California Climate
Top 5 Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Jose
This month in numbers
California experienced its warmest March on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 16.33°C, a significant 7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This also marked the 1st warmest March in 77 years of records. Maximum temperatures were particularly striking, averaging 24.11°C, an anomaly of +8.7°C, also ranking as the 1st warmest March for maximum temperatures. In stark contrast, March 2026 was also the driest March on record, with only 4.83 mm of precipitation, a deficit of 77.4 mm compared to the baseline.
What changed
The first three months of 2026 (January–March) collectively represent the warmest such period on record for California, with an average temperature of 11.85°C, an anomaly of +4.1°C. This period also saw the warmest maximum temperatures on record for January–March, at 18.33°C, an anomaly of +4.8°C. California's March average temperature anomaly of +7.01°C placed it as the 5th warmest out of 234 regions globally for the month, with 8 of the top 10 warmest regions being US states. Nationally, March 2026 was the warmest March on record for the contiguous U.S., with an average temperature 9.4°F above the 20th-century average.
What’s driving change?
A significant heat dome settled over the Western US in March, leading to unprecedented temperatures across California and other western states. This strong high-pressure system trapped hot air, causing temperatures to soar 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for several days. This unseasonable heat led to numerous daily and monthly temperature records being broken across Southern California, with some areas even tying the highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S. at 108 degrees Fahrenheit. The current ENSO state is Neutral, with a 99% probability of remaining Neutral through May, before a transition to El Niño becomes the most likely forecast for the summer months. ENSO tracker. The record-breaking heat also contributed to California experiencing its driest March on record, with less than a quarter inch of precipitation statewide. This lack of precipitation, combined with the intense heat, has led to the reintroduction of abnormally dry conditions across 65% of California, and moderate drought in nearly 5% of the state, particularly in Northern California, despite earlier winter rains. The low snowpack levels, which were the second lowest on record for April 1st, are a particular concern for future water supply.
Looking ahead
Forecasters suggest that above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation are expected to continue, with drought conditions likely to return or intensify across most of the region.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for California
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in California changing?
California is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for California come from?
Climate data for California comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the California climate data cover?
The California climate profile covers Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and surrounding areas. Solar leader, drought cycles and wildfire seasons
How often is the California climate update refreshed?
The California climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.