California weather in July
July splits California wide open: Death Valley runs 117° afternoons while San Francisco tops out near 66°.
Based on 12 weather stations. Twelve stations from Death Valley to the Sierra — California holds most of the country’s climates inside one border, and no state needs its regions kept apart more than this one.
Southern California
Highs 73–84°, nights 58–66°, and 0.0–0.1 in of rain in a typical July.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 82° / 65° | 0 | Real summer at last — the ocean finally worth getting into. |
| Anaheim | 84° / 66° | 0 | Hot pavement, long lines, and no rain to hide under. |
| San Diego | 75° / 66° | 0 | Bright afternoons, warm surf, and every parking lot full. |
| Santa Barbara | 73° / 58° | 0 | Proper summer, without the heat other places call summer. |
Central Coast
Highs 69–72°, nights 53–54°, and under 0.1 in of rain in a typical July.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey | 69° / 54° | 0 | Cold, gray summer — the drip off the pines counts as weather. |
| Santa Cruz | 72° / 53° | 0 | Peak visitor month, and the water still bites. |
Bay Area & Wine Country
Highs 66–79°, nights 54–55°, and under 0.1 in of rain in a typical July.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 66° / 54° | 0 | The coldest summer month you will ever pack a coat for. |
| Napa | 79° / 55° | 0 | Bone-dry days, cold fog at dawn, and vines going quiet. |
The Deserts
Highs 109–117°, nights 79–91°, and 0.1–0.3 in of rain in a typical July.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs | 109° / 79° | 1 | Every single day tops out brutal; nights barely cool off. |
| Death Valley | 117° / 91° | 0 | Earth's hottest place, doing exactly what it advertises. |
The Sierra
Highs 80–89°, nights 43–57°, and 0.3–0.4 in of rain in a typical July.
| Place | Highs / lows | Wet days | The short version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Valley | 89° / 57° | 1 | Hot, dry, and the falls already losing their voice. |
| South Lake Tahoe | 80° / 43° | 1 | Bright, dry, and the nights still ask for a sweater. |
Each place above has its own page for the full story — what the month feels like, what to pack, and whether the timing is right.