When does it freeze in Sacramento?

Sacramento typically sees its final spring frost around mid-April, with the season's first frost returning in mid-November.

What is the rainy season in Sacramento?

January ranks as the wettest month, delivering about 3.9 inches of rain on average, while the city's annual total reaches roughly 19 inches.

What is the warmest month in Sacramento?

July typically brings the year's highest temperatures, averaging around 78°F.

What is the coldest month in Sacramento?

December usually records the coldest temperatures, averaging around 49°F.

When can I start a vegetable garden in Sacramento?

Cool-season vegetables like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while heat-loving crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks longer.

How many rainy days does Sacramento get?

Sacramento experiences approximately 38 rainy days each year.

What hardiness zone is Sacramento?

Sacramento's USDA hardiness zone reflects its coldest average winter temperatures; the USDA's online zone finder provides current designations using city ZIP codes.

Weather in Sacramento, California

Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Sacramento, CA

Saturday, May 16 at 11:59 PM

Clear

Feels like

73°

Humidity

18%

Wind

12 mph

Sunrise

5:52 AM

Sunset

8:11 PM

Sacramento, CA

Hour by hour · 24h

89°

87°

88°

83°

76°

70°

67°

10p

64°

11p

63°

12a

61°

59°

58°

56°

55°

54°

57°

64°

69°

73°

10a

76°

11a

80°

12p

83°

86°

88°

Sacramento, CA

7-day forecast

Today
May 16
Overcast
—
81°54°
Sunday
May 17
Overcast
—
76°56°
Monday
May 18
Clear
—
85°60°
Tuesday
May 19
Clear
—
91°57°
Wednesday
May 20
Overcast
—
92°62°
Thursday
May 21
Overcast
—
97°64°
Friday
May 22
Partly Cloudy
—
93°59°

Sacramento, CA

Next 24 hours · Warm now

Sacramento, CA

Anemometer · 24h winds · from true

From · True

NNW

344° · backing 103°

Direction

NNW

344°

Sustained

mph

Gust

mph

Peak 24h

avg 8

Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ

CALM

LIGHT AIR

1–3

LIGHT BRZ

4–7

GENTLE BRZ

8–12

MOD BRZ

13–18

FRESH BRZ

19–24

STRONG BRZ

25–31

NEAR GALE

32–38

24h · sust vs gust · mph

avg 8 · pk 24 @ 10:00p

−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Sacramento, CA

Barometer · 24h pressure · mb

Pressure · mb

1010.2

+0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 29.83 inHg

Now

1010.2

+0.5

12h

-2.4

24h

-0.8

Regime · CHANGE

STORM

RAIN

CHANGE

FAIR

DRY

24h · Pressure · mb

range 1010–1013

−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Sacramento, CA

Air quality

AQI

Good

PM 2.5: 2.1 μg/m³
PM 10: 3.6 μg/m³
NO₂: 0.7 μg/m³
Ozone: 115.0 μg/m³
UV Index: 3.9 Moderate

Sacramento, CA

Almanac · Saturday, May 16

Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.

Civil dawn

12:24 PM

Sunrise

5:52 AM

Daylight

14h 19m

Sunset

8:11 PM

Civil dusk

3:42 AM

Planting note

Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.

Sacramento, CA

The moon

New Moon

0% illuminated

Moonrise: 12:20 PM
Moonset: 2:30 AM
In sign: ♉︎ Taurus

Sacramento, CA

Microseason · 28 of 72

May 16–20

Fog and sun in daily rhythm

weather

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Sacramento at a glance

Today vs. normal: 8°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
Last frost: April 7 (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

Warm-season window is open

As of May 16, the last spring frost has passed for most years. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, and cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, melons) now. Direct-sow beans and corn into warm soil.

Planting calendar

Month	Plant	Harvest
January	—	—
February	—	—
March	—	—
April	lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes	—
May	lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash	lettuce, peas, radishes
June	tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash	lettuce, peas, radishes
July	tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash	tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August	—	tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September	fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots	tomatoes, beans, summer squash
October	fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots	winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November	—	—
December	—	—

A year in weather

July brings Sacramento's peak heat at around 78°F mean temperature, while December delivers the coldest conditions at roughly 49°F. January produces the heaviest rainfall at 3.9 inches, contrasting sharply with July's bone-dry 0.0 inches.

Month	Mean temp	Precip	Rainy days
January	49°	3.9″	7
February	53°	3.6″	7
March	57°	2.8″	6
April	61°	1.4″	3
May	68°	0.9″	2
June	74°	0.2″	1
July	78°	0.0″	0
August	77°	0.0″	0
September	74°	0.1″	0
October	66°	0.9″	2
November	55°	1.8″	4
December	49°	3.5″	6

Regional context

Sacramento falls within the hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone, sharing temperature ranges and seasonal rhythms with other cities in this regional climate pattern.

Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, San Jose, CA.

Naturalist notes

Valley oaks begin leafing out in late March as daylight hours lengthen and soil temperatures rise.

Swallows return to Sacramento in early April, timing their arrival with the emergence of flying insects.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Sacramento?: Sacramento typically sees its final spring frost around mid-April, with the season's first frost returning in mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Sacramento?: January ranks as the wettest month, delivering about 3.9 inches of rain on average, while the city's annual total reaches roughly 19 inches.
What is the warmest month in Sacramento?: July typically brings the year's highest temperatures, averaging around 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Sacramento?: December usually records the coldest temperatures, averaging around 49°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Sacramento?: Cool-season vegetables like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while heat-loving crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks longer.
How many rainy days does Sacramento get?: Sacramento experiences approximately 38 rainy days each year.
What hardiness zone is Sacramento?: Sacramento's USDA hardiness zone reflects its coldest average winter temperatures; the USDA's online zone finder provides current designations using city ZIP codes.

Climate

Sacramento, California experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. January temperatures typically hover around 49°F, while July averages climb to 78°F — creating a 29°F seasonal swing.

Throughout the year, Sacramento collects approximately 19 inches of precipitation across roughly 38 rainy days.

Geography shapes Sacramento's weather patterns through its latitude at 38.6°N, nearby water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what plants thrive, when frost threatens, and how daily weather unfolds.

Fog and sun in daily rhythm

Sacramento at a glance

Right now in the garden

Planting calendar

A year in weather

Regional context

Naturalist notes

Frequently asked

Climate

Nearby in California

ZIP codes in Sacramento