February in California: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

In February, California's winter starts winding down. It's a good month to celebrate Chinese New Year in San Francisco or plan a romantic California weekend getaway for Valentine's Day. The coastal cities enjoy some of the clearest skies they will have all year long, and the major tourist attractions are delightfully uncrowded.

The one place to avoid in February is Palm Springs, which has a dirty little secret no one in town likes to talk about: The Coachella Valley is prone to windstorms in February, which can blow so much dust around that you may feel like you’re being sandblasted. And even worse, roads can be closed because of the blowing sand.

California Weather in February

The weather in California varies depending on what part of the state you're visiting. In general, coastal areas are comfortable in December, and the desert temperatures are at their most comfortable.

In the mountains, you'll find snow, and most of the high mountain passes will be closed. Lake Tahoe starts to warm up in February, but that still means lows in the teens at night and a little above freezing during the day

Yosemite Valley will be in the 50s during the day and the 30s at night. At higher elevations, the park will be much colder, and there may be snow. Tioga Pass between Yosemite and the Eastern Sierras always closes before February, and it won't re-open until well after the spring thaw.

You can get details of the highs and lows around the state in February (and all year round) by consulting these guides to some average highs, lows, and more weather considerations in some popular tourist destinations, such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Disneyland, Death Valley, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe.

Rain is possible in February, but not a certainty. It might put a damper on your travel plans, but none of us can control what Mother Nature does. Just in case your vacation plans are at the mercy of the weather, here are some ideas for things to do on a rainy day in California:

• Things to do on a rainy day in LA
• Things to do on a rainy day in San Diego
• Things to do on a rainy day in San Francisco

If you plan to travel anywhere above sea level, you should know the requirements for snow chains. They apply to personal and rented vehicles—and the guide has some ideas about what to do if you need them for your rented vehicle.

What to Pack

In a state with as much geographic diversity as California, your packing list will vary depending on where you go and what you're doing. These are a few things to keep in mind.

In February, water and air temperatures at the beach limit most people to oceanside strolls. The beach areas are always colder than inland, and they get even chillier when the sun goes down.

If you plan to spend time outdoors camping or hiking, pack light layers to stay warm and covered, and in case it's colder than expected, take a couple of extras.

No matter where your plans take you, pack plenty of sunscreen. Even if the sun isn't shining, its UV rays can reflect off water and snow, and you'll still end up with a sunburn.

February Events in California

• Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco: Chinese New Year is a lunar holiday that occurs in late January or early February. San Francisco holds the most extravagant celebration of it in the state, or maybe in the entire U.S.—and the big parade is always on the weekend (and occasionally doesn't happen until early March).
• The Edwardian Ball: Is the perfect thing to do if you and your friends like to get dressed up in costumes and go to a fun party.
• Modernism Week, Palm Springs: The annual mid-century extravaganza includes a few tours that get you inside some of the most important Palm Springs' modernist icons. Besides going to all the official events, you can take your own tour of some of Palm Springs' best mid-century homes and buildings.
• Riverside County Fair & Date Festival: You wouldn't believe all the kinds of dates they grow and display during this county fair. And the events are fun, too—including big-name headliner music acts performing on stage.
• Mavericks Invitational Surf Contest: The world's top surfers head for Half Moon Bay anytime between November and March, as soon as the waves are big enough.
•  San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Mardi Gras: The date for Mardi Gras changes every year. More than eight times out of ten, it happens sometime during February; The Gaslamp's celebration is one of the best in California, with two parades and a masked ball.

Things to Do in California in February

• Go Whale Watching: February is the month to see gray whales and fin whales in California.
• See the Elephant Seals: Male elephant seals fight for dominance while newborn babies grow at an astounding rate, making the elephant seal birthing and breeding season at Ano Nuevo an unforgettable spectacle. You can also see the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas near Hearst Castle.
• Watch Monarch Butterflies: The orange-and-black monarch butterflies spend their winters in the trees around town, sleeping in big clumps to keep warm. When they wake up in the morning and start flying, it's a sight you might think happens only in the movies. You can see them at these monarch butterfly-watching locations.
• Tour the Blossom Trail, Fresno: Much of the country's stone fruit (peaches, apricots, nectarines, and their relatives) grows in California central valley near Fresno. Take a drive you won't soon forget through miles of orchards filled with pink and white blooms. Get all the details and tips in the Fresno Blossom trail guide.
• Go Skiing: Most of the California ski slopes in northern California and the skiing and snowboarding locations in Southern California will still be open in February, but the condition of their snow will vary depending on when the last snowfall happened.

February Travel Tips

• February may seem like the perfect time to go to Palm Springs, but there's the potential for dust storms mentioned above, and timing can be tricky. The Date Festival, Modernism Week, and the Presidents Day long weekend sometimes happen all at once, driving hotel prices toward the stratosphere.
• If you want to camp at a California state park in February, make your reservations six months ahead of time in August. The system is complicated, and it's hard to get it right, but everything you need to know about California State Park camping reservations is here.
• You don't have to reserve ahead for the Fresno Blossom Trail, but you do need to be prepared to go when the conditions are right. Start checking in early February for peak bloom time.
• If you want to go to Modernism Week in Palm Springs, make hotel reservations far ahead of time and be ready to snag those hard-to-get tour tickets the second they go on sale.