You’ve seen the postcards. Palm trees, convertible tops down, and a sun that never seems to quit. People think Los Angeles is just one long, eternal summer. Honestly, that’s a bit of a myth. If you show up in June expecting a golden tan, you might spend your whole morning staring at a thick, gray ceiling of clouds.
Weather in LA monthly is actually a series of micro-climates and weird atmospheric quirks. It’s a Mediterranean climate, sure. But it’s also a desert-adjacent coastal basin. One mile you’re shivering in sea fog, and ten miles inland, you’re melting in 90-degree heat.
The Winter Reality: January and February
January is the "coldest" month, but cold is a relative term here. We’re talking highs of 68°F ($20$°C). It’s actually one of the most beautiful times to be in the city. Why? Because when it rains—and it does rain—it washes the smog away.
The air gets incredibly crisp. You can see the snow on the San Gabriel Mountains from a downtown rooftop. February usually takes the crown for the wettest month, averaging about 3.8 inches of rain. When a storm hits, it’s not a drizzle; it’s a tropical-style downpour that turns the 405 freeway into a parking lot.
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- January Highs: 68°F / Lows: 49°F
- February Highs: 68°F / Lows: 50°F
- Vibe: Green hills, clear views, and light jackets.
Spring and the Gloom
March is when the wildflowers start to pop. It’s basically perfect. Highs creep up to the low 70s. But then, May and June hit. Locals call it "May Gray" and "June Gloom."
Basically, the land heats up, but the ocean stays cold. This sucks in a thick marine layer. You wake up, and it looks like London. It’s gray. It’s damp. It stays that way until 2:00 PM when the sun finally "burns off" the clouds. If you’re staying in Santa Monica or Venice, you might not see the sun at all some days in June.
Summer Heat and the Valley Factor
July and August are when the heat really arrives. But here is the thing: "LA weather" depends entirely on your zip code.
If you are in Malibu, it’s a breezy 75°F. If you drive 20 minutes over the hill into the San Fernando Valley (think Burbank or Northridge), it’s suddenly 105°F. It’s brutal. August is technically the hottest month, with city-wide averages around 84°F, but that number is a lie if you're inland.
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September is actually the "secret" summer. It’s often hotter than July. This is also when the Santa Ana winds start. These are hot, dry winds that blow from the desert toward the ocean. They make people cranky. They also bring a terrifyingly high fire risk.
The Fall Sweet Spot
October is arguably the best month in Los Angeles. The "Gloom" is long gone. The extreme 100-degree spikes usually settle down into a consistent 78°F.
By November, the nights start to get actually chilly. You’ll need more than a hoodie if you’re out past 6:00 PM. This is the transition back into the rainy season, though "season" is a strong word for a city that only gets about 14 inches of rain a year.
Quick Monthly Breakdown (Averages)
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rain (Inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 70°F | 53°F | 2.1 |
| May | 74°F | 59°F | 0.3 |
| July | 83°F | 65°F | 0.0 |
| September | 83°F | 64°F | 0.2 |
| November | 72°F | 54°F | 1.0 |
What to Actually Pack
Don't bring a heavy parka. You'll look like a tourist. Even in the dead of winter, a denim jacket or a light puffer is plenty.
The real pro tip? Layers. You’ve got to be a bit of a chameleon. You’ll start the day in a sweater because it’s 55°F at 8:00 AM, strip down to a T-shirt by noon when it’s 75°F, and then go right back to that sweater the second the sun dips behind the Santa Monica mountains.
Also, ignore the "no rain in California" song. If you’re visiting in February, bring an umbrella. When it rains here, the infrastructure struggles, and you don’t want to be caught walking to your Uber in a flash flood.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the "Marine Layer" forecast: If you're visiting in June, use apps like Windy or Weather Underground to see if the fog will break before you plan a beach day.
- Book inland for winter, coastal for summer: To save money and get better weather, stay in West Hollywood or Silver Lake during the winter (less fog) and Santa Monica in the summer (natural AC).
- Monitor Fire Weather: If you're hiking in September or October, check the National Weather Service (NWS Los Angeles) for Red Flag Warnings. High winds mean many trails will be closed for safety.