Talk:Climate of California

Earthquake weather
I learned from my grandmother, who learned from her grandparents who were in California in the 19th century, that earthquake weather so-called is not a hot dry spell, but hot weather with lots of mid-level clouds---"sheep clouds" (altocumulus). Thus, probably more humid than usual, which makes it feel more uncomfortable, a deviation from the normal dry heat. I'm making the edit. Tmangray 17:20, 15 July 2007 (UTC)

Climate change?
Come on guys, this isn't a forum for drawing attention to the matter of global warming, this is strictly about California's particular climate. The article about climate change does not relate to California at all. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.21.35.17 (talk) 05:06, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Table as graph
I think the average temperature table should be displayed as a graph. It would have helped me out a lot and makes for easier comparison. I'm not sure how to go about making this though. 76.78.127.178 (talk) 08:00, 17 November 2010 (UTC) i agree. it was about california but it was not about yhe climate.

Subarctic climate?
Where in California has a subarctic climate? Alaska, yeah, but California? 88.109.16.48 (talk) 12:42, 3 February 2012 (UTC)


 * Parts of the Sierra Nevada most definitely display a subarctic climate. --Lood1234 (talk) 21:48, 22 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Is there a source for subarctic? The article subarctic says that Generally, subarctic regions fall between 50°N and 70°N latitude, depending on local climates. but California is between 32N and 42N, so well out of the range.  Also, the subarctic article says that Monthly temperatures are above 10 °C (50 °F) for at least one and at most three months of the year. I'd be surprised if this were true even in the mountains of California.  Perhaps we should look for a source?&mdash; alf laylah wa laylah (talk) 22:01, 22 August 2012 (UTC)


 * The higher parts of Mount Shasta are always covered in ice and snow. Alpine climate is a better decription for the cold high ground of California. Jim Michael (talk) 21:16, 24 July 2014 (UTC)

Yes, parts of the Sierra Nevada have subarctic climates. Here is a link to an image that shows this https://munsonscity.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/098fb-climate.gif — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pegminer (talk • contribs) 21:37, 13 July 2016 (UTC)

Climate Map
This map of California climate classification is wildly inaccurate and should be removed. I may be able to generate a new one, but this one has to go. For example, it shows a large portion of Southern California as having Cfa (humid subtropical), when it should actually be a cool steppe. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pegminer (talk • contribs) 21:28, 13 July 2016 (UTC)


 * Hello - I switched the map out for a more accurate one, calculated using PRISM data from Oregon State University, which has a resolution of 800m. The Cfa area is now gone. Redtitan (talk) 21:13, 9 August 2016 (UTC)

A better defined map is available from the California state government where it is used in defining build codes. The map can be found in California energy and building climate zones mapThe current map suffers from using the world's hottest place as the reference for what is zone 14 of the building climate zones. It has been in use for almost 20 years now. California typically uses Barstow, China Lake or Palmdale as reference cities for that zone. I don't see a copyright on that but permission should be sought before inserting it into the wikipedia. There is also much better Southern California Chapter ASHRAE, Inc climate data table information there that could be placed in the wikipedia if they would grant permission.

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Error in Glossary
The term "Santa Ana Winds" should be only used as an AKA for Devil Winds. In Northern California, the Devil Winds are called "Diablo Winds" and in Southern California, they are called Santana (Spanish for Satan) Winds. In this case term "Santa Ana" is a common corruption of Santana. Drbits (talk) 23:20, 8 October 2019 (UTC)


 * Interesting. Sources for it being a corruption? "Santa Ana" is standard as far as I can tell, used in lots of news coverage. Benny White (talk) 02:23, 9 October 2019 (UTC)


 * I don't have a specific source. Until last year the National Weather Service had been calling the winds Santa Ana. However, the original name was Santana and all of the sources for the name Santa Ana that I have been able to find refer to local landmarks (such as a mountain range or the city of Santa Ana), and none are related to the Winds. At least the origin of "Santa Ana Winds" is a corruption, even if it has become the common English name for the Winds. Spanish speaking people living in California still use the name Santana.


 * In Northern California, the winds with the same cause are called Diablo (devil) Winds. In both cases, the reason is that the winds are hot, dry air, and often carry smoke from wildfires. Drbits (talk) 02:57, 10 October 2019 (UTC)


 * The OED entry for Santana/Santa Ana winds has a an 1887 cite for Santa Ana. Also I don't think Santana is Spanish for Satan (Satán or Satanás is) and the Santa Ana winds article says the Satan connection is late; we would have to dive into the sources.  I note that Santana was the name of Humphrey Bogart's yacht and also of a class of boats Santana 22 both derived from the winds so Santana has been around for a while. The Diablo wind article states those winds are name for Mount Diablo which is a prominent SF Bay area mountain. --Erp (talk) 03:52, 10 October 2019 (UTC)

Problem in the last paragraph of the Precipitation section
Text to correct:
 * The ENSO cycle has a huge effect on rainfall and snowfall patterns in California, especially during the winter and spring seasons. During the El Niño phase, the jet stream is located south through California, allowing for warmer temperatures and more heavy rains to occur, particularly in the southern portions of the state. During the La Niña phase, the jet stream is much further north, and therefore the far northern portions of California are wetter, while the southern half stays cool and dry.
 * The Jet Stream is in the upper atmosphere, well above the influence of surface effects like El Niño and La Niña. The phrase Mid-Latitude Trade Return Wind (or Trade Return Wind) should be substituted.

Proposed replacement text:
 * The ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) cycle has a huge effect on rainfall and snowfall patterns in California, especially during the winter and spring seasons. During the El Niño phase, the Trade Return Wind is moved south through California, allowing for warmer temperatures and heavier rains to occur, particularly in the southern portions of the state. During the La Niña phase, the Trade Return Wind is much further north, and therefore Oregon and the far northern portions of California are wetter, while the southern half of California stays dry.


 * California receives almost 40% of its precipitation in El Niño years and often has droughts in La Niña years. Approximately 20% of years are El Niño years.

Drbits (talk) 00:31, 9 October 2019 (UTC)