Mariposa County High School Auditorium · Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0Summer arrives in force in Mariposa, hotter than in 94% of U.S. towns
On a normal January night the air cools to about 36°. It is a dry place: less rain and snow fall here than on 86% of U.S. towns. Compared with 1901–2000, the average now sits 1.3° higher. Radiators earn their keep from December to February, the months that average under 50°.
A year in Mariposa at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Mariposa’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Mariposa’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Mariposa feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 28 inches of rain a year
January is the wettest month and July the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Living with Mariposa’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 9a.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, October and November. 1.3 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Mariposa from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (36%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 32%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Mariposa and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Mariposa 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 Mariposa averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.4°).
A smaller shift than in 53% 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 Mariposa compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Mariposa’s place among California’s.
Mariposa weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Mariposa’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 36° | 5.7" | 42° – 53° |
| February | 58° | 38° | 4.9" | 41° – 55° |
| March | 62° | 40° | 4.4" | 43° – 58° |
| April | 67° | 43° | 2.4" | 49° – 60° |
| May | 77° | 49° | 1.1" | 53° – 71° |
| June | 87° | 56° | 0.3" | 65° – 77° |
| July | 94° | 63° | 0.0" | 74° – 83° |
| August | 93° | 62° | 0.0" | 74° – 82° |
| September | 88° | 57° | 0.2" | 68° – 77° |
| October | 76° | 49° | 1.4" | 58° – 68° |
| November | 63° | 41° | 2.6" | 42° – 58° |
| December | 55° | 36° | 4.9" | 41° – 50° |
| Year | 73° | 47° | 27.9" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. May swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 53° to 71°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Mariposa’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 Mariposa’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 Mariposa’s climate
What is the weather like in Mariposa?
A typical July afternoon reaches 94°, a January night drops to 36°. Milder January nights than 83% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 94% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Mariposa in winter?
December nights average 36°. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 41°.
How hot does it get in Mariposa?
July, with a typical high of 94°. 90° days are rare.
What growing zone is Mariposa in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 23°.
What is the best time of year to visit Mariposa?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Mariposa getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 53% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Mariposa.
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.