Old River reaches 100° on about 31 days a year, more than 98% of U.S. towns
The depth of winter brings overnight lows near 40°. Precipitation peaks in February and eases off in August. It is a dry place: less rain and snow fall here than on almost every U.S. town. Homes need heating from December, the months averaging under 50°.
A year in Old River at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Old River’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Old River’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Old River feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 312 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by January 31 and the first by December 8. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Bakersfield 5 Nw, CA, 11 miles from the town’s center, 130 ft higher.
The 2023 USDA map puts Old River’s center in zone 9b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 26°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 7 inches of rain a year
February is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain falls on about 38 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.1" in a normal year at Bakersfield Airport, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Old River
49% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from December through February.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Bakersfield 5 Nw, CA.
Living with Old River’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
312 frost-free days in zone 9b. The last frost comes by Jan 31 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Dec 8.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, October and November.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Old River from natural hazards, earthquakes are the largest share (55%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 9%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Old River and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of Old River in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Old River’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.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old River, CA | 40° | 98° | 7" | 0.1" |
| Sahuarita, AZ | 37° | 99° | 12" | 0.1" |
| Summerlin South, NV | 35° | 102° | 5" | 0.2" |
| Canutillo, TX | 32° | 96° | 9" | 0.0" |
| Sunland Park, NM | 32° | 96° | 9" | 2.0" |
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.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Old River averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.6°).
A bigger shift than in 91% 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 Old River compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Old River’s place among California’s.
Old River weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Old River’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Bakersfield Airport. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60° | 40° | 1.3" | 0.1" | 6 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| February | 66° | 44° | 1.4" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 51° – 60° |
| March | 72° | 47° | 1.3" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 53° – 65° |
| April | 78° | 51° | 0.5" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| May | 85° | 57° | 0.2" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 63° – 78° |
| June | 93° | 64° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 72° – 82° |
| July | 98° | 69° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 80° – 88° |
| August | 97° | 68° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 79° – 86° |
| September | 92° | 63° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| October | 82° | 55° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| November | 69° | 45° | 0.5" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| December | 60° | 39° | 1.1" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 46° – 55° |
| Year | 79° | 54° | 6.7" | 0.1" | 38 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. May swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 63° to 78°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Old 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 Old River’s center.
- Snow: Bakersfield Airport.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Bakersfield 5 Nw, CA, 11 miles from the town’s center, 130 ft higher; 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 Old River’s climate
What is the weather like in Old River?
A typical July afternoon reaches 98°, a January night drops to 40°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 89% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than all but 180 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Old River in winter?
December nights average 39°. About 17 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 46°.
How much snow does Old River get?
About 0.1 inches in a normal winter at Bakersfield Airport, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Old River?
July, with a typical high of 98° and a low of 69°. About 110 days a year reach 90° and 31 reach 100° (Bakersfield 5 Nw, CA).
When is the first and last frost in Old River?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by January 31 and the first fall frost by December 8, about 312 frost-free days, at Bakersfield 5 Nw, CA.
What growing zone is Old River in?
Zone 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 26°.
What is the best time of year to visit Old River?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Old River getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 2.0° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 91% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Old 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.