University of California - BerkeleyWeather Summary

Written by Meegan Brooks

Meegan Brooks

Hometown

Granite Bay, CA

Major

Political science

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While most students are pleased with Berkeley’s weather, many Southern California students like to brag that the weather at home is much better. This is because even the sunniest days here can start out a little gray, and the wind makes the sunny town feel cooler. Berkeley is a place where you’ll need sunglasses, flip-flops, an umbrella, and an overcoat, no matter how beautiful the weather seems while moving in.

During spring and fall, the weather is sunny and warm, without being too hot. Most students walk around in tank tops and flip-flops, and many sit in the sun between classes. Still, if you wake up and it’s sunny, bring a sweater to class because it could be chilly out in an hour or freezing by night. In winter, rain makes the town seem much gloomier. Sidewalks here are generally cracked and uneven, creating puddle after puddle. Thanksgiving break is a good opportunity to swap out summer clothes for more pants and a warm overcoat, since finals can become a lot harder when you're wet and cold. That said, even these “extremes” are not that bad. The weather is seen far more as a perk than a problem, and most students just use winter to become excited for spring.