Free Flash Slideshow by cu3ox.com v1.1

Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Climate


Most of the state of California has a Mediterranean climate, with rainy winters and dry summers. Winds from the ocean bring moisture, and the northern parts of the state generally receive higher annual rainfall amounts than the south. On the coast the influence of the Pacific ocean generally moderates temperature extremes, creating warmer winters and substantially cooler summers, with often summer fog (called "June Gloom") near the coast.

Further inland, the climate becomes more continental with colder winters and markedly hotter summers. The Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate but with greater temperature extremes than the coastal areas: parts of the valley are often filled with thick fog, similar to that found in the coastal valleys. The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have a mountain climate with snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer. California's desert climate regions lie east of the high Sierra Nevada and Southern California's Ranges.
The low deserts east of the Southern California mountains, including the Imperial and Coachella valleys and the lower Colorado River, are part of the Sonoran Desert, with hot summers and mild winters. The higher elevation deserts of Eastern California, including the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley, are part of the Great Basin region, with hot summers and cold winters.

The Santa Ana winds are warm, dry winds that characteristically appear in Southern California weather during autumn and early winter. As the Santa Ana winds are channeled through the mountain passes they can approach hurricane force. The combination of wind, heat, and dryness turns the chaparral into explosive fuel for the infamous wildfires that burn thousands of acres every year.

During the summer months the region is affected by the Mexican Monsoon which drives moisture from the tropical Pacific, Gulf of California and Gulf of Mexico into the deserts, setting off often, brief thunderstorms, particularly over mountainous terrain.
The weather on the Monterey Peninsula is moderate year-round. The average daily temperature along the coast varies only by about 12 degrees throughout the calendar year, with average highs in the mid-60s and average lows in the low 50s. Fog can be a factor, consistently keeping the summers misty and gray, especially in the morning hours; in fact, you could see more sunshine in January than in July. Don’t let fog-bound days keep you away, however, the misty haze only adds to the Monterey mystique. Still, the best time to visit is Indian summer, from August through October, when days are sunniest and warmest. Temperatures are appreciably warmer and days are sunnier inland. Although most of the area’s prime destinations lie along the coast, if it’s sun that you’re after, consider making Carmel Valley your headquarters. You have to drive inland only 15 minutes or so for temps to climb well into the 80s or 90s in July or August.
climate zones for california nature Westerly winds from the ocean bring moisture, and the northern parts of the state generally receive higher annual rainfall amounts than the south. California's mountain ranges influence the climate as well: moisture-laden air from the west cools as it ascends the mountains, dropping moisture; some of the rainiest parts of the state are west-facing mountain slopes. Northwestern California has a temperate climate with rainfall of 15 inches  to 50 inches per year. Some areas of Coast Redwood forest receive over 100 inches  of precipitation per year. The Central Valley has a wide range of precipitation. The northern parts of the Central Valley receive substantially greater precipitation from winter storms which sweep down from the Pacific Northwest, while the southernmost regions of the Central Valley are near desert-like because of a lack of precipitation. Parts of the Valley are occasionally filled with thick fog (known locally as "tule fog)."

The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, and the Klamath Mountains, have a mountain climate with snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer. Ski resorts at Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, and Mount Shasta routinely receive over 10 feet of snow in a season.
Despite its long coastline, California is not vulnerable to tropical cyclones. Because of the cold California Current from the North Pacific Ocean and the fact that the storms tend to "steer" West, California has only been hit with two tropical storms in recorded history, a storm which came ashore in 1939 and dumped heavy rainfall on the Los Angeles Area and interior deserts and Hurricane Nora. The remnants of tropical systems will affect California more commonly, every several years.

California's summers are typically hot, and dry. This makes them prone to wildfires. These can be life threatening and cause evacuation. Wildfires are less common along the coast because of the cool humid summers, but can occur in autumn when the Marine layer is less common making it warm and dry.
 
 
Website Created by Website Creations

About us      Privacy Disclaimer      Advertisers     Contact Us     Bookstore    Sitemap     Search    Floridian Nature