Summer afternoons in Vallecito are warmer than in 91% of U.S. towns
January mornings start at about 35°. Precipitation peaks in January and eases off in July. Its yearly precipitation falls short of 84% of U.S. towns. Plan time outside for April, May and October, when highs sit at 67–76°.
A year in Vallecito at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Vallecito’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Vallecito’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Vallecito feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 213 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 9 and the first by November 9. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Sonora, CA, 9 miles from the town’s center, 140 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Vallecito’s center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 22°. 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 32 inches of rain a year
January is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain falls on about 64 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Sonora, CA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Vallecito
79% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Sonora, CA.
Living with Vallecito’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
213 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Apr 9 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 9.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May and October.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Vallecito from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (54%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 6%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Vallecito and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Vallecito yet.
Climates most like Vallecito’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallecito, CA | 35° | 93° | 32" | 0.0" |
| Kerrville, TX | 35° | 94° | 31" | 0.1" |
| Grants Pass, OR | 34° | 90° | 33" | 0.9" |
| Lone Grove, OK | 31° | 94° | 39" | 2.7" |
| Camden, SC | 33° | 92° | 43" | 0.0" |
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 Vallecito averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.0°).
A smaller shift than in 86% 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 Vallecito compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Vallecito’s place among California’s.
Vallecito weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Vallecito’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Sonora, CA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 35° | 6.0" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 42° – 51° |
| February | 58° | 37° | 5.5" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 43° – 54° |
| March | 62° | 39° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 43° – 57° |
| April | 67° | 42° | 2.7" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| May | 76° | 48° | 1.5" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 54° – 70° |
| June | 86° | 54° | 0.3" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 64° – 74° |
| July | 93° | 60° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| August | 92° | 58° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 72° – 79° |
| September | 87° | 54° | 0.2" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| October | 76° | 47° | 1.6" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 58° – 69° |
| November | 63° | 39° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 42° – 57° |
| December | 55° | 35° | 5.6" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 41° – 50° |
| Year | 73° | 46° | 31.8" | 0.0" | 64 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. May swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 54° to 70°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Vallecito’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 Vallecito’s center.
- Snow: Sonora, CA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Sonora, CA, 9 miles from the town’s center, 140 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 Vallecito’s climate
What is the weather like in Vallecito?
A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 35°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 81% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 91% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Vallecito in winter?
December nights average 35°. About 66 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 41°.
How much snow does Vallecito get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Sonora, CA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Vallecito?
July, with a typical high of 93° and a low of 60°. About 75 days a year reach 90° and 9 reach 100° (Sonora, CA).
When is the first and last frost in Vallecito?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 9 and the first fall frost by November 9, about 213 frost-free days, at Sonora, CA.
What growing zone is Vallecito in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 22°.
What is the best time of year to visit Vallecito?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Vallecito getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.9° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 86% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Vallecito.
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.