Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Drought, Weather & Snowpack Category
Click here to view all posts

The weather and climate of California

Posted by: Maven on March 17, 2010 at 7:41 am

weatherwiseFrom Weatherwise Magazine:

“California is known for both its cultural and geographical diversity. More than a quarter of Californians are foreign born, and no single ethnic group comprises a majority of the state’s nearly 37 million residents. Geographically the differences are even more striking: California is home to the highest peak in the 48 contiguous United States (Mount Whitney, elevation 14,505 feet) and the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere (Death Valley, elevation −252 feet). Not only are these two locations located in the same state, but they are actually only 76 miles apart! As a result, California has a climate that is just as diverse as its geography and population. Despite the conventional wisdom that the Golden State (so-called because of the Gold Rush in the 1850s) is blessed with sunny beach days 365 days of the year, the difference between the state’s record extremes is actually the fifth greatest in the United States, with a range of 179 degrees between its record minima of −45°F at Boca Reservoir near Truckee and its blistering maxima, of 134°F at aptly named Death Valley, also a North American record high.

Climate Overview

Most of the populated regions of California are graced with a Mediterranean climate (Koeppen type Cs), characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. These areas include the coastal sections and coastal mountains near the Oregon border in the north, San Diego in the south, as well as the Central Valley. Within this area, temperatures typically trend from more temperate closer to the Pacific Ocean to wider seasonal extremes in the state’s interior. … “

Continue reading this article from Weatherwise Magazine by clicking here.

March 17, 2010 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack

Comments

Leave a Reply