Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Lake Forest, California Weather

Summer heat deepens across the valleys. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lake Forest weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Lake Forest, CA
Sunday, July 5 at 10:52 AM
80
°
Clear
Feels like
84°
Humidity
48%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
10:45 PM
Sunset
1:04 PM
Lake Forest, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastLake Forest, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 61 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 61°H 84°
Lake Forest, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    84°63°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Foggy
    —
    —
    85°61°+1°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Mostly Clear
    —
    —
    89°61°+4°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    94°70°+5°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Clear
    —
    —
    94°73°0°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    —
    —
    91°72°-3°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    —
    —
    86°71°-5°
Lake Forest, CA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°55°73°90°6a12p6p12anow 76°high 84°low 61°
Lake Forest, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
246° · backing 123°
Direction
WSW
246°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
6
mph
Peak 24h
9
avg 4
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 4 · pk 9 @ 9:00p
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 114SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Lake Forest, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
990.4
0.0 mb in 3h · steady · 29.25 inHg
Now
990.4
mb
3h
0.0
mb
12h
-0.4
mb
24h
-2.3
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 990–993
9859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW992.6989.8990.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Lake Forest, CA
Air quality
34
AQI
Good
→0 in 6h

AQI 34 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 9.4 µg/m³ (AQI 52) with a 0.70 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
9.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
13μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneGood
60μg/m³
UV IndexVery high
7.2

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.4 µg/m³ (AQI 52) with a 0.70 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.70
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Lake Forest, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
76.9mi
UNLIMITED
107 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
17:52 UTC · Lake Forest, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
17:52 UTC · Lake Forest, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Lake Forest, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Lake Forest, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Lake Forest, CA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:18 AM
Sunrise
10:45 PM
Daylight
14h 19m
Sunset
1:04 PM
Civil dusk
8:34 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Lake Forest, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
71% illuminated
Moonrise
11:06 PM
Moonset
11:09 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Lake Forest, CA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Summer heat deepens across the valleys

weather
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lake Forest at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 80°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: March 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 92630

16-Day Forecast — Lake Forest

  1. Sun84°63°1%
  2. Mon85°61°1%
  3. Tue89°61°0%
  4. Wed94°70°0%
  5. Thu94°73°0%
  6. Fri91°72°0%
  7. Sat86°71°0%
  8. Sun89°70°2%
  9. Mon98°72°6%
  10. Tue97°80°10%
  11. Wed97°78°7%
  12. Thu102°81°13%
  13. Fri101°82°13%
  14. Sat98°79°10%
  15. Sun99°79°19%
  16. Mon101°78°12%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Lake Forest

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, 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.

January 1–5: New year in coastal mist.January 6–10: Hills hold the winter cold.January 11–15: Light lengthens over wet earth.January 16–20: The green pulse quickens.January 21–25: Spring green spreads inland.January 26–31: Winter's grip releases.February 1–5: Fog lifts, flowers open.February 6–10: Blooms erupt across chaparral.February 11–15: Winter blooms at their peak.February 16–20: Rivers recede, flowers spread.February 21–25: Earth warms, flowers rush upslope.February 26–28: Spring advances on cool winds.March 1–5: Grass and trees bud and break.March 6–10: Insects wake and feed.March 11–15: Blossoms crown the hillsides.March 16–20: Monarch chrysalis emergence.March 21–25: Light overtakes dark at equinox.March 26–31: California poppy ablaze.April 1–5: Spring rain feeds the seedlings.April 6–10: Warblers flood the understory.April 11–15: Allen's hummingbirds in courtship dives.April 16–20: Coastal fog settles; sun breaks midday.April 21–25: Oak canopies full and green.April 26–30: Chaparral awakens after spring rains.May 1–5: Coastal wildflowers at their peak.May 6–10: Gray whales complete their migration north.May 11–15: Redwood coast in cool shade.May 16–20: Fog and sun in daily rhythm.May 21–25: Summer approaches; hills turn gold.May 26–31: Dry season begins; tule fog in valleys.June 1–5: Coastal fog thickens at dawn.June 6–10: California poppies fade as heat rises.June 11–15: Summer solstice light stretched thin.June 16–20: Bay laurel fragrance sweetens shade.June 21–25: Longest daylight, driest air.June 26–30: Fog banks mask the turning tide.July 1–5: Summer heat deepens across the valleys.July 6–10: Warm winds drive dryness inland.July 11–15: Pacific high settles in firmly.July 16–20: Young hawks take to the thermals.July 21–25: Peak fire season, peak heat.July 26–31: Chaparral poised for ignition.August 1–5: August begins in scorching stillness.August 6–10: Autumn's first cool breath arrives.August 11–15: Cool winds signal the turning year.August 16–20: Evening cicada chorus.August 21–25: Marine layer descent.August 26–31: Monarch staging begins.September 1–5: Fire season intensity.September 6–10: Dew on drying grasses.September 11–15: Raptor passage begins.September 16–20: Equinox descent.September 21–25: Ceanothus blooms again.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Creeks begin to whisper.October 6–10: Santa Ana wind season.October 11–15: Wildflower anticipation.October 16–20: Chaparral embers glow.October 21–25: First atmospheric river looms.October 26–31: Rains return at last.November 1–5: Coast live oak leaves turn amber.November 6–10: California lilac blooms in winter light.November 11–15: First rain greens the chaparral.November 16–20: Coastal fog thickens as storms approach.November 21–25: Thanksgiving rains swell the valleys.November 26–30: Autumn's last breath yields to winter.December 1–5: December arrives, storms accelerate.December 6–10: Winter solstice season intensifies.December 11–15: Deep winter: rivers at flood stage.December 16–20: Winter salmon runs peak in northern rivers.December 21–25: Winter solstice: the sun turns.December 26–31: Year's end in wind and rain.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Summer heat deepens across the valleys

Inland temperatures exceed 95°F regularly; fire danger reaches moderate to high across most of the region.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

Lake Forest peaks at about 77°F in August and bottoms near 59°F in December; January brings the heaviest rain (3.2 inches) and August the least (0.0 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January60°3.2″5
February60°3.0″5
March63°1.8″3
April65°0.7″2
May68°0.4″1
June72°0.1″0
July76°0.1″0
August77°0.0″0
September76°0.1″0
October71°0.6″1
November65°1.0″2
December59°2.4″4

Regional context

Lake Forest swings from 60°F in January to 76°F in July (16°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Lake Forest runs about 13.5 inches on roughly 23 measurable days.

Precipitation in Lake Forest peaks in the cool season: January averages 3.2 inches across 4.5 storm-fed days, while August bottoms out at 0.0 inches over just 0.0 rainy days. That groups Lake Forest with places like Mission Viejo, CA, Modjeska, CA and Trabuco Canyon, CA on the same cool-season storm track.

Hard freezes are rare in Lake Forest: the coldest month averages 59°F, so Lake Forest's growing window runs most of the year. August is the hottest stretch near 77°F, pushing cool-season crops to the milder shoulder months. Across Lake Forest, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in Lake Forest's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Mission Viejo, CA, Modjeska, CA, Trabuco Canyon, CA, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Laguna Woods, CA.

Naturalist notes

By late May the toyon shrubs on south-facing slopes finish flowering and set small green berries that will ripen slowly through summer.

Barn swallows return to nest under bridges and eaves, their arrival tracking daytime temperatures that reliably stay above 60°F.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Lake Forest?
Frost typically leaves Lake Forest by mid-March and returns to Lake Forest near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest sees its heaviest rain in January (around 3.2 inches), part of roughly 14 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Lake Forest?
August is Lake Forest's warmest month, averaging about 77°F.
What is the coldest month in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest bottoms out in December, with a mean near 59°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Lake Forest?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-March in Lake Forest; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Lake Forest get?
Expect roughly 23 wet days a year in Lake Forest.
What hardiness zone is Lake Forest?
Lake Forest's USDA zone comes from its December mean (59°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Lake Forest?
Lake Forest's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Lake Forest?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Lake Forest in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Lake Forest?
Current conditions for Lake Forest and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Lake Forest forecast updated?
The Lake Forest forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Lake Forest?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Lake Forest are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Lake Forest?
The next few days in Lake Forest's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Lake Forest, California has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate: January averages roughly 60°F, July about 76°F, 16°F between them.

Across the year, Lake Forest collects about 14 inches of precipitation over roughly 23 days with measurable rain or snow.

Latitude 33.7°N gives Lake Forest its 16°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Lake Forest's growing season.

All cities in California →

Mission Viejo, CA weather →

ZIP codes in Lake Forest

  • 92610
  • 92630
  • 92609

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.