Discover California’s Coldest January on Record

For places like Colorado and Minnesota, you can expect snowfall and sub-freezing temperatures during January. But California is mostly known for its year-round mild weather and sandy beaches. Even during the country’s coldest months, California is a fair-weather paradise. However, there have been exceptions. Find out about the coldest January on record in California and learn about the snowiest place in the state.

California’s Climate and Geography Areas closer to the ocean experience a Mediterranean climate with warm winters and cool summers, while regions farther from the coast have continental climates with warmer summers and cooler winters.

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California has over 1,300 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean. It also contains deep canyons, national forests, deserts, valleys and mountains. To say that California is a diverse state is an understatement. It contains the highest and lowest elevation points in the contiguous United States. These extreme differences in geography and topography allow for different climates, vegetation and animals.

California has significant climate differences over short distances, meaning it can be sunny and warm 45 minutes away from freezing temperatures. Areas closer to the ocean experience a Mediterranean climate with warm winters and cool summers, while regions farther from the coast have continental climates with warmer summers and cooler winters. California’s eastern mountains shield much of the state from extreme winter temperatures, but occasionally cold air from a high pressure area can sweep into the state. Most of California offers moderate temperatures, but some regions produce extremes in both directions, from over 130 degrees to well below freezing.

Average January temperatures in California Northern California has an average January low of 33 to 47 degrees. And Southern California has an average January low between 31 and 50 degrees.

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Due to the variability of the state’s climate and geography, there are no reliable “average” January temperatures. But we can divide the state by northern and southern borders to get a better sense of the common lows and highs.

Northern California has an average January high between 62 degrees (Fahrenheit) and 54 degrees. And an average January low of 33 to 47 degrees. Southern California has an average January temperature between 71 and 55 degrees. And an average January low of 31 to 50 degrees. These averages were compiled from data from various cities across California between 1991 and 2020.

When compared to most of the country during the winter, California is quite mild even during a cold front.

California’s Coldest January on Record California’s coldest January on record was in Boca, California on January 20, 1937. The temperature on this day reached minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

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January brings storms and cold fronts to many areas in the United States. You often hear about low wind chills moving into the Midwest and Northeast, but you don’t usually hear about freezing temperatures in California. According to average temperatures during the month, the state can see temperatures dip below 32 degrees, but does it ever get colder than that? Actually, yes.

California’s coldest January on record was in Boca, California on January 20, 1937. The temperature on this day reached minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit. For comparison, the average low in January in Boca is 8 degrees. Boca is in Nevada County in the Tahoe National Forest near the Nevada border. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railway and is located at an altitude of 5,528 meters above sea level.

What animals live in Boca, California? Black Bears Foxes Bobcats Coyotes Gray Foxes Raccoons Coots Occasionally Mountain Lions And much more! What is the snowiest place in California? Boca is close to Lake Tahoe, which is the largest snow producing area in all of California.

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Boca is close to Lake Tahoe, which is an area that produces some of the snowiest in all of California. Homewood, California and Tahoe City, California produce over 190 inches of snow per year. Homewood is a mountain ski resort located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, and Tahoe City is also on the shore of Lake Tahoe at the mouth of the Truckee River. Lake Tahoe has several communities that specialize in all-season tourism, from skiing in the winter to hiking and swimming in the summer.

When was the coldest winter in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles, located in sunny Southern California, is not usually known for cold weather. But that didn’t stop snow falling for three straight days in 1949. January 10, 1949 was the first day of the storm that dropped two feet of snow on the city, including several beach communities. The temperature also dropped to a record 28 degrees, which is very unusual for LA. While the storm caused gas shortages and traffic hell, most residents made the most of the situation. Children sledded the streets, families built snowmen in their front yards, and random snowball fights broke out across town.

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