Central California weather - No, the sun doesn't always shine here, and you'll find that the beaches can be overcast even in the summer. Each area of this great region has its own weather patterns and these pages will help you decide when you might like to visit. A previous week's selection for Photo of the Week.
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We've added a very nice feature here on our site - a Photo Gallery option. Click on any of the photos on this page and all the photos will be viewable in larger sizes. Try it out and let us know what you think!
18 January 2013
Explanation:
Central California weather warrants several pages as it is varied by season and by location.
For some reason or another, the weather on New Year's Day in most of California is beautiful. For those living outside our state, this gives a false impression of our winter weather since the Rose Parade is held on this date and is rarely rained out.
If you have read other pages on this site, especially this one, you'll know that Central California differs from the rest of the state and that there is a variation even within this region.
Another factor which influences what visitors or potential visitors might think of our weather is that photographers generally stay in during inclement weather, and that, with rare exceptions, photos look better when taken on bright sunny days.
So what is presented to you is a skewed version of our climate, not maliciously so, but untrue nonetheless.
A fogged-in beach just doesn't make for good photos.
I've just been browsing through my stock of photos for use on this site, and am struck by the fact that 95% of them were taken on sunny days or days with scattered clouds. The exceptions are those with something remarkable, especially snow or high waves at the beach.
One of the best indicators of the variation in Central California weather are the numerous wine growing regions that are uniquely designated American Viticultural Areas. These AVA's recognize the difference in soil and especially climate and elevation. These differences influence the grape's taste.
The Salinas Valley is a perfect example of this difference in climate.
At the north end of the valley, coastal influences dominate, with many foggy days and cooler temperatures, while at the southern end, around King City, much warmer temperatures are found during the growing season. Between the two is a gradation which lends itself to the growing of different varietals.
We will be creating pages for each of the categories below which cover most of the region of Central California.
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Photo of the Week Archive page from Central California Weather
Discover Central California homepage
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