Hardly any U.S. towns collect more precipitation than Mad River: 61 inches a year
January mornings start at about 33°. Winters are mild: January nights here are milder than in 77% of U.S. towns. Warming shows here too: 1.4° more than in 1901–2000, led by January. Plan time outside for May, June, September and October, when highs sit at 69–83°.
A year in Mad River at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Mad River’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Mad River’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Mad River feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 61 inches of rain a year
December is the wettest month and July the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Living with Mad River’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 8b.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, September and October. 37 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Mad River from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (48%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 1%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Mad River and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Mad River yet.
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Mad River averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.3°).
A bigger shift than in 52% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Mad River compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Mad River’s place among California’s.
Mad River weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Mad River’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 33° | 10.8" | 36° – 45° |
| February | 51° | 33° | 10.1" | 36° – 48° |
| March | 56° | 34° | 8.4" | 39° – 51° |
| April | 62° | 36° | 4.9" | 44° – 54° |
| May | 71° | 41° | 2.4" | 50° – 61° |
| June | 80° | 46° | 0.8" | 59° – 70° |
| July | 89° | 53° | 0.1" | 67° – 74° |
| August | 89° | 52° | 0.2" | 68° – 75° |
| September | 83° | 50° | 0.5" | 63° – 70° |
| October | 69° | 42° | 3.4" | 52° – 61° |
| November | 54° | 36° | 6.9" | 38° – 49° |
| December | 46° | 33° | 12.7" | 36° – 44° |
| Year | 66° | 41° | 61.2" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 39° to 51°. September is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Mad River’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 Mad River’s center.
- 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 Mad River’s climate
What is the weather like in Mad River?
A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 33°. Milder January nights than 77% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 73% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Mad River in winter?
February nights average 33°. In the coldest February of the last 30 years the month averaged 36°.
How hot does it get in Mad River?
July, with a typical high of 89°. 90° days are rare.
What growing zone is Mad River in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 18°.
What is the best time of year to visit Mad River?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Mad River getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 52% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Mad River.
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.