Current Weather Underground Report for Red Bluff

 

The Red Bluff Notebooks

Climate, Weather, Seasons

North Sacramento Valley

Red Bluff, Redding and Chico California

By Michael P. Garofalo

Average Temperatures      Clichés      Frosts      Links      Lore

Proverbs      References     Zones

Coping with the Summer Heat

Monthly Gardening Chores      Green Way Blog

 

 

 

 

Normal Weather Conditions

Red Bluff, California

 

Month    Average High
   Temperature
    º  Fahrenheit
   Average Low
   Temperature
    º  Fahrenheit
   Average
   Rainfall
   Inches
   (1950-1995)
       

January

   54    37 4.2
February    59    40 3.4
March    64    42 2.7
April    72    47 1.5
May    81    54 0.8
June    89    62 0.5
July    98    64 0.1
August    96    64 0.2
September    91    60 0.6
October    78    52 1.4
November    64    43 3.4
December    55    38 3.7
       
Annual   75.4    50.4  22.4

 

 

 

 

Number of days in the growing season:  274


Typical last Spring frost day:  March 3rd.   
We usually wait until from April 15 to May 15 to plant our warm weather summer kitchen garden. 


Typical first Fall frost day:  December 5th


Average Annual rainfall:   20" to 24". 

 

 

 

Growing Zones

 

We garden in USDA Zone 9  (Winter Lows: 20-30°F) 

 

For a list of monthly garden chores in Zone 9, please refer to my monthly webpages.

 

We garden in Sunset Magazine's Zone 8.  

    We are share many features with Sunset Zone 9, except that we live 
at the lowest ground level in the north Sacramento Valley and cold air flows 
down to our area from the foothills.   "Low temperatures in Zone 8 over a 
20-year period ranged from 29°F to 13°F." - Sunset.  Sunset Zones 8 
and 9 have high daytime temperatures in the summer, clear skies and 
bright sunshine, little or no rain during the summer, and tule fogs in the 
winter.  Tule fogs are dense fogs that rise from the ground on cold 
and clear nights  and often stay till midday. 

    Storms during the wet season are often accompanied by winds, either 
from the south or north,  from 15-25 mpg with strong gusts up to 55 mph 
with winds from the north and south.  These strong winds pose problems 
for any tall and newly planted trees and shrubs unless they are staked.  
The summer winds cause dehydration unless water is carefully applied.       

 

 

 

Links and References

 

 

Current Weather Conditions in Red Bluff from the Weather Channel     Red Bluff Zip Code:  96080


Current Weather Conditions in Red Bluff from the Weather Underground


Current Weather Facts
   Airport


National Weather Service Home Page


Red Bluff Weather
   City of Red Bluff 


Weather Lore from the Weekend Gardener


Weather Lore
  Interesting explanations of weather lore.


Weather Proverbs.
    By George D.  Freier.   Fisher Books, 1997.    224 pages.


KHSL Television, Chico, Weather

 

 

 

 

 

Weather Clichés

 

 

 

Weather Lore and Myths

 

 

 

More Clichés from the Garden

 

 

 

 

 

Coping with the Summer Heat

 

 

1.  If you can, work outdoors before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m..  If you can, stay indoors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m..  
You can work at night.  Hide out in the shade whenever possible.  Early summer mornings and late summer 
evenings are often quite comfortable - enjoy them. 


2.  Drink plenty of cool fluids throughout the day.   Don't get dehydrated.  Eat less often, and avoid "heavy" meals.  


3.  Keep some Perspective:  Remember the wonderful cool days from November until May.  It may be hot 
but it is not also smoggy.  The hottest days last only three or four months out of twelve.  Each season has its 
beauty and charm.  Our humidity is frequently relatively low - thankfully.  Hot is hot and that's the way 
it is ... accept the facts and quit complaining.    


4.  Water the plants in the early morning or early evening hours.  Use drip irrigation lines for trees and shrubs. 


5.  Keep lawn areas small to reduce the need for watering.  


6.  Keep using plants that can get by on less water and attention.  Use more drought tolerant plants. 


7.  Mulch all plants in the ground.   I like to use a thick layer of straw. 


8.   Water potted plants in the nursery twice a day when temperatures are over 95 degrees.  During the 
hottest summer months, move the potted plants in the nursery to locations where they can get 
some afternoon shade.


9.  Enjoy the luxurious growth and fruits of plants that love the heat: tomatoes, melons, peppers, 
gourds, grapes, corn, etc..


10.  Wear loose fitting and light colored clothing.   Cover all of your body with clothes.  Wear a light 
wide brimmed hat that breathes.  Use sunscreen lotion on the face and hands.  Avoid getting 
intense sunlight on your unprotected skin. 


11.  Whenever possible, wait until October to plant trees and shrubs. 


12.  Whenever possible, save the really hard labor projects for the cooler months. 


13.  Effectively use the shade created by arbors, trellises, shade cloth, fences, trees, 
shrubs, and the sides of the house. 


14.  Get wet, take a cool shower, or sit in a shallow pool in the shade. 


15.  Whenever possible, relax, sit, rest, and do less physically stressful activities. 


16.  Keep your evaporative "swamp" cooler in good repair.  Maintain this important equipment:  
new pads each season, flushed pan, oiled fan bearings, float set properly, etc..   Keep one window 
or door open when using your swamp cooler.  Use a fan system at night to bring in the cool night air.  
Use ceiling fans to keep the air moving.   In the morning, close up the house and draw down all 
the shades and blinds.   As finances permit, insulate!!  Whole house fans and/or attic fans 
can be very effective.  


17.  Strategically place large deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house. 


18.  Some vacation time?  Go camping in Lassen National Park or in Redwoods National Park 
on the coast.  Seek the coolest vacation spots nearby. 

 

 

 

 

 




By Michael P. Garofalo


Send E-Mail to to Michael P. Garofalo
Red Bluff, California

 

 

The Red Bluff Notebooks - Climate, Weather, Seasons.

6 January 2003

 

Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, Northern California, U.S.A.
Cities and small towns in the area: Oroville, Paradise, Durham, Chico, Hamilton City,
Corning, Rancho Tehama, Los Molinos, Tehama, Proberta, Gerber, Manton, Cottonwood,
Anderson, Shasta Lake, Palo Cedro, Igo, Ono, Redding, CA, California.

 

 

The Spirit of Gardening

Quotes for Gardeners


Haiku and Short Poems by Michael P. Garofalo


The History of Gardening Timeline


Red Bluff Notebooks Main Index