Weather in Carson, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 12:20 PM
- Moonset
- 2:04 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
Carson at a glance
- Today vs. normal: NaN°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 10 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of May 16, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Carson's warmest month is August (~74°F mean) and its coldest is December (~57°F). Rainfall peaks in February (3.0 inches) and bottoms out in August (0.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 2.9″ | 4 |
| February | 58° | 3.0″ | 5 |
| March | 60° | 1.6″ | 3 |
| April | 63° | 0.6″ | 1 |
| May | 66° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| June | 69° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| July | 73° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| August | 74° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| September | 73° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| October | 68° | 0.5″ | 1 |
| November | 62° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| December | 57° | 2.1″ | 3 |
Regional context
Carson belongs to a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region — a group of cities sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Naturalist notes
By late May, fledgling western scrub-jays begin testing their wings in suburban yards, noisily chasing parents for insects and cached acorns.
Low in the southwestern sky after sunset, Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation in early June, hanging bright and unmistakable through the late-spring twilight.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Carson?
- Carson's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Carson?
- February is the wettest month with about 3.0 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 12 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Carson?
- August is typically warmest, averaging about 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Carson?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 57°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Carson?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Carson get?
- Carson averages about 20 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Carson?
- Carson's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Carson, California lies in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. January means hover near 57°F, while July averages 73°F — a 16°F seasonal swing.
The city receives roughly 12 inches of precipitation across the year, spread over about 20 rainy days.
Latitude (33.8°N), nearby water bodies, and local elevation set the rhythm of the year. These factors determine what grows here, when frost is likely, and the day-to-day weather story.