Climate Comfort Score
79/100
Good
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 59°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Richmond, CA Climate
Annual temperature, rainfall, and a comfort score, sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 normals →
- 59°F
- Avg annual temp
- 79/100
- Comfort score
- 24.4"
- Annual precip
- -2d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Richmond
Richmond, California averages 59°F a year and scores 79/100 on the comfort index - good, milder than 82% of U.S. cities.
- 59°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 79/100
- comfort score, milder than 82% of U.S. cities
- 24.4"
- precipitation, annual total
- -2 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
59°F (15°C)
Avg High
67°F
Avg Low
51°F
Annual Precip
24.4"
Annual Snow
0.0"
Comfort Score
79/100
Good
Avg Annual Temperature
59°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
24.4"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Richmond) 79.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Richmond area.
How Richmond compares to every U.S. city
Richmond's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
79 Top 18% higher than 82% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Richmond
MethodologyThe chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For Richmond, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58°F (15°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 4.8" | 0.0" | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| February | 61°F (16°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| March | 64°F (18°C) | 47°F (9°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.2" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| April | 67°F (20°C) | 49°F (10°C) | 58°F (15°C) | 1.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| May | 69°F (21°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 0.7" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| June | 72°F (22°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| September | 75°F (24°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 65°F (19°C) | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| October | 73°F (23°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.4" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| November | 65°F (18°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.7" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| December | 58°F (15°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 4.9" | 0.0" | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 4.8"
10.0 days with precipitation
February 4.8"
9.2 days with precipitation
March 3.2"
9.3 days with precipitation
April 1.6"
5.5 days with precipitation
May 0.7"
3.3 days with precipitation
June 0.3"
1.2 days with precipitation
July 0.0"
0.0 days with precipitation
August 0.1"
0.1 days with precipitation
September 0.0"
0.4 days with precipitation
October 1.4"
2.7 days with precipitation
November 2.7"
6.3 days with precipitation
December 4.9"
9.8 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
January 2
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
January 4
50% probability date
Growing Season
-2 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
2,459
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
217
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
September
Coldest Month
January
What Richmond's climate means for you
Richmond runs 59°F a year - peaking in September, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about -2 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near January 4 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 2,459 heating and 217 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Richmond, CA
Based on station USC00047414 feeding NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, Richmond, California averages 59°F a year, ranging from a mean daily high of 67°F to a mean daily low of 51°F. September is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. Because these figures are thirty-year averages rather than any single year's readings, they describe the typical month, not a forecast for it.
Anyone planning to live, garden, or travel in Richmond should weigh precipitation alongside temperature: the annual average runs 24.4 inches, with negligible snowfall. The frost-free season averages -2 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near January 4 and the first fall freeze near January 2. And on the energy front, 2,459 heating degree days and 217 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Richmond scores 79/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings September-driven heat, and winter brings January-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Richmond, CA? ▼
The average annual temperature in Richmond, California is 59°F. The warmest month averages 75°F (24°C) and the coldest averages 44°F (7°C).
How much rain does Richmond get? ▼
Richmond receives 24.4 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Richmond? ▼
Richmond has a climate comfort score of 79/100 (Good), milder than 82% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Richmond? ▼
Richmond has approximately -2 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around January 4 and the first fall freeze around January 2.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Richmond? ▼
Richmond has 2,459 heating degree days and 217 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Richmond climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00047414 near Richmond.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00047414. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.