Weather in Winchester, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Foggy—75°56°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—74°55°
- MondayMay 18Overcast—82°49°
- TuesdayMay 19Overcast—88°51°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—88°55°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—85°52°
- FridayMay 22Clear—87°52°
- PM 2.5
- 8.5 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 16.0 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.7 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 102.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 3.5 Moderate
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 12:15 PM
- Moonset
- 1:59 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
Winchester at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 7°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 9 (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
Winchester's warmest month is August (~80°F mean) and its coldest is December (~52°F). Rainfall peaks in February (2.8 inches) and bottoms out in June (0.1 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53° | 2.7″ | 4 |
| February | 54° | 2.8″ | 5 |
| March | 58° | 1.7″ | 4 |
| April | 61° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| May | 67° | 0.5″ | 1 |
| June | 73° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| July | 79° | 0.2″ | 0 |
| August | 80° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| September | 76° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| October | 68° | 0.5″ | 1 |
| November | 59° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| December | 52° | 1.9″ | 3 |
Regional context
Winchester sits within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Winchester?
- Winchester's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Winchester?
- February is the wettest month with about 2.8 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 12 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Winchester?
- August is typically warmest, averaging about 80°F.
- What is the coldest month in Winchester?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 52°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Winchester?
- 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 Winchester get?
- Winchester averages about 23 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Winchester?
- Winchester'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
Winchester, California sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. January means hover near 53°F while July averages 79°F — a 26°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Winchester receives about 12 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 23 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (33.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.