Hardly any U.S. towns see softer January nights than Pepperdine University
Midsummer highs settle at about 80°. February is the wettest month here, with about 388 times the rain of August. It is a dry place: less rain and snow fall here than on 93% of U.S. towns. Comfortable outdoor weather lasts from January to December, with highs of 64–82°.
A year in Pepperdine University at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Pepperdine University’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Pepperdine University’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Pepperdine University feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Frost is rare
Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Santa Monica Muni Airport, 15 miles from the town’s center, 310 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Pepperdine University’s center in zone 11a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 41°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 15 inches of rain a year
February is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain falls on about 34 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Topanga Patrol Fc-6, CA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Pepperdine University
69% of the work is heating. No month averages under 55°.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Santa Monica Muni Airport.
Living with Pepperdine University’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 11a. Frost comes about 1 winter in 500, so tender plants can often stay out through winter.
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. 1.6 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Pepperdine University from natural hazards, earthquakes are the largest share (52%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 1%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Pepperdine University and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of Pepperdine University in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Pepperdine University’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University, CA | 48° | 80° | 15" | 0.0" |
| Makawao, HI | 53° | 75° | 23" | 0.0" |
| Winston, OR | 37° | 86° | 33" | 0.0" |
| Poulsbo, WA | 35° | 75° | 33" | 3.0" |
| Port Isabel, TX | 52° | 92° | 26" | 0.2" |
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.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Pepperdine University averaged 2.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.4°).
A bigger shift than in all but 122 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 Pepperdine University compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Pepperdine University’s place among California’s.
Pepperdine University weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Pepperdine University’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Topanga Patrol Fc-6, CA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66° | 48° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 53° – 64° |
| February | 64° | 47° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 50° – 63° |
| March | 67° | 49° | 2.4" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 51° – 65° |
| April | 69° | 50° | 0.7" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 55° – 63° |
| May | 71° | 53° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 57° – 67° |
| June | 75° | 56° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 62° – 70° |
| July | 80° | 60° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| August | 82° | 61° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 69° – 75° |
| September | 81° | 61° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| October | 76° | 57° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 62° – 73° |
| November | 71° | 52° | 0.9" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| December | 65° | 48° | 2.7" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 53° – 62° |
| Year | 72° | 53° | 15.1" | 0.0" | 34 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 51° to 65°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Pepperdine University’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 Pepperdine University’s center.
- Snow: Topanga Patrol Fc-6, CA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Santa Monica Muni Airport, 15 miles from the town’s center, 310 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 Pepperdine University’s climate
What is the weather like in Pepperdine University?
A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, 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 91% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Pepperdine University in winter?
February nights average 47°. A night at 32° or below comes in only some winters (0.0 a year on average). In the coldest February of the last 30 years the month averaged 50°.
How much snow does Pepperdine University get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Topanga Patrol Fc-6, CA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Pepperdine University?
July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 60°. About 5 days a year reach 90° (Santa Monica Muni Airport).
When is the first and last frost in Pepperdine University?
Most years have no frost at all: a 32° night comes in about 0% of winters at Santa Monica Muni Airport, usually in December or January.
What growing zone is Pepperdine University in?
Zone 11a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 41°.
What is the best time of year to visit Pepperdine University?
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 Pepperdine University getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 2.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than all but 122 U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Pepperdine University.
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.