LA weather never gets old. One of my favorite things about living here is taking a picture like the one above in the middle of January or February, the winter months that are usually filled with snow, ice, or pouring rain in other parts of the country. The USC campus is so beautiful and the warm weather in Los Angeles only enhances it.
Compare that to the picture below, sent to me by one of my friends living in Boston, Massachusetts. It’s beautiful but it also looks uncomfortably chilly. The worst weather in LA is rain because nobody knows how to drive in the rain, the sidewalks become slippery, and puddles form everywhere. However, it’s a small price to pay for improving drought conditions in the region and otherwise sunny weather.
The warm weather can deceive you. Because LA is geographically located in a desert, the nighttime temperature can easily fall to 20 degrees below daytime. A balmy 70 degrees Fahrenheit could mean a crisp 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The coldest weather this winter was in December when the temperature dropped to the low 40s (Fahrenheit) at night.
If you ever want to escape the heat, ski and snow resorts, like Big Bear, are only a couple hours drive away.
Sometimes, new students have asked me about clothing so yes, a thick jacket especially if you’re sensitive to the cold might be useful once in a while. A thin jacket or pullover for the fall is definitely a good idea. An umbrella is your best bet for rain although if you’re used to downpours from regions like the Pacific Northwest, you’ll be fine, just a little wet, with a hoodie sweatshirt. The most important part of your wardrobe for rain is shoes. Remember those puddles that form even after just a couple hours of rain? Rain boots, which seemed overkill at first, might be a good bet. Otherwise tennis shoes that aren’t too permeable to water will get you through fine. Just don’t wear sandals because the roads become slippery.
Published on March 3rd, 2016
Last updated on August 16th, 2018