If you’re planning a move to Orange County or just visiting Little Saigon for some of the best pho on the planet, you probably think you know the vibe. Sun. Palm trees. Shorts all year. Basically a postcard, right?
Well, kinda.
The weather in Westminster CA is actually a bit more of a puzzle than the typical Southern California stereotype. It’s not quite the beach, but it’s definitely not the Inland Empire. It sits in this weird middle ground—a microclimate sweet spot—that can catch you off guard if you aren't prepared for the "Gray" or the "Gloom."
The Marine Layer: Westminster’s Natural Air Conditioner
Honestly, the biggest thing people miss about this area is the fog.
Because Westminster is only about five or six miles from the Pacific Ocean, it lives and dies by the marine layer. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service talk about this like a science project, but for locals, it's just life. Cold ocean air gets trapped under a layer of warm air. This creates a thick, soupy blanket of low clouds that rolls in every night.
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In May and June—locally dubbed "May Gray" and "June Gloom"—you might not see the sun until 2:00 PM. It feels damp. It feels cool. You’ll see tourists in Huntington Beach shivering in tank tops because they expected 80 degrees and got 63 and misty.
Westminster gets the brunt of this. Since the terrain is mostly flat, there are no hills to stop that coastal air from sliding right into the city.
But here’s the kicker: that same "gloom" is why your AC bill in Westminster is half of what it would be in Riverside. It keeps the city incredibly temperate. While the rest of the country is freezing or melting, Westminster usually just hangs out between 45°F and 82°F.
Breaking Down the Seasons (The Real Version)
Forget the four seasons you learned in school. In Westminster, we basically have two: "Dry and Pleasant" and "Slightly Less Dry."
The Warm Season (July to October)
This is when the city actually feels like California. August is usually the hottest month, with average highs hitting around 82°F or 85°F.
It’s rarely "muggy" in the way Florida is. The air is arid. Even when it’s hot, the shade actually feels cool. However, September can be a wildcard. Sometimes, the Santa Ana winds kick up—hot, dry gusts blowing in from the desert. When that happens, Westminster can spike to 95°F or higher in a heartbeat. It feels like someone pointed a giant hairdryer at your face.
The Cool Season (November to March)
Winters here are... well, calling them "winter" feels like a lie. December is usually the coldest month, but "cold" means a low of 46°F at 4:00 AM.
During the day? It’s often a gorgeous 68°F.
You’ll see locals wearing parkas and UGG boots when it hits 60, which is hilarious to anyone from the Midwest. Rain mostly happens in February. Westminster gets about 12 to 13 inches of rain a year. That’s it. If it rains for three days straight, it's basically the lead story on the local news.
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Humidity, Wind, and Why Your Hair Might Freak Out
You wouldn't think wind matters much here, but it does. Most of the year, you’ve got a gentle sea breeze. It’s light—maybe 7 to 10 mph.
Humidity usually hovers around 50% to 60%. It’s comfortable. But during those Santa Ana events I mentioned, the humidity can drop to single digits. Everything gets staticy. Your skin gets dry. This is also "Red Flag" weather, where the fire risk in Southern California goes through the roof. Even though Westminster is urban and not tucked into a canyon, those winds can still knock over trash cans and make driving a high-profile SUV on the 405 freeway a total nightmare.
Best Time to Visit (Expert Tip)
If you want the absolute best weather in Westminster CA, aim for late September or October.
Why? Because the "June Gloom" is long gone, the summer heat waves have usually chilled out, and the ocean is at its warmest. The skies are insanely clear. You can see the San Bernardino mountains in the distance on a crisp day.
January is also surprisingly great. You might get a week of rain, but more often than not, it's "chamber of commerce" weather—72 degrees and sunny while the rest of the US is shoveling snow.
How to Prep for Westminster Weather
- Layering is the only way. Even in the summer, once that sun goes down and the ocean air moves back in, the temperature drops 15 degrees fast. Always have a light hoodie in your car.
- Don't trust the morning sky. If it's 7:00 AM and looks like it's going to rain, it probably isn't. It’s just the marine layer. It’ll "burn off" by lunch.
- Monitor the Santa Anas. If you’re sensitive to allergies or dry air, keep an eye on wind advisories from September through May.
- Wash your car after the mist. The "coastal drip" from the marine layer often mixes with city dust and leaves spots. It’s annoying, but it’s the price of living in paradise.
Next Steps for You
Check the current 7-day forecast specifically for the 92683 or 92684 zip codes, rather than just "Orange County." Because Westminster is in a coastal transition zone, a general county forecast can be off by 5 to 10 degrees. If you're heading out today, grab a windbreaker—even if the sun is out now, the evening breeze off the water is no joke.