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

National City, California Weather

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

National City weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

National City, CA
Sunday, July 5 at 11:00 AM
74
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
79°
Humidity
73%
Wind
9 mph
Sunrise
10:46 PM
Sunset
12:59 PM
National City, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastNational City, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 64°H 77°
National City, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Foggy
    —
    —
    77°65°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    77°64°0°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    79°63°+2°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    81°68°+2°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Clear
    —
    —
    82°69°+1°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    —
    —
    83°70°+1°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    —
    —
    80°70°-3°
National City, CA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
60°70°80°6a12p6p12anow 74°high 77°low 64°
National City, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
W
273° · veering 5°
Direction
W
273°
Sustained
9
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
13
avg 6
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE 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 6 · pk 13 @ 3:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 136SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 5° from the w.
National City, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1013.3
-0.7 mb in 3h · falling · 29.92 inHg
Now
1013.3
mb
3h
-0.7
mb
12h
-0.7
mb
24h
-1.4
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1012–1015
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1014.71012.31013.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
National City, CA
Air quality
51
AQI
Moderate
→-1 in 6h

AQI 51 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 12.5 µg/m³, PM10 at 17.3 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

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

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
12.5μg/m³
PM 10Good
17μg/m³
NO₂Good
6μg/m³
OzoneGood
52μg/m³
UV IndexVery high
9.7

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 12.5 µg/m³, PM10 at 17.3 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.72
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

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
National City, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
22%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
39.8mi
UNLIMITED
48 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
18:00 UTC · National City, 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
18:00 UTC · National City, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
National City, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
National City, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
National City, 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
10:46 PM
Daylight
14h 13m
Sunset
12:59 PM
Civil dusk
8:29 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
National City, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
70% illuminated
Moonrise
11:03 PM
Moonset
11:07 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
National City, 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 →

National City at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 5°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 3 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 91950

16-Day Forecast — National City

  1. Sun77°65°0%
  2. Mon77°64°1%
  3. Tue79°63°0%
  4. Wed81°68°0%
  5. Thu82°69°0%
  6. Fri83°70°0%
  7. Sat80°70°1%
  8. Sun90°70°3%
  9. Mon87°72°10%
  10. Tue86°74°10%
  11. Wed87°75°4%
  12. Thu92°79°20%
  13. Fri90°77°14%
  14. Sat88°74°12%
  15. Sun86°74°13%
  16. Mon87°73°9%

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

Live wind & temperature near National City

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

The year in National City tops out in August (~74°F) and dips lowest in January (~55°F), with February wettest at 2.1 inches and July driest at 0.1 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January55°2.0″10
February56°2.1″10
March58°1.9″12
April61°1.0″10
May64°0.3″10
June68°0.1″8
July73°0.1″3
August74°0.1″4
September73°0.1″5
October68°0.3″6
November61°1.0″7
December55°2.0″9

Regional context

National City's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 55°F Januarys with 73°F Julys — a 18°F swing. About 11 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 94 days a year.

Precipitation in National City peaks in the cool season: February averages 2.1 inches across 9.6 storm-fed days, while July bottoms out at 0.1 inches over just 3.0 rainy days. That cool-season-wet pattern aligns National City with places like Coronado, CA, Bonita, CA and Chula Vista, CA.

Freezes are uncommon in National City, where the coldest month averages 55°F; cool-season crops grow fall through spring. Summer heat in August (about 74°F) is the binding constraint, not cold. Across National City, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in National City's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Coronado, CA, Bonita, CA, Chula Vista, CA, Lemon Grove, CA, La Presa, CA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in National City?
National City's last spring frost lands near mid-March, and in National City the first fall frost follows around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in National City?
Rainfall in National City peaks in February near 2.1 inches, out of about 11 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in National City?
On average August tops the year in National City at about 74°F.
What is the coldest month in National City?
The coldest stretch in National City falls in January, around 55°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in National City?
In National City, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-March; National City's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does National City get?
National City records around 94 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is National City?
Because National City bottoms near 55°F in January, that winter low sets National City's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for National City?
National City'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 National City?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for National City in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in National City?
Current conditions for National City and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the National City forecast updated?
The National City forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in National City?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for National City 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 National City?
The next few days in National City's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a hot-summer Mediterranean zone, National City, California swings from 55°F in the heart of winter to 73°F at midsummer — a 18°F arc.

In a typical year National City records about 11 inches of precipitation on around 94 days.

National City sits at 32.7°N; that 18°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across National City.

All cities in California →

San Diego, CA weather →

ZIP codes in National City

  • 92136
  • 91950
  • 91951

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.