1999.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in June 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 14 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 128% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.4 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) and a maximum of 33.7 °C (92.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in July 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40.5 °C (105 °F). However, it reached 43.9 °C (111 °F) in July 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 14 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 128% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.1 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) and a maximum of 33.3 °C (91.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 11 °C (51.8 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40 °C (104 °F). However, it reached 44.4 °C (111.9 °F) in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 114% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) and a maximum of 31.4 °C (88.5 °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 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in September 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (101 °F). However, it reached 42.8 °C (109 °F) in September 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 97% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
October is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.1 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) and a maximum of 26 °C (78.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in October 2002.
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 40 °C (104 °F) in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.1 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) and a maximum of 18.3 °C (64.9 °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 -3.4 °C (25.9 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in November 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.4 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °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 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in December 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
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