You’ve probably heard the song. It never rains in Southern California.
That is a lie.
Actually, it's more like a polite half-truth that ignores the reality of living in a Mediterranean climate. If you’re looking at monthly weather Los Angeles data, you’ll see averages that look like a dream, but those numbers hide the weirdness. Los Angeles doesn't really have four seasons; it has "The Dry," "The Gray," and "The Randomly On Fire."
People move here for the sun. They stay for the 72-degree days in February. But they usually forget about the bone-chilling dampness of a beach house in May or the way the Santa Ana winds make everyone’s skin feel like parchment paper in October.
The Winter Myth: January and February
January is often the coldest month. But "cold" is relative. We’re talking 68°F (20°C) during the day. Locals start wearing parkas and UGG boots once it hits 65, which is honestly hilarious to anyone from Chicago.
Rain is the big variable here. Los Angeles gets about 14 to 15 inches of rain a year. Almost all of it falls between December and March. When it rains, the city panics. Traffic on the 405 becomes a nightmare. This is when the hills turn neon green, a color that only lasts for a few weeks before the sun bakes it back to brown.
February is the wildcard. You might get a week of torrential downpours that flood the PCH in Malibu. Or, you might get a "Heat Wave" where it hits 85 degrees and everyone flocks to Santa Monica. It’s inconsistent. If you’re visiting, pack layers. You'll be in a t-shirt at noon and a heavy denim jacket by 6:00 PM once the sun drops behind the Santa Monica Mountains.
Spring and the Gloom: March through June
March starts to dry out. The wildflowers bloom in the Antelope Valley if we had a "Miracle March" with enough rain. It’s gorgeous.
Then comes the "Gray."
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If you look at monthly weather Los Angeles charts, you’ll see rising temperatures in May and June. What the charts don't tell you is the marine layer. We call it "May Gray" and "June Gloom."
Basically, the inland valleys heat up, creating a vacuum that sucks in cool, moist air from the Pacific. The result? A thick, oppressive layer of clouds that sits over the city until 2:00 PM. Sometimes it doesn't leave at all. Tourists arrive in June expecting Baywatch vibes and find themselves shivering in a gray mist. It’s kind of a bummer if you paid for a rooftop pool.
- Pro tip: If it’s cloudy in Santa Monica, drive ten miles inland to Silver Lake or Pasadena. It’ll be ten degrees warmer and sunny.
- June is actually one of the "coolest" feeling months near the coast because the sun never breaks through.
Summer and the Heat Spikes: July to September
July is when summer actually starts. The marine layer thins out.
But August and September? That's the real heat.
While the rest of the country is starting to think about pumpkin spice and sweaters in September, Los Angeles is melting. September is frequently the hottest month of the year. The National Weather Service often issues heat advisories this time of year as temperatures in the San Fernando Valley can easily soar past 100°F.
Air conditioning isn't a luxury; it’s a survival tool.
This is also the start of fire season. The air gets dry. The humidity drops to single digits. You can feel the static electricity in everything you touch. It’s a tense time. The sky can turn a weird, apocalyptic orange if there’s a brush fire in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The Santa Anas and "Fall": October and November
October is weirdly beautiful and terrifying.
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The Santa Ana winds kick in. These are hot, dry winds that blow from the desert toward the ocean. They knock over trash cans and make people cranky. High pressure over the Great Basin pushes air down through the mountain passes, heating it up as it compresses.
It’s a dry heat. It feels like someone is holding a hairdryer to your face.
By November, things finally start to mellow out. The evenings get crisp. You finally get that "Fall" feeling, even if the trees don't really change color. It’s arguably the best month to visit. The crowds are gone, the air is clear after the winds die down, and the temperature sits in a perfect 70-to-75-degree pocket.
Microclimates: Why One Number Isn't Enough
You can't trust a single temperature for L.A.
The city is a topographical mess. You have the ocean, the basins, and the mountains. On a single afternoon in July, it might be 72°F in Malibu, 85°F in Downtown LA, and 102°F in Woodland Hills.
That is a 30-degree difference in a 40-minute drive.
When checking monthly weather Los Angeles stats, always look at which station they are using. "Los Angeles" usually refers to the station at USC or DTLA. If you're staying in Venice, subtract 5 to 10 degrees. If you're in the Valley, add 10.
Rainfall and the "Atmospheric River"
We don't get regular rain. We get "Atmospheric Rivers."
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In 2023 and 2024, California saw record-breaking precipitation because of these "rivers in the sky." According to the California Department of Water Resources, these events can carry an amount of water vapor equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
When one hits L.A., the ground can't soak it up fast enough. This leads to mudslides in the burn scars from previous fires. It’s a cycle. Fire, then rain, then slides.
What to Pack Based on the Data
Honestly, the "L.A. Uniform" exists for a reason.
- A light hoodie or denim jacket: Required 365 days a year. Even in the summer, the desert air cools down fast once the sun is gone.
- Sunglasses: Polarized are better. The glare off the concrete and the ocean is brutal.
- Breathable fabrics: Cotton and linen for the "Gloom" months because the humidity is higher than you’d think.
Actionable Insights for Planning
If you want the best weather, aim for October or April. These are the "shoulder" months where the temperature is stable, the sky is usually blue, and you avoid the extremes of the winter rains or the late-summer heatwaves.
Avoid June if you are a sun-seeker. You will spend your entire vacation waiting for the clouds to clear.
Check the South Coast AQI if you have asthma or respiratory issues. Summer and Fall can see spikes in ozone and particulate matter, especially during fire season or high-traffic heatwaves.
Monitor the "Marine Layer" reports on local news like KTLA if you're planning a beach day. If the fog is thick at 8:00 AM, it might not be a beach day until 3:00 PM.
Los Angeles weather is less about seasons and more about geography. Understand where you are in relation to the ocean, and you’ll understand why you’re shivering or sweating.