Lake Forest weather by month
Average highs run from 68°F in January to 85°F in July, and January nights average 43°F. It gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are October to July.
Best time to visit Lake Forest
For comfortable weather, go in October to July. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68°F | 43°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| February | 69°F | 45°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 0 | 0 | mild |
| March | 72°F | 48°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in | 4 | 1 | 0 | mild |
| April | 74°F | 50°F | 0.8 in | 0.0 in | 2 | 1 | 0 | mild |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in | 1 | 1 | 0 | warm |
| June | 80°F | 58°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in | 0 | 1 | 0 | warm |
| July | 85°F | 61°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | 0 | 4 | 0 | warm |
| August | 87°F | 63°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | 0 | 11 | 0 | hot |
| September | 87°F | 61°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in | 0 | 9 | 0 | warm |
| October | 84°F | 55°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in | 1 | 5 | 0 | warm |
| November | 76°F | 47°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in | 2 | 1 | 1 | mild |
| December | 70°F | 43°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in | 4 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| Year | 77°F avg | 52°F avg | 14.1 in | 0.0 in | 25 | 35 | 2 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Tustin Irvine Rch, CA (USC00049087), 5.6 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Lake Forest
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 55m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 14h 23m. The earliest sunset comes around December 2 (4:41 pm) and the latest around June 21 (8:04 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 40 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:55 am | 5:05 pm | 10h 10m |
| February | 6:34 am | 5:35 pm | 11h 00m |
| March | 7:01 am | 6:58 pm | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:20 am | 7:21 pm | 13h 01m |
| May | 5:50 am | 7:44 pm | 13h 54m |
| June | 5:40 am | 8:02 pm | 14h 22m |
| July | 5:51 am | 8:01 pm | 14h 10m |
| August | 6:13 am | 7:36 pm | 13h 23m |
| September | 6:34 am | 6:56 pm | 12h 22m |
| October | 6:55 am | 6:16 pm | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:22 am | 4:47 pm | 10h 25m |
| December | 6:48 am | 4:43 pm | 9h 56m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Lake Forest with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Pacific Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Lake Forest getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.8°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Lake Forest.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Lake Forest?
August is the warmest month, with an average high of 87°F and an average low of 63°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Lake Forest?
December is the coldest, with average lows of 43°F and highs of 70°F.
What is the rainiest month in Lake Forest?
February gets the most precipitation, 3.4 inches on average. August is the driest at 0.0 inches.
Does it snow in Lake Forest?
Very little. The normal yearly snowfall is under one inch.
When is the best time to visit Lake Forest?
For comfortable weather, October to July. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Lake Forest?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Lake Forest profile.
Compare the weather: Lake Forest vs Mission Viejo, Lake Forest vs Irvine, Lake Forest vs Tustin, Lake Forest vs Newport Beach.