Weather in Berkeley, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Mostly Clear—73°52°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—74°50°
- MondayMay 18Clear—84°58°
- TuesdayMay 19Partly Cloudy—86°60°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—79°58°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—74°57°
- FridayMay 22Overcast—68°55°
- PM 2.5
- 7.5 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 11.8 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 1.3 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 80.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 2.3 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 1:10 PM
- Moonset
- 3:47 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
Berkeley at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 4°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 3 (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 17, 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
Berkeley's warmest month is September (~66°F mean) and its coldest is December (~52°F). Rainfall peaks in December (4.7 inches) and bottoms out in July (0.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53° | 4.3″ | 8 |
| February | 55° | 4.3″ | 7 |
| March | 57° | 3.2″ | 7 |
| April | 59° | 1.4″ | 4 |
| May | 61° | 0.8″ | 2 |
| June | 63° | 0.2″ | 1 |
| July | 64° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| August | 65° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| September | 66° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| October | 64° | 1.1″ | 2 |
| November | 58° | 2.4″ | 4 |
| December | 52° | 4.7″ | 8 |
Regional context
Berkeley 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 Berkeley?
- Berkeley's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Berkeley?
- December is the wettest month with about 4.7 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 23 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Berkeley?
- September is typically warmest, averaging about 66°F.
- What is the coldest month in Berkeley?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 52°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Berkeley?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Berkeley get?
- Berkeley averages about 42 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Berkeley?
- Berkeley'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
Berkeley, California sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. January means hover near 53°F while July averages 64°F — a 12°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Berkeley receives about 23 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 42 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (37.9°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.