Richmond, California Weather
Coastal fog thickens at dawn. Day 76 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Richmond weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Overcast——78°52°—
- ThursdayJun 4Clear——82°52°+4°
- FridayJun 5Overcast——82°56°0°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——78°56°-4°
- SundayJun 7Overcast——79°53°+1°
- MondayJun 8Overcast11%—77°55°-2°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast——73°58°-4°
PM2.5/PM10 ratio 0.68 with 7 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 37 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 37
- UV peak
- 5.0 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 37
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5/PM10 ratio 0.68 with 7 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.68
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- transport
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).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 5:57 AM
- Moonset
- 3:20 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Coastal fog thickens at dawn
Richmond at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 78°F — typical for the season
- Last frost: April 4 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 3, 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.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Richmond's warmest month is September (~71°F mean) and its coldest is January (~50°F). Rainfall peaks in December (4.5 inches) and bottoms out in July (0.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 4.5″ | 15 |
| February | 54° | 3.6″ | 12 |
| March | 57° | 3.2″ | 11 |
| April | 60° | 1.4″ | 5 |
| May | 65° | 0.8″ | 3 |
| June | 69° | 0.2″ | 1 |
| July | 71° | 0.0″ | 1 |
| August | 71° | 0.0″ | 1 |
| September | 71° | 0.1″ | 1 |
| October | 66° | 1.0″ | 3 |
| November | 56° | 2.2″ | 7 |
| December | 50° | 4.5″ | 15 |
Regional context
Richmond occupies a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region, placing it among a group of nearby cities that share comparable temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Naturalist notes
By late May, fledgling Anna's hummingbirds begin visiting backyard feeders around Richmond's hill neighborhoods as the first brood of the season leaves the nest, timed to the late-spring pulse of blooming coastal sage.
Barn swallows returning to the bayshore in May start collecting mud for their cup-shaped nests under docks and bridges, a signal that insect activity over the water is finally peaking for the season.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Richmond?
- Richmond's final spring frost typically strikes around mid-April; the first fall frost usually arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Richmond?
- December is the wettest month, bringing about 4.5 inches of rain on average. The city receives roughly 21 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Richmond?
- September is typically the warmest month, with an average temperature of about 71°F.
- What is the coldest month in Richmond?
- January is typically the coldest month, averaging about 50°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Richmond?
- Cool-season crops such as peas and lettuce can be sown around the date of the last spring frost (mid-April). Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after that.
- How many rainy days does Richmond get?
- Richmond averages about 75 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Richmond?
- Richmond's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature. Use the USDA's online lookup tool with the city ZIP code to check the current zone designation.
Climate
Richmond, California falls within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. Average January temperatures stay near 50°F while July averages 71°F — a 21°F seasonal swing.
Over the course of a year, Richmond collects about 21 inches of precipitation across roughly 75 rainy days.
The city's yearly rhythm is shaped by latitude (37.9°N), nearby water bodies, and local elevation. Together these factors influence what can grow, when frost is likely to appear, and how daily weather patterns unfold.