Climate - Stockton (California)

The climate of Stockton 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 rains rarely.
The city is located in the northernmost part of San Joaquin valley. Here, the difference in temperature between night and day and between winter and summer are much wider than in San Francisco, which is located 100 km (60 mi) to the west.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature generally drops to -2/-5 °C (23/28 °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 extremely rare: there was a light snowfall in February 1976, and one without accumulation in December 2009.
On the days when there is no fog and it does not 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 40/42 °C (104/108 °F). In August 2017, it reached 44 °C (111 °F), and in July 2006, as high as 46 °C (115 °F). It can sometimes be very hot even in late April and early October. However, since the daytime temperature range is very wide, at night it gets generally quite cool even in the height of summer.
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 8.8 °C (47.8 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.6 °C (78.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 340 millimeters (13.4 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 70 mm (2.8 in) in the wettest (January). Here is the average precipitation.

Best Time

The best times to visit Stockton 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.

Back to California.

Stockton - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Stockton is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 3.9 °C (39.1 °F) and a maximum of 13.9 °C (57 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In February, the weather in Stockton is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.2 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.3 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in February 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 26.1 °C (79 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In March, the weather in Stockton is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.3 °C (68.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35 °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 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Stockton is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.1 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 8.6 °C (47.4 °F) and a maximum of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in April 2001.
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 36.1 °C (97 °F) in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In May, the weather in Stockton is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.6 °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 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 end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In June, the weather in Stockton is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.3 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in June 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40 °C (104.5 °F). However, it reached 43.3 °C (109.9 °F) in June 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 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 46%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In July, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Stockton is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.6 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (60.9 °F) and a maximum of 35.2 °C (95.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °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 41 °C (106 °F). However, it reached 46.1 °C (115 °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 30 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In August, the weather in Stockton is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.2 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.7 °C (94.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40.5 °C (105 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °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 46%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In September, the weather in Stockton is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.3 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 14.2 °C (57.5 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44.6 °F) in September 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 43.9 °C (111 °F) in September 2020.
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.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In October, the weather in Stockton is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.6 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.6 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) in October 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in October 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Stockton is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.6 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 6 °C (42.8 °F) and a maximum of 19.2 °C (66.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in November 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Stockton is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.8 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.9 °C (57.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °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 19 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in December 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 9 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 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).