Wonder no more. The weather is, in a word, perfect. All of Southern California is known for its mild Mediterranean climate. Daytime highs in the summer average in the mid 70’s and in the winter in the mid 60’s. Even in the winter there are stretches of days in the 70’s. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round, day and night.
At the time of this writing, Feb 2016, we are currently having a beautiful week with temperatures in the mid 80’s.
Southern California weather has been hailed as the most pleasant of any place in the continental United States. Zillow, for example, recently conducted a study of the 25 most populous US cities to find out which have the best climates. Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Weatherbase.com, they defined “good weather days” as those with no precipitation, and median temperatures of 55-75o. The number one rated city was San Diego, and number two was Los Angeles. In another similar national study, Los Angeles edged San Diego out by a slight margin as number one. Either way, Lake Forest is smack in the middle of the top two, and similarly situated on the coastal edge of the county.
Local newscasters have an ongoing tongue-in-cheek squabble about whether Southern California has weather—the climate is so consistently the same. Anchor-folks say, “No way,” and of course weather-folks say, “Of course we do! What about the rainy season! And what about ‘May Gray,’ and ‘June Gloom?’”
Well, what about the rainy season? It is true that during the winter months there is more total precipitation than other months of the year. So it’s called a rainy season, but how does it compare to rainy seasons elsewhere in the country? We could talk numbers here—inches per month and so on—but more to the point is what it’s like, and what it isn’t like. In other parts of the country when you wake up to heavy rain at any time of the year, you the kids into their raincoats, rain boots, and umbrellas, because it’s going to rain all day, it will be raining when you pick them up, and when you get home, and there will be rain, thunder, and lightening all night, and probably the next day as well. Here in Southern California, the kids just dress as usual, and you pull up to the school doors and tell them to “Run!”—because in an hour or so it will be sunny again. “Rain” here isn’t even like rain everywhere else. Thunder and lightning are rare: the tiny raindrops just kind of float down from the sky for a while, and then it’s past.
We do have the phenomenon known as the “marine layer,” which is a thin layer of low-altitude clouds that form over the coastal waters. The marine layer occurs most frequently during the months of May and June, due to the still-cool ocean water temperature and the warming air temperature: thus the local terms “May Gray” and “June Gloom.” The marine layer is fleeting, however, dissipating well before noon. Lake Forest does experience the marine layer, but the thin cloud layer generally “burns off” earlier in the day than it does closer to the shore.
Jackie Barikhan and Right Choice Mortgage are pleased to be a part of Lake Forest and the Orange County Community. Remember us for all of your home financing and real estate needs. Call or text us at 949 600-0944 when you have questions about home loans or interest rates. We’d love to help you get the best home loan when you are ready to buy a home in Lake Forest or surrounding Southern California.