Sacramento weather characteristics are the cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Although the city is located in California, Sacramento weather is classified as Mediterranean, immensely influenced by the cool ocean breezes.

Sacramento’s wet season occurs between October and April, although rainfalls can last as late as June and begin as early as September. Annual precipitation levels stand at around 21.45 inches (545 mm), with January – the wettest month of the year – experiencing an average rainfall of 3.84 inches (98 mm). On average, weather in Sacramento is intercepted by 62 days of rain per year.

Winters in Sacramento are usually rainy, cool, and foggy. Average temperatures during December and January hover around 8 °C, peaking at 13 °C, remaining above freezing point even on the coldest of days. Perhaps the biggest characteristic of Sacramento weather during the winter season, is its intense morning fog, especially during December and January. Known to last for several consecutive days or weeks, Sacramento’s fog is chilly and thick making driving conditions extremely hazardous as visibility lowers to less than 100 feet (30 m).

As Sacramento sits at an elevation of only 25 feet (7.6 m) above sea level, snowfall is a rather rare occasion, although considerable accumulation occurs in the foothills located 40 miles (65 km) east of the city. On the other hand, hail is an unfortunate by-product of the coldest winter and spring seasons. Produced in significant amounts by intense storms hail makes driving around the city even more difficult and hazardous.

Given its Mediterranean tendencies, it’s rather understandable the Sacramento weather follows rather warm patterns during the summer season. During July and August temperatures hover around an average of 34 °C occasionally dropping to a cool 5°C. Blowing in from the Sacramento/ San Joaquin delta and the San Francisco Bay, sea breezes known locally as the "delta breeze", bring much needed relief to the city, moderating heat considerably.

Although not a frequent occurrence, monsoonal moisture that surges from the Desert Southwest occasionally bring upper-level moisture to the region. Usually occurring during late July through early September, the monsoon clouds bring along showers and thunderstorms, pushing humidity levels high.

During spring Sacramento weather is usually rainy, gradually becoming dryer and warmer while autumns are usually warm at their beginning, later becoming cool and rainy.


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