How cold does SoCal get at night? (San Diego, Bakersfield: gated, dangerous)

[Brandon Graves]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

The Central Valley near the delta tend to have the 30f difference between highs and lows as One mentioned. 67 for a low while 97 for a high Though in much of the Central Valley the cooling effect is much slower than the coastal valleys due to the heat given off from the land and the mountains blocking breezes. The city of San Diego may not have a large temperature variation about 15-20 degrees but due to its location the breezes feel pretty cold early in the evening. Even on humid monsoon days the sea breeze still cools the area quickly.
In Bakersfield however not uncommon for temperatures to stay in the 80s past midnight and sometimes for a low temperature. Of course the low deserts beat all with a 90+ for a low for 25 days or more days a year. Those desert hot springs resorts just can't make money over the summer.

While heating is used considerablely less in SoCal than in NorCal, it is still used more than you think. In some houses almost everyday between December and January, This is still not Hawaii or south Florida. Though on some winter days in SoCal it can feel like summer.

[citizensadvocate]

Originally Posted by tstieber

You are exactly right about the evening cool down in inland Bay Area or LA. The coastal breezes help bring down the temperatures more quickly, except in very extreme heatwaves like we're currently having. We notice that even in inland San Diego, after most hot days, it cools off quite nicely at night, and unless it's triple digits, which is rare, it gets surprisingly cool after sunset. I think Redding in the far north, and Bakersfield in the far south of the Central Valley, are even more prone to hot nights, with lows not infrequently around 80f, because they also have a smidgeon of elevation, meaning they are located in thermal belts that rise above the lower portions of the valley floor where the cooler air collects at night. Similarly, hills above the valleys in LA or inland Bay Area can stay very hot at night during heatwaves, sometimes staying in the high 70s or low 80s for low temps while the valleys below cool into the 60s. So it's a combination of the cooling breeze and/or elevation.

Since when to buildings in SoCal not have functioning heating? We're not a third world country! That would be a bit of a challenge during cold snaps.

Originally Posted by saibot

We're used to cool nights and don't deal well with humid heat. Many people don't sleep well when it's this warm, or don't have a/c, or don't like running it all night, so everyone is cranky. I'm sure there are some people who like it, but everyone I've talked to is uncomfortable!

Depends on the beach for the low temperatures--I was looking at the closest one to me, Laguna Beach, which has an average low of 59-61 in July, August, and September. Which means that often it's even a little cooler than that.

Interesting saying how we are not a third world country. Having been to SoCal for many times a year and now living here during these two very hot and sultry humid years I am surprised anyone would be living without A/C in SoCal or any building be without A/C in this day and age. Also why we in SoCal often have a separate heating system from the A/C when most houses/apartment/ and other buildings in the southern states where winters are not too cold just use whats called a heat pump or reverse cycle A/C unit that can both heat and cool. It saves having to maintain two systems that can break down separately. Wouldn't it be much easier if we just equip every building in SoCal with a central or Minisplit heat pump A/C system which is very common in the rest of the world instead of a separate "space heater" and a box air conditioner or a gas furnace and a separate A/C compressor thus killing two birds with one stone this way?

[NativeOrange]

Originally Posted by saibot

We're used to cool nights and don't deal well with humid heat. Many people don't sleep well when it's this warm, or don't have a/c, or don't like running it all night, so everyone is cranky. I'm sure there are some people who like it, but everyone I've talked to is uncomfortable!

Depends on the beach for the low temperatures--I was looking at the closest one to me, Laguna Beach, which has an average low of 59-61 in July, August, and September. Which means that often it's even a little cooler than that.

Laguna Beach weather station is kind of an anomaly. Most beachside lows in July and August are 64-65F.

[the topper]

It can be in the low to mid 20's in L.A and San Diego in the winter time. Note* record low: L.A 23 and SD 25

[the topper]

http://www.laalmanac.com/weather/we03.php

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by the topper

It can be in the low to mid 20's in L.A and San Diego in the winter time. Note* record low: L.A 23 and SD 25

Indeed! But record temps are so rare that you wouldn't expect them regularly. 30s are not uncommon though.

[quique07]

Originally Posted by marsh009

Oh cool, I'm from London and have family near Pasadena, I think they live in Glendale?? Not too sure tho. Here, in England 95% of the time you have to wear a jacket if you wanna go out at night even in the summer which is annoying so is it like that in the summer where you live?

Yeah I will say so. I personally don't wear a jacket during summer because I usually feel the heat more than most people lol I'm sensitive to heat. Don't like it.

But more often than not, during normal summer days, you will see that people usually always carry a light sweater here. Especially around downtown and the coastal areas of LA, it can get chilly at night.

I used to work in Glendale, and it follows almost the same pattern as Pasadena. Here, you probably won't need a sweater/jacket during the summer. Both cities are inland valley cities, and stay pretty warm during the summer.

[citizensadvocate]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Indeed! But record temps are so rare that you wouldn't expect them regularly. 30s are not uncommon though.

It does get below 30 for a few nights a year.

Though the record low is actually pretty high for something at this latitude. I read that Tallahassee Florida which is lower in elevation and latitude and normally pretty warm year round even in the winter has a all time low of -2f. Hard to believe as its a very rare day in Florida that is not sweating in t shirts, shorts, flip flops, or sleeping with A/C on in Florida year round even in the dead of winter.

[BGS91762]

Originally Posted by marsh009

Yeah I totally understand, I prefer a semi change in seasons anyway not just constant heat like in FL which I feel like would get extremely boring after a while. I mean I wanna be able to wear a jacket some days

I live in Ontario and most nights I the summer we have lows in the 60s with a nice breeze from the west. Only a few nights in the summer is the temps uncomfortable. In the winter we regularly have lows in the 40s and high 30s. I always say that So Cal winter is like an extended Midwestern fall temperature wise which I love.

[Oraculo]

Why do you want nights to be warm? Tehe

You won't be able to sleep comfortably then.

I think SoCal weather is famous for sunny warm days and cool nights. Inland cities are more extreme.

If you want hot nights, go to Florida. Though it'll be humid too.