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Climate in Aliso Viejo · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Hardly any U.S. towns see softer January nights than Aliso Viejo

Expect July afternoons of about 79°. In July, afternoons here are cooler than in 95% of U.S. towns. Decade by decade the climate has edged up, 1.9° above 1901–2000. Long walks are most pleasant from January to December, when afternoons reach 67–81°.

Milder January nights than 96% of U.S. towns#28Mildest winters  of 757 in CA
Cooler July afternoons than 95% of U.S. towns#137Coolest summers  of 757 in CA
All CA rankings →

A year in Aliso Viejo at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan68°48°
Feb67°48° Wettest
Mar68°50°
Apr70°52°
May71°55°
Jun74°59°
Jul79°62°
Aug81°63° 1 day 90°+
Sep80°62° 1 day 90°+
Oct77°58° 1 day 90°+
Nov now72°52°
Dec67°47°

What stands out about Aliso Viejo’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Aliso Viejo’s place in California beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Aliso Viejo feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
67° / 48°
Snow is rare
Spring
70° / 52°
Frost is rare
Summer
78° / 61°
4 days reach 90°
Fall
76° / 57°
Frost is rare
Best months to be outsideJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

Frost is rare

Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Laguna Beach, CA, 4 miles from the town’s center, 390 ft lower.

Most winters pass without a freeze. A night at 32° or below comes in about 20% of years at Laguna Beach, CA (about 1 winter in 5), and averages 1.0 a year.
1
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
155th fewest of 751 in California
Fewer freezing nights than 96% of U.S. towns
0
nights at or below 0°
None in a normal year
4
days that reach 90°
59th fewest of 751 in California
Fewer 90° days than 91% of U.S. towns
<1
days that reach 100°
33rd fewest of 751 in California
Fewer 100° days than 68% of U.S. towns
10bUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 10b

The 2023 USDA map puts Aliso Viejo’s center in zone 10b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 36°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

0.7
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

1.3
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 13 inches of rain a year

February is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain falls on about 31 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Laguna Beach, CA, so most winters see none.

13"
Rain + melted snow a year
271st driest of 757 in California
Drier than 95% of U.S. towns
0.0"
Snow in a normal winter
Less snow than 93% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

3.2"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Aliso Viejo

67% of the work is heating. No month averages under 55°.

1,377 heating degree daysLess heating than 92% of U.S. towns
682 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 70% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Laguna Beach, CA.

Living here

Living with Aliso Viejo’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

Zone 10b. Frost comes about 1 winter in 5, so tender plants can often stay out through winter.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. 13 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Aliso Viejo from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (65%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 1%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Aliso Viejo and its neighbors

Laguna Hills the hottest July afternoons (82°, 4° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.

Irvine: January low 47°, July high 83°San Juan Capistrano: January low 48°, July high 79°Dana Point: January low 48°, July high 75°Mission Viejo: January low 47°, July high 83°Lake Forest: January low 47°, July high 84°Laguna Woods: January low 48°, July high 81°Laguna Niguel: January low 48°, July high 78°Laguna Hills: January low 47°, July high 82°Laguna Beach: January low 48°, July high 77°Aliso Viejo: January low 48°, July high 79°Aliso ViejoLaguna WoodsLaguna NiguelLaguna HillsLaguna Beach
ColderMilder47° to 48°
Laguna Hills47.3° about the same
Laguna Beach47.5° about the same
Laguna Woods47.6° about the same
Aliso Viejo47.8°
Laguna Niguel47.8° about the same

Climates most like Aliso Viejo’s, farther away

TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.

TownJan. lowJuly highPrecip.Snow
Aliso Viejo, CA48°79°13"0.0"
Makawao, HI53°75°23"0.0"
Sequim, WA34°71°18"1.4"
Winston, OR37°86°33"0.0"
Alpine, TX30°90°15"2.2"

Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Aliso Viejo averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.0°).

+1.9°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 86% of U.S. towns.

Winter+2.0°now 57°, was 55°
Spring+2.0°now 61°, was 59°
Summer+1.6°now 70°, was 68°
Fall+2.0°now 67°, was 65°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Aliso Viejo compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Aliso Viejo’s place among California’s.

Summer heat79° July high
Cooler July afternoons than 95% of U.S. towns137th coolest of 757 in California
Winter cold48° January low
Milder January nights than 96% of U.S. towns28th mildest of 757 in California
Precipitation13" a year
Drier than 95% of U.S. towns271st driest of 757 in California
Snow0.0" a winter
Less snow than 93% of U.S. townsNot ranked: under an inch a year
Hot days4 days at 90°+
Fewer 90° days than 91% of U.S. towns59th fewest of 751 in California
Freezing nights1 a year
Fewer freezing nights than 96% of U.S. towns155th fewest of 751 in California
Month by month

Aliso Viejo weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Aliso Viejo’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Laguna Beach, CA. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January68°48°2.9"0.0"6054° – 62°
February67°48°3.2"0.0"7052° – 65°
March68°50°1.9"0.0"4053° – 66°
April70°52°0.8"0.0"3057° – 64°
May71°55°0.3"0.0"1059° – 69°
June74°59°0.1"0.0"1063° – 70°
July79°62°0.0"0.0"0067° – 76°
August81°63°0.0"0.0"0069° – 75°
September80°62°0.1"0.0"1068° – 76°
October77°58°0.6"0.0"2063° – 73°
November72°52°0.9"0.0"3057° – 65°
December67°47°2.2"0.0"4054° – 63°
Year73°55°12.8"0.0"310
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 53° to 66°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Aliso Viejo’s numbers come from

Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →

  • Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Aliso Viejo’s center.
  • Snow: Laguna Beach, CA.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Laguna Beach, CA, 4 miles from the town’s center, 390 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
  • Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  • Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
  • Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).

Common questions about Aliso Viejo’s climate

What is the weather like in Aliso Viejo?

A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 48°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 96% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 95% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Aliso Viejo in winter?

December nights average 47°. About 1 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 54°.

How much snow does Aliso Viejo get?

About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Laguna Beach, CA, so most winters see none.

How hot does it get in Aliso Viejo?

July, with a typical high of 79° and a low of 62°. About 4 days a year reach 90° (Laguna Beach, CA).

When is the first and last frost in Aliso Viejo?

Most years have no frost at all: a 32° night comes in about 20% of winters at Laguna Beach, CA, usually in December or January.

What growing zone is Aliso Viejo in?

Zone 10b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 36°.

What is the best time of year to visit Aliso Viejo?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Aliso Viejo getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.9° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 86% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Aliso Viejo.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.