Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Sacramento, California Weather

August begins in scorching stillness. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Sacramento weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Sacramento, CA
Sunday, August 2 at 8:00 AM
67
°
Clear
Feels like
68°
Humidity
70%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
11:08 PM
Sunset
1:15 PM
Sacramento, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastSacramento, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 65 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 65°H 105°
Sacramento, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Clear
    —
    —
    105°65°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Clear
    —
    —
    107°65°+2°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Clear
    —
    —
    107°66°0°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Clear
    —
    —
    105°66°-2°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Clear
    —
    —
    106°65°+1°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Clear
    —
    —
    110°66°+4°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    110°66°0°
Sacramento, CA
Next 24 hours · Cool now
HOT 90°55°85°115°12p6p12a6anow 65°high 105°low 65°
Sacramento, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
220° · veering 77°
Direction
SW
220°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
4
mph
Peak 24h
14
avg 4 mph
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 4 mph · pk 14 mph @ 9:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 185SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Sacramento, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1009.4
+0.8 mb in 3h · rising · 29.81 inHg
Now
1009.4
mb
3h
+0.8
mb
12h
+0.9
mb
24h
-4.2
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1008–1013
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1013.21007.71008.8
Damp, unsettled regime — wet weather lingers nearby.
Sacramento, CA
Air quality
49
AQI
Good
→0 in 6h

AQI 49 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 8.3 µg/m³ (AQI 46) with a 0.79 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in stagnant air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
11μg/m³
NO₂Good
11μg/m³
OzoneGood
18μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.3

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.3 µg/m³ (AQI 46) with a 0.79 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in stagnant air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.79
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Sacramento, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
2%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
45.1mi
UNLIMITED
172 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
15:00 UTC · Sacramento, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
15:00 UTC · Sacramento, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Sacramento, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Sacramento, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Sacramento, CA
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:40 AM
Sunrise
11:08 PM
Daylight
14h 07m
Sunset
1:15 PM
Civil dusk
8:46 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Sacramento, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:51 PM
Moonset
10:16 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Sacramento, CA
Microseason
Aug 1–5

August begins in scorching stillness

plant
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Sacramento at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 3°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 7 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 95811, 95814, 95815, 95816, 95817, 95818, 95819, 95820 +20 more

16-Day Forecast — Sacramento

  1. Sun105°65°0%
  2. Mon107°65°0%
  3. Tue107°66°0%
  4. Wed105°66°0%
  5. Thu106°65°0%
  6. Fri110°66°0%
  7. Sat110°66°0%
  8. Sun102°65°0%
  9. Mon96°61°0%
  10. Tue94°60°0%
  11. Wed93°59°1%
  12. Thu99°58°3%
  13. Fri100°61°0%
  14. Sat97°61°3%
  15. Sun102°59°3%
  16. Mon107°61°0%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Sacramento

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

Sun & seasons in Sacramento

Sacramento sits in Sacramento County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 52m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 28m — a swing of +5h 24m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Los Angeles, the state’s largest city, lies about 352 miles to the SSE. The nearest town Sacramento tracks is Elk Grove, roughly 11 miles to the SSE.

Air quality in Sacramento’s county has trended cleaner since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2025 (median AQI 49). See the full air-quality history for Sacramento.

January 1–5: New year in coastal mist.January 6–10: Hills hold the winter cold.January 11–15: Light lengthens over wet earth.January 16–20: The green pulse quickens.January 21–25: Spring green spreads inland.January 26–31: Winter's grip releases.February 1–5: Fog lifts, flowers open.February 6–10: Blooms erupt across chaparral.February 11–15: Winter blooms at their peak.February 16–20: Rivers recede, flowers spread.February 21–25: Earth warms, flowers rush upslope.February 26–28: Spring advances on cool winds.March 1–5: Grass and trees bud and break.March 6–10: Insects wake and feed.March 11–15: Blossoms crown the hillsides.March 16–20: Monarch chrysalis emergence.March 21–25: Light overtakes dark at equinox.March 26–31: California poppy ablaze.April 1–5: Spring rain feeds the seedlings.April 6–10: Warblers flood the understory.April 11–15: Allen's hummingbirds in courtship dives.April 16–20: Coastal fog settles; sun breaks midday.April 21–25: Oak canopies full and green.April 26–30: Chaparral awakens after spring rains.May 1–5: Coastal wildflowers at their peak.May 6–10: Gray whales complete their migration north.May 11–15: Redwood coast in cool shade.May 16–20: Fog and sun in daily rhythm.May 21–25: Summer approaches; hills turn gold.May 26–31: Dry season begins; tule fog in valleys.June 1–5: Coastal fog thickens at dawn.June 6–10: California poppies fade as heat rises.June 11–15: Summer solstice light stretched thin.June 16–20: Bay laurel fragrance sweetens shade.June 21–25: Longest daylight, driest air.June 26–30: Fog banks mask the turning tide.July 1–5: Summer heat deepens across the valleys.July 6–10: Warm winds drive dryness inland.July 11–15: Pacific high settles in firmly.July 16–20: Young hawks take to the thermals.July 21–25: Peak fire season, peak heat.July 26–31: Chaparral poised for ignition.August 1–5: August begins in scorching stillness.August 6–10: Autumn's first cool breath arrives.August 11–15: Cool winds signal the turning year.August 16–20: Evening cicada chorus.August 21–25: Marine layer descent.August 26–31: Monarch staging begins.September 1–5: Fire season intensity.September 6–10: Dew on drying grasses.September 11–15: Raptor passage begins.September 16–20: Equinox descent.September 21–25: Ceanothus blooms again.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Creeks begin to whisper.October 6–10: Santa Ana wind season.October 11–15: Wildflower anticipation.October 16–20: Chaparral embers glow.October 21–25: First atmospheric river looms.October 26–31: Rains return at last.November 1–5: Coast live oak leaves turn amber.November 6–10: California lilac blooms in winter light.November 11–15: First rain greens the chaparral.November 16–20: Coastal fog thickens as storms approach.November 21–25: Thanksgiving rains swell the valleys.November 26–30: Autumn's last breath yields to winter.December 1–5: December arrives, storms accelerate.December 6–10: Winter solstice season intensifies.December 11–15: Deep winter: rivers at flood stage.December 16–20: Winter salmon runs peak in northern rivers.December 21–25: Winter solstice: the sun turns.December 26–31: Year's end in wind and rain.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

August begins in scorching stillness

Calm days dominate early August; temperatures peak; the entire ecosystem is in survival mode.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Sacramento's warmest month is July (~78°F mean) and its coldest is December (~49°F). Rainfall peaks in January (3.9 inches) and bottoms out in July (0.0 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January49°3.9″7
February53°3.6″7
March57°2.8″6
April61°1.4″3
May68°0.9″2
June74°0.2″1
July78°0.0″0
August77°0.0″0
September74°0.1″0
October66°0.9″2
November55°1.8″4
December49°3.5″6

Regional context

Sacramento's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 49°F Januarys with 78°F Julys — a 29°F swing. About 19.2 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 38 days a year.

Sacramento's moisture rides winter storm tracks: January brings 3.9 inches over 6.6 wet days, while July sees only 0.0 inches across 0.0 days in the dry warm season. That cool-season-wet pattern aligns Sacramento with places like Fruitridge Pocket, CA, Lemon Hill, CA and West Sacramento, CA.

Freezes are uncommon in Sacramento, where the coldest month averages 49°F; cool-season crops grow fall through spring. Summer heat in July (about 78°F) is the binding constraint, not cold. Sacramento's coastal lots stay 4-7°F milder overnight than Sacramento's inland parcels.

Similar climates: Fruitridge Pocket, CA, Lemon Hill, CA, West Sacramento, CA, Parkway, CA, Arden-Arcade, CA.

Naturalist notes

Valley oaks begin leafing out in late March as daylight hours lengthen and soil temperatures rise.

Swallows return to Sacramento in early April, timing their arrival with the emergence of flying insects.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Sacramento?
In Sacramento, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Sacramento's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Sacramento?
Rainfall in Sacramento peaks in January near 3.9 inches, out of about 19 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Sacramento?
On average July tops the year in Sacramento at about 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Sacramento?
The coldest stretch in Sacramento falls in December, around 49°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Sacramento?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-April in Sacramento; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Sacramento get?
Expect roughly 38 wet days a year in Sacramento.
What hardiness zone is Sacramento?
Since December in Sacramento averages 49°F, Sacramento's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Sacramento?
Sacramento's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Sacramento?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Sacramento in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Sacramento?
Current conditions for Sacramento and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Sacramento forecast updated?
The Sacramento forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Sacramento?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Sacramento are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Sacramento?
The next few days in Sacramento's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Sacramento, California, the hot-summer Mediterranean climate runs from about 49°F in January to 78°F in July, a 29°F seasonal range.

In a typical year Sacramento records about 19 inches of precipitation on around 38 days.

Sacramento's 29°F range, set by its 38.6°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Sacramento.

All cities in California →

Los Angeles, CA weather →

ZIP codes in Sacramento

  • 95821
  • 95820
  • 95823
  • 95838
  • 95832
  • 95833
  • 95831
  • 95834
  • 95835
  • 95811
  • 95814
  • 95815
  • 95818
  • 95819
  • 95828
  • 95822
  • 95825
  • 95824
  • 95826
  • 95816
  • 95817
  • 94203
  • 94204
  • 94205
  • 94209
  • 94229
  • 94230
  • 94232
  • 94235
  • 94236
  • 94237
  • 94239
  • 94240
  • 94244
  • 94247
  • 94248
  • 94249
  • 94250
  • 94252
  • 94254
  • 94256
  • 94257
  • 94258
  • 94259
  • 94261
  • 94262
  • 94263
  • 94267
  • 94268
  • 94269
  • 94271
  • 94273
  • 94274
  • 94277
  • 94278
  • 94279
  • 94280
  • 94283
  • 94284
  • 94285
  • 94287
  • 94288
  • 94289
  • 94290
  • 94293
  • 94294
  • 94295
  • 94296
  • 94297
  • 94298
  • 94299
  • 95812
  • 95813
  • 95840
  • 95851
  • 95852
  • 95853
  • 95867
  • 95894

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.