WeatherArchive / Compare cities / Los Angeles vs Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles vs Washington, D.C. weather: climate comparison
Los Angeles is the warmer of the two, averaging 65°F (19°C) over the year against 57°F (14°C) in Washington, D.C.. Washington, D.C. is wetter, with 45.5 in (1157 mm) of precipitation a year to Los Angeles's 14.0 in (355 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 18.6°C Los Angeles
14.0°C Washington, D.C. - Annual precipitation
- 355.0 mm Los Angeles
1156.6 mm Washington, D.C. - Rainy days a year
- 32 Los Angeles
120 Washington, D.C. - Sunshine per day
- 11.0 h Los Angeles
8.9 h Washington, D.C.
Month by month
| Month | Los Angeles | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1°C | 5.9°C |
| February | 19.3°C | 8.1°C |
| March | 20.9°C | 12.8°C |
| April | 23.2°C | 18.8°C |
| May | 25.1°C | 23.5°C |
| June | 27.9°C | 28.6°C |
| July | 31.2°C | 30.9°C |
| August | 32.2°C | 29.6°C |
| September | 30.8°C | 25.9°C |
| October | 27.2°C | 19.7°C |
| November | 22.9°C | 13.4°C |
| December | 18.8°C | 8.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Los Angeles | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 18.6°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Aug · 32°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Dec · 7°C | Jan · -2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 25°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 355.0 mm | 1156.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 32 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | Feb / Jul | Jul / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 11.0 h | 8.9 h |
In short: Los Angeles is the warmest overall (18.6°C mean); Washington, D.C. gets the most precipitation (1156.6 mm a year); Los Angeles is the sunniest (11.0 h a day on average); Los Angeles has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Los Angeles 45.7°C (2024-09-06), Washington, D.C. 41.1°C (2012-07-07). Record low: Los Angeles -1.9°C (2013-01-14), Washington, D.C. -23.3°C (1996-02-05).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest Los Angeles (34.06, -118.24) and Washington, D.C. (38.91, -77.07).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in January, when Los Angeles runs 24°F / 13°C warmer, and narrowest in July (1°F / 0°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in July: Washington, D.C. gets 4.7 in (119 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the Los Angeles climate and Washington, D.C. climate pages.
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Questions people ask
Is Los Angeles warmer than Washington, D.C.?
Los Angeles is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 65°F (19°C) against 57°F (14°C) in Washington, D.C. (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C., with about 45.5 in (1157 mm) of precipitation a year and 120 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 14.0 in (355 mm) and 32 days in Los Angeles.
Which is sunnier, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C.?
Los Angeles averages more sunshine: 11.0 h a day against 8.9 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.