What parts of CA stay warm all winter? (Ojai: vacation home, to live)

[DinsdalePirahna]

It can get very chilly at night (to the point of freezing) in most CA Beach and Desert Communities.

Daytime temps are warmer in the deserts.
Daytime temps at the beach can be as low as 42 degrees.

[Fontucky]

I lived at the beach in OC for 44 years, and never once did the outside dog water freeze over. Different story inland a bit in SJC. Parts of that town off of Rancho Viejo Rd can be 10 to 15 degrees lower than the temps one half mile away on the freeway.

[DinsdalePirahna]

it hit 32 about three weeks ago...

[PA Born]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

it hit 32 about three weeks ago...

On the coast, though? I'm two blocks from the beach in CDM, and don't think it reached that low.

[Hawk J]

Needles, CA & Surrounding area...

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcli...graph/USCA0753

[Coldjensens]

The inside parts.

[Senno]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

it hit 32 about three weeks ago...

Even hitting freezing is getting pretty rare these days.

Only been that cold a couple nights so far up here.

[denverian]

I lived in the City of Orange for about 10 years and can count on one hand the times we had frost. And it was barely a little along the edge of the roof of my car, not like real frost that needs to be scraped from the windshield.

And isn't Long Beach the warmest beach in winter? For some reason, it seemed like Long Beach was always warmer than others... maybe due to facing south? IDK.

People from cold climates tend to think LA and Miami have identical climates. Then they're shocked when they arrive at LAX in May and feel cold. Last May I was waiting for a rental car at LAX and some couple from Alabama was standing next to me shivering. I had to explain to them the climate, and how it was 20 degrees warmer 10 miles inland lol! But I'd take LA's climate over Miami any day. No humidity, bugs, or roaming pythons!

[MamaRed]

Palm Springs is 76 and fabulous today, but there's nothing to do.

[bowneline]

The only places in the continental US that see regular 80's in the winter are south Florida and the very southern tip of Texas (along the Rio Grande etc...). By regular, I mean usually 2 weeks won't go by without a few 80 degree days, and you get them regularly throughout the winter.

Southern California (at sea level) is a notch or two below those places. We do get 80 degree days, but it might only be a couple days per month in the winter, and a month will regularly go by without an 80 degree day.

If you look at the two previous calendar months (Dec. 2012 and January 2013), you will find the following (courtesy of weatherunderground.com):

Miami, FL: (south Florida)
Number of 80+ degree days: 33 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 80 degree day: 6 days

Number of 70+ degree days:60 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 70+ degree day: 1 (twice)


Harlingen, TX (extreme southern Texas):
Number of 80+ degree days: 26 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 80+ degree day: 10 days (twice)

Number of 70+ degree days: 48 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 70+ degree day: 5 days


Palm Springs, CA: (desert Southern California)
Number of 80+ degree days: 6 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 80+ degree day: 29 days

Number of 70+ degree days: 23 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 70+ degree day: 13 days


Irvine, CA: (coastal Southern California)
Number of 80+ degree days: 1 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 80+ degree day: 61 days

Number of 70+ degree days: 12 out of 62 days
Longest Stretch without 70+ degree day: 37 days


Now, of course, this is a small sample size, and I would say that Southern California has had a cooler winter than normal, and Florida's has been warmer. But, this does show that Southern California is in a much different league when it comes to winter weather, relative to south Florida and south Texas. Whereas a 80 degree is a huge bonus for us, its very regular for them. Whereas a 70 degree is still pretty unusual for us, its the norm for them.

If you ask your average midwestern or northeastern resident, they would probably say that Southern California and Florida have very similar winter weather and southern Texas would not even perhaps come to mind when thinking about warm winters.

Now, of course, noone is saying that Southern California doesn't have nice winters, and our winters would be the envy of 95% of the country. But, I think the perception and the reality does not match up. We really only have a small number of days each winter where you will be in shorts and a t-shirt, or want to sit on the beach. Whereas, in Florida, that is most days.

And, of course, the trade off is that we have great weather in all 4 seasons, where southern Florida and southern Texas must sit through 7 months of punishing heat to enjoy their wonderful winters.

All in all, Southern California has the best weather, but it does not have the best winters.