We know the question on your mind, Sacramentans — how is winter in the City of Trees shaping up?
Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for December, January, and February. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.
Reminder: The first day of winter is on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Temperature
We’re keeping our favorite coat handy, just in case. Our city is expected to experience typical winter temps for the area.
Precipitation
Same with rainfall here — our city will likely experience ordinary amounts of precipitation for the season.
Drought
Drought conditions in Sacramento County will likely be kept at bay this season. January-October 2024 was the 57th wettest year to date in our county in the past 130 years, and October 2024 was the 32nd driest October on record.
Damp December
Historically, Sac gets its highest amount of rainfall in December — an average of 9.3 days of rainfall and 1.3 inches. The coldest temps of the year also come during this month: an average of low of 41.4° and average high of 54.5°.
Jumpin’ into January
With temps between 41.5° and 55.9°, the days can feel a bit all over the place, so dressing in layers is best. On average, it rains for 8.4 days in January, generating 1.1 inches of precipitation in Sacramento.
Chillin’ in February
There’s typically an uptick in the average high temp in February to 59.7°. With an average of 1.22 inches of rainfall, those hiking trails might be a bit wet. The cloud cover this month slips to 35%, so bursts of sunshine are possible — and we love that for us.