California Institute of Technology - Weather

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Caltech is a beautifully manicured campus that sits in Pasadena in sunny Southern California. The campus has funds that are allotted for landscaping, so it is always grassy green, even when it is over a hundred degrees outside. The weather in the summer (late May through most of September) can get very warm, with occasional spikes when it is really hot and it feels like you’re melting. On the bright side, the beach is close by, and the land of bikinis and swimming trunks is rather good on the eyes. Every now and then, our parched region will get rain, but this happens maybe once all summer, if at all. Shoes are nice to save your feet from scalding on the baking concrete walkways. Sandals, however, are very much recommended. In autumn (October to mid-December) when school starts, it’s slightly cooler. During this time, most male students are comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts, and girls prefer a tank top and a skirt or shorts. Again, sandals are the dominant style of footwear. Many people from other states miss home during this time of the year because we do not have a plethora of rainbow colored leaves in Pasadena. Instead, evergreens and some trees with brown leaves dominate the vegetation.

The winter season (late December to mid-March) is very mild. People from states like Minnesota describe our winters as “balmy” weather. Obviously, this means no rain, snow, hail, or sleet. However, most people do prefer to wear a sweatshirt and full-length pants. Tennis shoes are worn by a few, but once again, sandals are ever-present. We get a few rainy days during this time of year, and in most years, you can count these days on your fingers. Spring here is like autumn, but brighter. There is a large variety of flowers around, and the air is very nice and breezy—sometimes fairy-tale-like. Unfortunately, spring in Southern California is very short-lived (from late March to early May). Though Caltech’s weather can be depressing at times, Mother Nature generally takes care of us Techers.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

It gets really hot in the summer... It gets really hot in the summer (which is about half the year). I definitely suggest T-shirts and shorts, and make the T-shirts white (you’ll fry in the dark ones). Some days, I try very hard not to leave my room during daylight hours. The ‘winters’ aren’t cold at all, as far as I’m concerned. If you’re from California or thereabout, you probably want long pants and windbreakers or something. If you’re from someplace with snow, you might be fine in T-shirts and shorts all year like me. Have an umbrella and reasonably water-proof shoes, though; it tends to rain a lot in the winter. The campus is very unsuited to dealing with rain; there are puddles everywhere. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

Weather is nice. I usually wear... Weather is nice. I usually wear pants and a short-sleeve shirt. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

There are a few days out of the... There are a few days out of the year when it’s just unbearably hot, but that never lasts. During the cold days, you probably want to wear at least a sweater or jacket and pants, although I know some people who can wear shorts and T-shirts all year long. And during the hot days, you can wear whatever you want. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

This is sunny Southern California.... This is sunny Southern California. The weather is very dry all the time. We’re pretty close to the desert, so there is actually a significant change in the temperature. School starts in late September, and it’s nice and warm for about a month. Then it gets cold until April, and after that, it’s nice again. 12345 Weather Report

Anonymous says:

During the summer, the days are... During the summer, the days are ridiculously hot, but it cools down a lot at night. It is a desert, after all. Half of the year, students wear jeans and a T-shirt, and the other half, you are wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Sometimes, you need a jacket at night, but it is generally pretty warm. Oh, rain also freaks people out, because it is so rare. 12345 Weather Report

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