Typical Weather in CA

[daisy 22]

We leave in 2 days and weather is showing 0% chance of rain all week. Will I be safe to leave the ponchos at home or does California weather change fast? We are flying so the less I have to take the better.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

It does not change fast in that way. In So Cal they tend to exaggerate the possibility of rain, so even a few potential drops will be made a big deal of. If the chance of rain says 0%, I would be very surprised if it rained while I was there. We don't really have freak thunderstorms or anything like that.

 

[daisy 22]

Great! Thanks! If it does happen I'll just have to get some overpriced rain ponchos

 

[clambert1273]

So Cal is known for no rain *sigh* I miss living there... so. sick. of. rain......

 

[Sherry E]

Actually last year there were a couple of freak storms in Los Angeles -- literally, out of nowhere, on otherwise fairly sunny days -- and it was quite strange. And also last year, in early March I think it was, we got pummeled with some really, really heavy rain on one particular night. But that is not the norm, though.

Sadly, I think we're all done with the rain now (for the first half of the year, that is) -- which is not good, as we desperately need it. It doesn't rain often enough even in the months when it should be raining, and certainly not now -- in early spring. I think you're safe, daisy 22!

The coast is clear, literally and figuratively!

The good news is that beautiful flowers are in bloom everywhere -- they seem to be the most striking and vibrant in the spring -- despite the general lack of rain during winter and fall.

 

[thmcdonald1]

While we are talking about weather: HyrdoGuys guide shows the avg May temp to be around 72, but when I went to DLR for the first time last year, the temps were in the 100s... Was this just a freak heat wave, or does it just bounce dramatically?

 

[Sherry E]

While we are talking about weather: HyrdoGuys guide shows the avg May temp to be around 72, but when I went to DLR for the first time last year, the temps were in the 100s... Was this just a freak heat wave, or does it just bounce dramatically?

Ah yes, I vividly remember the 100+ degree temperatures last May (I was not pleased!). Weather that hot in May leans more towards the side of freak heat wave than the norm, although I would not be shocked to see 90-degree days in May. We've certainly had plenty of 80+ degree days in May.

To be honest, we're already hitting 90-degree days now, this week -- and it's only March.

It's very odd out here in Southern California because we can get a heat wave of that sort in May, but then it will be a mere 75 degrees and overcast in the middle of July. September usually begins to swelter, and that's when we get some of our hottest weather.

 

[ehrawn]

...it never rains in California, but girl don't they warn ya, it pours, it pours...

 

[Lionsy]

We spent 25 days in SoCal just now, and we got about 3 drops of rain. But when we lefty yesterday, it was 96 degrees.

 

[SMD]

Great! Thanks! If it does happen I'll just have to get some overpriced rain ponchos

But they'll have Mickey on them!

Actually last year there were a couple of freak storms in Los Angeles -- literally, out of nowhere, on otherwise fairly sunny days -- and it was quite strange. And also last year, in early March I think it was, we got pummeled with some really, really heavy rain on one particular night. But that is not the norm, though.

Sadly, I think we're all done with the rain now (for the first half of the year, that is) -- which is not good, as we desperately need it. It doesn't rain often enough even in the months when it should be raining, and certainly not now -- in early spring. I think you're safe, daisy 22!

The coast is clear, literally and figuratively!

The good news is that beautiful flowers are in bloom everywhere -- they seem to be the most striking and vibrant in the spring -- despite the general lack of rain during winter and fall.

It's been so humid lately I wish it would rain and go back to the normal dry-ish heat.

 

[tarheelalum]

It rains so little here that in 12 months we are no longer going to have any water, at all, for anything.

 

[KeKy4]

Ugh yes! We went for Mother's Day last year. By Weds, our last day, it was 106 and we decided to just forget it and went to our room until it was dark. It was miserable!

 

[iKristin]

Yesterday was hooooot. I wanted to go to the park but I stayed home instead. Spring Break lines annoy me as it is lol, let alone in the 90 degree heat

 

[Carolynleanne]

Oh man it was SO hot last May! We were dosing ourselves in water bottles the entire trip!! Hope it's cooler on our trip in a few weeks.

 

[superlarz]

We have been getting Santa Ana winds a few time already this year. Typically if there is a spike in the temperature it is because of them. They bring hot dry air to California. Looking on the bright side, there is almost no chance of rain when we are getting Santa Anas. They are pretty predictable, and weather reports usually have them predicted a week out.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Leave your ponchos at home. Even if it were to rain, it wouldn't be much. There's a reason we're in a massive drought, after all.

Lately, it's been warm and windy. The winds suck because it makes it excessively dry, but you can pretty much be sure there will not be any rain while you're here. Bring your shorts and tank tops though.

 

[genki3]

Echoing everyone else, don't pack the ponchos. I just took a look at the weather report for this next week and it says low 80s Fahrenheit and then cooling to the 70s the following week for a bit. Sunny, sunny, sunny! Thats awesome weather to go to DL if you ask me.

Pack (or buy after getting here) flip-flops/sandals, sunscreen, a shady hat, sunglasses, shorts, and tees and you are good to go! Also a light jacket for nights as it can be a wee bit chilly (by my standards as I am a So Cal resident and anything under 60 degrees for me is "freezing"). Nights are mid-to-high 50s so you decide.

 

[Sherry E]

Echoing everyone else, don't pack the ponchos. I just took a look at the weather report for this next week and it says low 80s Fahrenheit and then cooling to the 70s the following week for a bit. Sunny, sunny, sunny! Thats awesome weather to go to DL if you ask me.

Pack (or buy after getting here) flip-flops/sandals, sunscreen, a shady hat, sunglasses, shorts, and tees and you are good to go! Also a light jacket for nights as it can be a wee bit chilly (by my standards as I am a So Cal resident and anything under 60 degrees for me is "freezing"). Nights are mid-to-high 50s so you decide.

It just goes to show you how different people can be. I'm a lifelong Los Angeles resident (since the late '60s), and anything 60 degrees or under is heaven to me! I hate really hot weather -- like today, for example, is way too hot. If the temperature climbs above 75 degrees or so, I'm miserable!

 

[Epek]

Yesterday was hooooot. I wanted to go to the park but I stayed home instead. Spring Break lines annoy me as it is lol, let alone in the 90 degree heat

We were there yesterday, and either we were in the right places at the right time, or it wasn't all that bad in the parks!

 

[sgrap]

Ah yes, I vividly remember the 100+ degree temperatures last May (I was not pleased!). Weather that hot in May leans more towards the side of freak heat wave than the norm, although I would not be shocked to see 90-degree days in May. We've certainly had plenty of 80+ degree days in May.

To be honest, we're already hitting 90-degree days now, this week -- and it's only March.

It's very odd out here in Southern California because we can get a heat wave of that sort in May, but then it will be a mere 75 degrees and overcast in the middle of July. September usually begins to swelter, and that's when we get some of our hottest weather.

We went the week after the 100 degree week in early May last year and it was in the 70's. Whew! Perfection in my NW girl book! We've also been in mid-November in the upper 80's and low 90's.